Therapist Suddenly Goes Out of Network, Neglected to Tell Me for A Month, Now I Owe $450 in Fees

So, in November 2022, I started seeing a therapist in my health insurance network. We had a total of 8 session from then to January 2023. I paid a $5 copay for each session.

Well, come late January 2023, they call me right before our session to tell me that they have gone out of network, telling me they thought they weren't going out of network until December 2023, but in fact went out of network in December 2022. I now owe for four sessions between late December 2022 to mid-January 2023, totaling almost $450.

To break down what I apparently owe, their sessions cost $200. Insurance apparently told them I only owe $117.29 per session. Since I paid the $5 copay for each session, I now owe $112.29 for four sessions.

Therapist has indicated they would offer me a 50% discount if paid. I told them I cannot afford that, they said they cannot go lower.

I should say that I verified with the insurance company nearly every week to make sure my therapist was still in network, and they said yes right up until my therapist called me, which afterwards I called the insurance company, and they said yes, they were out of network.

My question is, what are my options here? I have considered filing a complaint via No Surprises Bill but have not gotten around to it yet. What else can I do here?

What are my therapist's options if I do not pay? What are their potential actions?

Any and all help or advice is appreciated. Thank you in advance.

submitted by /u/HuddledFun
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