Platform Comparison
MyCareCost vs FairMedBill
Two different approaches to fighting high medical bills — data-driven self-serve tools vs. professional negotiation services.
TL;DR: FairMedBill-type services negotiate your bill for you and take a percentage of savings. MyCareCost gives you the data, scripts, and tools to negotiate yourself — at a flat per-search price with no percentage fee.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | MyCareCost | FairMedBill |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital price search | 5,000+ hospitals | Limited |
| Side-by-side comparison | ||
| CMS quality ratings | ||
| Medicare rate benchmarks | ||
| Episode-of-care estimates | ||
| Bill review / overcharge detection | ||
| Negotiation letter templates | ||
| Professional bill negotiation service | ||
| Self-serve (no middleman) | ||
| B2B tools (employers, brokers) | ||
| Pricing model | $0–18/search | % of savings |
| Data source | CMS-mandated hospital files | Varies |
The Cost Difference
Professional bill negotiation services typically charge 25-50% of the savings they achieve. If they negotiate a $10,000 bill down to $6,000, you pay $1,000-2,000 in fees. MyCareCost's Ultra search costs $18 and gives you the same market data, negotiation scripts, and leverage scores that professionals use — so you keep 100% of the savings.
Example: Hospital bills you $32,000 for a knee replacement. Market data shows a fair price is $18,000. A negotiation service saves you $14,000 but charges $4,200 (30% fee). With MyCareCost Ultra ($18), you get the same data and scripts — and keep the full $14,000 savings.
When Professional Negotiation May Be Better
If you're dealing with a very large bill ($50,000+), you're overwhelmed by the process, or you simply don't have time to make calls yourself, a professional negotiation service handles everything for you. The fee is worth it when you need someone else to manage the process.