$3893 the "allowed amount" for 9 months of maternity care + childbirth – is this normal?

We just got a response from our insurance company (BCBS) after our new baby was born. The bill from the provider (OON) was $7900 for all maternity care throughout the pregnancy as well as the childbirth itself. This doesn't seem unreasonable to me, and we had worked out with the insurance company prior to the birth that we would be on the hook for:

deductible (1500) 20% co-insurance up to the out of pocket max (which is something like 12k)

So, I was budgeting for 1500+(.2)6400 as a bill, but instead the bill is now $6k – 1500+(.2)3893+the remaining money they didn't "allow" ($4000).

Fortunately we're in a position where we can swallow this cost without too much impact but i'm curious if there is a way to appeal the "allowed" amount and what the best way to do so is? It does not seem outrageous for a childbirth and 10+ doctor's visits to cost $7900, but i'm not an expert in this area at all.

Thanks for reading my novel!

submitted by /u/johnnylineup
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