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5 min Paperwork Beginner

Decode a confusing letter or bill in plain English

The problem: An insurance letter, medical bill, or bank notice landed in your mailbox. It’s two pages of fine print and codes, and you can’t tell if you owe money, need to act, or can ignore it.

Do this

  1. Black out or delete your name, address, and any account, member, or Social Security numbers, then copy the text.
  2. Fill in the brackets, paste the prompt, and add the text at the bottom.
  3. Put any deadline on your calendar, and check it and any amount against the original letter.

Copy-paste

Explain this letter in plain words. I'm not an expert. What it is: [e.g. insurance letter / medical bill / bank notice / lease page / school form] Who it's from: [TYPE OF COMPANY OR OFFICE] My worry: [e.g. "do I owe this?" / "is this a denial?" / "do I have to reply?"] 1) In 3 sentences: what is this, and why did I get it? 2) Do I need to do anything? List each action, the deadline if one is stated, and what happens if I ignore it. 3) For each dollar amount: what it's for, and whether it's something I owe or just information. 4) Words or codes worth understanding, explained simply. 5) 3 questions to ask if I call them. Only use what's in the text. If something isn't stated, write "not stated" instead of guessing. Text (my name, address, and account numbers removed): [PASTE THE LETTER TEXT]

Done when: You know what the letter wants, the deadline (if any), and the one next step you’ll take.

Make it better: Reply “Write a short, polite script for my phone call about this, using my 3 questions.” Comparing plans? Paste two summaries and ask “What would I pay in a bad year with each one?”

Privacy and caveats: Never paste full account numbers, Social Security numbers, or passwords. AI can misread fine print, so treat its answer as a reading guide, not legal or medical advice. If money or coverage is at stake, call the sender using the number on their official website or your card, not a number from an email or text.

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