Watch out for medical balance billing

After my little girl Lily was born this June, I was not only introduced to an Earth Angel,


I was introduced to "balance billing". This can happen when you go to a hospital and the physicians, anesthesiologists, and whatnot who work at the hospital have a different contract with your HMO or Insurance Company than your primary doctor.

Here's what I'm legally responsible to pay the anesthesiologist. This is directly from my insurance company's website. To their credit, as you can see, they informed me about balance billing. (As a side note, ALWAYS check out your insurance company's website. Go over your claims. Be sure you are being charged what you should be charged, and look out for in vs out of network charges. They often come up wrong, and you can correct the situation with a simple phone call.)



Yes, I realize I'm not that good with a graphic pen, but I do what I can. Aaaanyway, here's a copy of the bill from the anesthesiologist (God bless him for doing his job correctly, I was able to stay awake for my daughter's birth).



As you can see, his biller is trying to stick me with the balance of what he charged, vs. what my insurance company is willing to pay. This is called balance billing. Here in California at least, he's not allowed to do that. He's supposed to haggle directly with the insurance company.

So check your medical bills, especially after a hospital stay and/or giving birth, to make sure you aren't a victim of balance billing!