Ask AI to explain a doctor's letter or medical bill
Medical paperwork can read like a foreign language. AI is very good at translating it into everyday words and suggesting questions to ask your doctor. The key is to protect your private details first and to treat the answer as a starting point, not a diagnosis.
What you need
- The ChatGPT or Claude app (see our other guides to get set up)
- The letter, test result, or bill
- A pen or sticky notes to cover private details
Step by step
Cover up your private details
Before you take a picture, cover your full name, date of birth, address, member or account numbers, and Social Security number. A sticky note works great. The AI does not need any of these to explain the medical words.
Use a private chat if you can
In ChatGPT, open a new chat and tap Temporary. If asked, pick Unpersonalized before you send your first message. A temporary chat stays out of your history and is not used to train the AI, unless you choose to save it. In Claude, tap the ghost icon at the top of a new chat to start an incognito chat, which also stays out of your history.
Add a photo of the page
Tap the + button next to the message bar. Choose to take a photo with the camera or pick one from your photos. Make sure the whole page is flat, well lit, and readable.
Ask in plain words
Type or say something like: "Please explain this letter in plain English, like you're talking to someone with no medical background. What does it say, what are the important numbers, and what should I ask my doctor?"
For a bill, ask different questions
Try: "What am I being charged for, what did insurance pay, and what do I owe? Is anything here worth calling the billing office about?" AI can help you spot a duplicate charge or a code you do not recognize.
Ask follow-up questions
If a word is still confusing, just ask: "What does 'benign' mean?" or "Can you say that more simply?" There is no such thing as a silly question here.
Write down your questions for the doctor
Ask the AI: "Give me a short list of questions to bring to my next appointment." Write them down or print them. Then call your doctor's office or patient portal with anything that worries you.
Good to know
- AI can be wrong. It is a helpful translator, not your doctor. Never change a medication or skip care because of what an AI said.
- If something sounds urgent, call your doctor or 911. Do not wait on an AI answer.
- Check your privacy settings once: in ChatGPT, Settings, then Data Controls, then turn off "Improve the model for everyone." In Claude, Settings, then Privacy, then turn off "Help improve Claude."