I have found "balance billing" or "surprise billing" to be a real problem. My wife has had ER visits in which we went to an in-network hospital. But some of the providers such as labs, x-rays, purposely stay out of insurance networks. Insurance will reimburse these providers at in-network rates. But since these providers choose to stay out of network, they send follow up bills to the patients saying that they want their full retail rate.
I consistently refused to pay them any more than my copay or co-insurance amount. These providers then turned the bills over to collection agencies. When contacted by the collection agents, I again refused to pay and demanded that the collection agents never contact me again. So far, nothing has come of this. I have never paid a balance biller and never will.
I consistently refused to pay them any more than my copay or co-insurance amount. These providers then turned the bills over to collection agencies. When contacted by the collection agents, I again refused to pay and demanded that the collection agents never contact me again. So far, nothing has come of this. I have never paid a balance biller and never will.