A method and system for enabling a service provider to file insurance claims electronically directly with the payer rather than through a clearinghouse. The system has two components interacting with an existing practice management system of a service provider and with online claim filing systems of insurance payers. The first is a software application installed on the service provider's computer to seek out billing information and create files suitable for filing of formatted claims with the payer's web sites. The second component is a web portal that interacts with both the first component and the payers' web sites to keep the former with formatting requirements and to facilitate filing of the claims electronically. The system uses a software “cookie” to convey instructions to the first component so that it can automatically connect to the appropriate page of each payer's web site.