How do I handle a huge bill from a doctor I was told was in-network (he’s not)?

I needed to see a spine specialist for my back and neck in March of 2023. I called the office of a recommended orthopedic doctor in my area and asked if they took my insurance. They said they did, so I booked an appointment and on the day of the appointment gave them my insurance card and filled in my insurance details. I paid the $10 co-pay, followed up with two more appointments, and paid the same co-pay both times. Seventeen months later I got a seventeen hundred dollar bill from the orthopedic office and then two weeks later, received a statement from my insurance company showing that I owed eleven thousand dollars because the doctor was out of network. I checked the website and it showed he was indeed out-of-network. I rarely check websites as I learned the hard way that websites can be out of date. I always call the office and confirm with the front desk.

There is no way that I can pay this bill. I would never have gone to this doctor if I knew he was out-of-network. What can I do? My husband thinks because I paid the $10 co-pay that it proves that my insurance was accepted at the time. I'm a wreck.

submitted by /u/DocGel
[comments]