Letter asking a provider to bill your insurance first (free template)

Updated October 1, 2026 · How we write our guides

When to use it

Use this letter when a bill shows no insurance payment because the claim was never sent, went to the wrong plan, or was denied for a fixable error. It gives the provider your current insurance details and asks it to bill or rebill your plan. It also asks for a hold until your plan processes the claim.

Your bill asks you to pay the full amount, and it shows no insurance payment. Often, the claim never reached your plan. It may have gone to an old plan, had a wrong member ID, or never been sent. This letter asks the provider to bill your insurance first, then send you a bill for your share.

Our guide on what to do when insurance didn't pay a medical bill explains how to find out why.

When to use this letter

Use it when:

Your plan has no claim for the date of service.
The claim went to the wrong plan, like an old employer plan.
Your explanation of benefits (EOB) shows a fixable error. Code 16 means missing information or a billing error. Code 31 means your plan couldn't match you to its records.
You have 2 plans, and the claim went to the wrong one first.

Don't use it if your plan processed the claim and decided not to cover the care. That needs an appeal. Our guide on how to appeal an insurance denial explains how.

What to fill in

Have your bill and your insurance card in front of you. You'll need:

The patient's name and date of birth, so the office can find the account and match the claim
The account number and the date of service
Your insurer's name, your member ID, and your group number, from your insurance card
What went wrong with the claim, in 1 short sentence

If you're covered through someone else's plan, like a spouse's or parent's, add the policyholder's name. The office may call to ask for their date of birth.

Here are examples of what to write about what went wrong:

Your situation	What to write
The provider didn't have your insurance	"I don't believe you had my insurance details when you sent this bill."
The claim went to an old plan	"The claim was sent to my old plan, which ended before this date of service."
The EOB shows a wrong member ID	"My plan denied the claim because the member ID didn't match. My correct ID is below."
You have 2 plans	"I have 2 plans. The plan below should be billed first."

Fill in your details

Optional. What you type stays on this page. We don't save it or send it anywhere.

Your name

Your address

Your city, state, ZIP

Today's date

Provider name

Provider billing address

Patient name

Patient date of birth

Account number

Date of service

Amount due on bill

What went wrong with the claim

Insurer name

Member ID

Group number

Policyholder name

Your phone

Your email

Your letter

[YOUR NAME] [YOUR ADDRESS] [YOUR CITY, STATE, ZIP] [TODAY'S DATE] [PROVIDER NAME] Billing Office [PROVIDER BILLING ADDRESS] Re: Please bill my insurance Patient: [PATIENT NAME] Date of birth: [PATIENT DATE OF BIRTH] Account number: [ACCOUNT NUMBER] Date of service: [DATE OF SERVICE] Amount billed to me: $[AMOUNT DUE ON BILL] To the billing office: My bill for the date of service above doesn't show an insurance payment. [WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THE CLAIM] The patient had health coverage on the date of service with this plan: Insurer: [INSURER NAME] Member ID: [MEMBER ID] Group number: [GROUP NUMBER] Policyholder, if not the patient: [POLICYHOLDER NAME] Please: 1. Send a claim, or a corrected claim, to this plan. 2. Hold my account until the plan has processed the claim, so it doesn't become past due or go to collections. 3. Send me a new bill after the plan processes the claim, showing the insurance payment and any adjustments. I'll pay my share once the claim is processed. If you need anything else to send the claim, please contact me at [YOUR PHONE] or [YOUR EMAIL]. Thank you for your help. Sincerely, [YOUR NAME] Enclosures: copy of bill, copy of the front and back of my insurance card

Highlighted words are blanks you haven't filled in yet.

A note for people with Original Medicare

You can add this sentence: "I have Original Medicare. Please file this claim with Medicare." The law requires providers to file Medicare claims for covered services and supplies. Claims must be filed within 12 months of the date of service.

If a provider still won't file, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and ask about the time limit for filing.

What to attach

Send copies, never originals.

The bill
The front and back of your insurance card
Your EOB, if the claim was denied for a fixable error

Don't include your Social Security number or any payment details with this letter.

How to send it

Many billing offices can update your insurance over the phone. Call first, then send this letter as your record. Send it by certified mail with a return receipt, or through the patient portal if it takes messages.

Keep a copy of the letter and everything you attached. Note the date you sent it.

What happens next

Claims can take a few weeks. Check your insurer's website or app for the claim. When your EOB arrives, compare it with the provider's new bill. Our guide on why a medical bill can be higher than the EOB shows what to check.

If your plan denies the claim because it was filed too late, see how long a hospital can wait to bill you. If your plan denies it for a coverage reason, you may need an appeal.

If the provider keeps billing you without sending the claim, call your insurer's member services. Ask how your plan can help. Our guide on how to dispute a medical bill covers your next steps.

Common questions

How do I know my insurer was never billed?

Look for an explanation of benefits (EOB) for the same date of service. Check your insurer's website or app, or call the member services number on your insurance card. If your plan has no claim for that date, the provider may not have your insurance details. If there's a claim with a denial code, the EOB tells you why it wasn't paid.

What if my claim was denied for missing information?

That's often the provider's paperwork to fix. Code 16 on your EOB means the claim lacked information or had a billing error, like a wrong member ID. Code 31 means your plan couldn't match you to its records. Ask the provider to correct the claim and send it again. You usually don't need to file an appeal for these.

Does a provider have to bill my insurance?

It depends on your coverage and the provider's contracts. If you have Original Medicare, the law requires your provider to file claims for covered services and supplies. Medicare claims must be filed within 12 months of the date of service. For other plans, ask the billing office whether it's in your network and will bill your plan.

What if I have 2 health plans?

Give the provider the details for both plans and say which one you think pays first. Code 22 on an EOB means another plan may need to pay first. Call each plan to update your other coverage. Then ask the provider to bill the first plan, and send the rest to the second plan.

Sources

Filing a claim, Medicare.gov. Accessed October 1, 2026.
Claim adjustment reason codes, X12. Accessed October 1, 2026.
Reading your explanation of benefits (EOB), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Accessed October 1, 2026.

This is general information, not legal or medical advice. Rules can depend on your plan and your state. Romi Care isn't an insurer, law firm, collection agency, or government program.