Medical Bills

This is just a reminder for everyone with medical insurance.

Well, last weekend we got a bill in the mail from the doctor who put Chases Stitches in. I wasn't alarmed and didn't think anything of it, since 1. we get them every time we go to the ER or Urgent Care Centers, and 2. it was less than $50.
I was going to write a check and put it in the mail today, and realized I never got an explanation of Benefits from our insurance company. So, just out of curiosity I logged on to our Insurances website and looked at the claim, and it says: MEMBER RESPONSIBILITY: $0!!!!! The doctors office is billing me for the NEGOTIATED DISCOUNT they have with the insurance company!!!
I called our insurance company and verified that was correct, they told me to call the doctors office, and explain that that is the negotiated discount rate and if they had any problems to contact the insurance company.
After a talk with the doctors office and them arguing with me that it is what I owe because they are not contracted with the insurance company. Which doesn't make sense, the hospital is contracted, why not the doctors who WORK at the hospital??? Finally, I ended up telling them I am not going to pay this bill because my insurance company is telling me I don't owe anything, and if they have a problem they need to talk with my insurance company! The lady, in the nicest voice possible said: OK, we will refile this with your insurance company, have a nice day.
We will have to wait and see what happens!

Point I am trying to make, if you get a bill in the mail from a doctor make sure they are billing you for the amount your insurance is telling you to pay!!