The GougeStop Blog

Stories from real patients, tips on fighting unfair lab bills, and ideas for making healthcare pricing transparent for everyone.

Latest Posts

Tips

March 25, 2026

5 Things to Do Before You Pay a Lab Bill

Most people just pay what the lab sends. Here are five steps — including one critical question about an ABN — that could save you hundreds.

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Founder Story

February 2026

Why I Built GougeStop

A $173 bill for $27 worth of tests. A provider that wouldn't share the Medicare rate. An appeal deadline I missed because I had no idea how the system works. Here's the story behind GougeStop.

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Tips

March 8, 2026

The ABN Trap: How Labs Use a Medicare Form to Charge You 5x What Tests Are Worth

That form you signed before your blood draw? It let the lab charge you $1,183 for tests Medicare values at $117. Here's what they don't tell you — and what you can do about it.

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News

Coming Soon

Medicare, AI, and the Future of Claim Denials

Medicare is exploring the use of AI to process claims faster. What does that mean for patients, and how could it affect the bills you get?

We Want to Hear From You

Share Your Story

Had an experience with unfair lab billing? Your story could help other patients going through the same thing. We'll review submissions and may feature yours on the blog (with your permission).

Got an Idea?

GougeStop is built for patients, and we want to make it better. Have an idea for a feature, a question you wish the tool could answer, or something that would make it more useful? Let us know.

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