MRI Cost MORE with insurance?

I recently had a shoulder injury which required some MRI imaging. I also left my employer recently before so was still finalizing COBRA United Healthcare insurance when I had the service. The imaging center required payment upfront, and because I was still finalizing insurance, I had to pay out of pocket there. It was $2,214.73!!! It was a ridiculous amount, but I thought after the insurance figured it out, it would be much less that was out of pocket.

Fast forward to today, I finalized things with my insurance and went back to file a claim. Turns out $2,214 was the total after a "cash package discount", meaning the original bill was $5,612.79!!!! Doing the math, it turns out the "cash package discount" is right around 60% of the total bill, right around what my United Healthcare is willing to pay (60% after the $250 deductible is covered).

Does it make sense that I would be paying more with insurance than I would with cash? I did the math based on my plan, and I'd be paying $2,395.12 total with insurance and only $2,214.73 without insurance. These are ridiculous payments that I'm not able to afford.

submitted by /u/UhDidYouGetAnyOfThat
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