Every time I go to the grocery store, I check my receipt to make sure I was properly charged for my honey crisp apples and cereal. But when it comes to medical care, I have no idea what medical procedures should cost.

On the rare occasions that I receive a detailed bill, I can barely decipher the billing codes and insurance lingo. It makes me want to scream: "Why do they make it so complicated?"

I didn't get a good answer to that question at Unity Hospital's new medical bills seminar. But I do have a better grasp on how to read my medical mail and pay for my care.

Unity is a hospital in Fridley that's part of the Allina system. Unity's financial services manager, Fran Hakim, came up with the idea for the bills seminar to address questions she and the other financial counselors hear day-to-day. Unexpected medical expenses on top of an injury or ailment can be overwhelming, Hakim said.

After an appointment or hospital stay, the first piece of mail you'll typically receive is the infamous "this is not a bill" -- though it certainly looks like one -- document from your insurer.

This is called your explanation of benefits (EOBs) and it is confusing because it lays out the dollar amount of the original insurance claim (the sticker price), the payment amount that the insurer and hospital have agreed upon (the discounted price) and the amount a patient must pay. Don't even try to understand how all the numbers jibe. Just look at the amount you are expected to pay, which will be listed in a category called "amount owed," "patient responsibility," or the like.

Don't pay, because, remember, this is not a bill.

Bills come later from the hospital or health care provider. Don't be surprised if you get more than one, even for a single appointment or hospital stay. You will get two bills, for example, if the emergency room doctor you see is not employed by the ER you visited, Unity's Amy Perry explained. Have an X-ray taken and you will see a bill from a radiologist, even if you never set eyes on the doctor who read your film. You might see a bill for that ambulance ride, too.

Bills can come months after the service and it's hard to know whether you've received each and every one. Call your insurance carrier if you're unsure, because companies will submit a claim to your insurer first.

It would be nice if all bills and EOBs looked the same. But they don't. On every piece of paper, check to make sure that the date of service is accurate, that you are being billed for services at a location where you've actually been a patient and that the services you're being billed for sound familiar, Hakim said. If the summarized bill lacks sufficient detail, ask for an itemized bill. But with the complex insurance codes and medical terms, good luck figuring that out.

Still confused? Pick up the phone. As more patients face out-of-pocket costs in the form of higher deductibles and co-insurance, health care providers are staffing up to help them understand the medical mumbo jumbo. North Memorial Medical Center, for example, is hiring three more patient financial advocates to help the existing two meet demand. Unity plans to offer its seminar again and is customizing it for pregnant women and other conditions. It can also be viewed online at www.allinaunity.com.

Finally, do some research before setting foot in a doctor's office.

With open enrollment coming, let history be your guide. Now is the time to evaluate how much you've spent on health care this past year. You may find that you'd be better off with a high deductible plan instead of co-insurance or that you should have opened a flexible spending account -- where a portion of your pre-tax paycheck is set aside to pay for qualified medical expenses.

If you're getting an elective procedure or something else you can plan for (as opposed to being transported in an ambulance, sirens blaring), look up prices in advance. Health care professionals are getting used to consumers asking for a cost estimate before a procedure. You can also compare prices online. Check out www.mnhospitalpricecheck.org and www.mainstreetmedica.com.

Kara McGuire • 612-673-7293 Follow her on Twitter: twitter.com/kablog.