Should preventive care have a charge?

My insurance says all preventive care is covered – so why do I have a bill?

Background: I go in for a well women's exam (covered). My doctor orders a pap smear as part of the exam. I have no symptoms of any kind. Doctor confirms that everything is preventive. Prior to appt, I read my insurance company's guidelines – well women's exams and pap smears are considered preventive. Everything checks out to me – I shouldn't have a cost associated for my visit.

Weeks later, I get an EOB from my insurance company with a charge – they say I owe $95.

Did my insurance company mess up? They don't seem to think so and I'm disputing it now. I spent an hour on the phone with the insurance rep who agreed with my reasoning, but kept saying that "this was applied to your deductible" but couldn't tell me WHY it's applied. Example, if this was something diagnostic, I would understand. If I had symptoms and the doctor is trying to rule something out, I would also understand. But I've had many paps and well women's exams in my life — always covered by insurance.

Hope this question makes sense, I feel like every year I get bills for things that I thought were fully covered.

submitted by /u/blue3708
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