Huge birth control bill

I work for the only medical group in my rural area. They happen to be a catholic company and are (somehow) allowed to not cover birth control on their employee health insurance. They also own the only clinic in town, which is where I went to remove my iud and see about other bc options.

I was talking to the intake nurse (I know her and being we work for the same company, she’s in the same boat) and she was saying she might take her daughter to planned parenthood when the time comes. The nearest PP is two hours away. She noted I had concerns about the cost and sent the MD in.

I love my MD, he’s a rare rural doctor who sees practically everyone in town but manages to be very present (though very busy.) He noted my concern on price and said he could submit a claim for me for Nexplanon as a treatment (for a made-up condition bc he’s the best), and it should then be covered. He said I’d get a call when the nexplanon came in and I could make an appointment.

This is where I think I messed up? I got the call and didn’t ask abt coverage, if the claim went through, etc. I just made the appointment and got the insertion.

A couple weeks ago I got my bill. $200ish for insertion, $200ish for other office charges. $1800 for the Nexplanon. It looks like insurance covered some minor charges, but not much. I am facing a $2200 bill for a stick in my arm when I could have gone to PP and paid $150 for the whole thing.

Do I have any recourse here? What do I say when I call billing? Do I talk to insurance directly? What can I do differently next time? Thanks in advance.

submitted by /u/nrahsrus73
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