CT scan surprise hospital bill help

I (43M) have PPO through Blue Cross Blue Shield and a Dr prescribed CT scan. I scheduled an appointment with a local US Hospital. The day before the hospital called and said they still have not received the approval from BCBS.

I called BCBS and they were nice 👍 on the phone and called the hospital while I waited. The approval got sorted out and I went through my appointment.

Fast forward a few months and now I got a bill for the CT scan. It says the insurance paid out about 1000 and I still owe about 550.

Of course, I am going to call the insurance etc.

But, is this legal and do I have to pay ? I was under the impression that the insurance was going to cover it and there were advance warning that I may need to pay the difference.

The amount is not enormous but still why should I pay and what if the difference was much higher like 10,000? Shouldn’t the patient be advised of what the difference is prior to procedure? Especially when the hospital and the health insurance company knew ahead of time and both “approved” it?

submitted by /u/mrgenetrey
[comments]