Know what you'll owe - before the bill shows up.
Insurance "covering" a procedure and knowing what you'll actually pay are two different questions. Answer 3 quick questions and CostKits will flag your risk of a billing surprise, then check the real bill against it automatically once it arrives.
Start free. Membership: $15/mo. Already have a bill? One-time review: $29 flat.
- ✓Built by a healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience
- ✓Independent - not paid by your hospital or insurer
- ✓Estimate now, automatic bill check later - no re-entering anything
Why "covered by insurance" isn't the same as "affordable"
Most insurance plans do cover most procedures - but coverage only means your insurer will process the claim, not that your share of it will be small. Your actual out-of-pocket cost depends on where you are in your deductible, your plan's coinsurance rate, whether the facility is in-network, and sometimes which specific classification the procedure falls under (screening vs. diagnostic, for example).
None of that shows up until the bill does - by which point it's too late to choose a lower-cost facility or time the procedure around your deductible. The earlier you check, the more of that is still in your control.
How the risk check works
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1
Answer 3 quick questions. What's worrying you, whether it's scheduled yet, and what you know about your insurance.
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2
See your surprise-bill risk. A live readout updates after every answer, so you see your risk level build in real time.
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3
Get the right next step. Still planning: get a personalized estimate and automatic bill-check later. Already have the bill: go straight into a $29 review.
Inside your CostKits cost plan
A risk check is the start, not the whole picture. Here's what tracking a procedure looks like inside CostKits, with a real (mock) example account.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know what a procedure will actually cost me?
Your true cost depends on your specific insurance plan (deductible, coinsurance, whether you've met your out-of-pocket max) and where you have the procedure done, not just the procedure's list price. Answer the 3 questions above to see your risk of a billing surprise and get a personalized estimate.
I haven't scheduled anything yet - is this still useful?
Yes. The earlier you check, the more you can still influence - which facility you choose, whether you meet your deductible this year or next, and whether prior authorization is required. This tool is built for the planning stage, before a bill exists.
What happens once the real bill arrives?
If you're a CostKits member, the bill is automatically checked against your original estimate and your insurer's Explanation of Benefits the moment you add it - so a mismatch doesn't slip through weeks or months later.
What if I already have a bill for this?
Say so in the second question above ("Already had it") - the tool switches straight into a bill review instead of an estimate, and you can move directly into the $29 independent review.
Sources and methodology
Cost estimates draw on CostKits' claims-based procedure pricing (see per-procedure cost pages) and standard ACA/Medicare cost-sharing rules. Review our data and pricing methodology. For background on billing protections, see the CMS No Surprises Act consumer resources.