Clarity

Stop paying for unnecessary medical fees

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Clarity

Tagline: Stop paying for unnecessary medical fees.

🧠 Inspiration

Medical billing errors are a widespread but under-discussed issue in the United States. Over 80% of hospital bills in the U.S. contain at least one error, yet most patients have no idea how to identify or challenge them. From $300 bandages to emotional support fees for crying, the system is full of inflated, duplicated, or entirely fabricated charges that often go unchallenged.

This project was inspired by a deep sense of frustration with the healthcare system — one that profits off complexity and opacity. We wanted to build a tool that empowers patients by helping them take control of their medical expenses, especially those already in financially or emotionally vulnerable positions.

🛠️ What It Does

Clarity allows users to upload a medical bill (PDF format), then uses Google's Gemini AI to scan through each line item, detect patterns of overcharging or suspicious charges, and present a clean, easy-to-understand summary.

The tool:

  • Flags double charges, items never used, and absurd pricing (like a $50 tissue).
  • Highlights these issues in a simple breakdown (e.g. “Saving Plan — All charges reviewed”).
  • Suggests actionable next steps that patients can take to dispute questionable charges with the hospital or insurance company.
  • Aims to make the complex medical billing process understandable and human-centered.

🌱 What I Learned

  • How to integrate PDF upload flows and parse them cleanly within a React app
  • Working with AI models like Gemini to process structured and unstructured financial documents
  • Designing around the complexities of real-world documents and unpredictable formatting

🚧 Challenges We Faced

  • Parsing inconsistently formatted bills — Medical bills are not standardized, so getting clean inputs for the AI was a big hurdle.
  • Balancing clarity with detail — Presenting medical insights in a way that was simple, but not oversimplified, was a major UI/UX challenge.

❤️ Social Good & Impact

Medical debt is the #1 cause of bankruptcy in the United States. Clarity directly supports financial justice by:

  • Empowering individuals to challenge hospital billing practices
  • Helping reduce unnecessary financial strain on vulnerable populations
  • Promoting transparency in a deeply opaque industry
  • Educating users on their rights when it comes to disputing charges

By giving patients the tools to understand and fight unjust bills, Clarity contributes to both social equity and systemic accountability.

🚀 What's Next for Clarity

Clarity is far from over!

  1. Dispute Draft:

    • Clarity will draft an email for you that outlines how to dispute questionable charges. This includes clear instructions and suggestions for what to include in your communication to your provider or insurance company.

  2. Email to Providers:

    • You’ll be able to send this dispute draft directly to your providers or insurance company with just a few clicks, ensuring a seamless and quick process for addressing discrepancies.

  3. Connect with Local Resources:

    • Clarity also provides a list of local resources, such as healthcare advocates or financial assistance programs, that can help you navigate the dispute process or connect you with professionals who can further assist in challenging unjust fees.

Clarity empowers you with the tools to challenge unfair billing practices, connect with helpful resources, and gain better control over your healthcare expenses.

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