Can I negotiate down this healthcare bill?

[Screech]

Mods, please move if there might be somewhere better for this....

Story: I went to physical therapy for leg problems. They looked into my insurance deductible, coverage, details etc and told me that one full regimen of appointments would cost be exactly $500 out of pocket, and insurance would cover the rest. I took them at their word and signed the paperwork but now, in retrospect, realize that the paperwork only really said I would pay the bill, and didn't include the fact that they told me I would be paying $500 out of pocket. Bill shows up a few months later and it is $1,500, which is kinda of shitty. In all likelihood they simply misread the insurance coverage details and were honest, although there is also the possibility that they knew what it would come out to but wanted to make the sale.......in any case, it doesn't really matter, I guess. My question is, if I go to them and complain is there any realistic chance I can argue this down to the $500 i signed up for or am I totally f*cked and on the hook for it all?

Thanks ATOT!

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Few things I've learned in my time of healthcare needs in the US...

1. Don't ever expect an accurate number prior to signing up for it.
2. Expect more than you expect. Whenever you have a procedure typically you get anywhere from 3-5 bills.
3. You can always try. Call their financial department and give a sobbing story on how you can't afford it. At the very least you can get pay over time, but I've heard cases where they significantly cut the bill. YMMV - and I have no experience here.
4. Check to make sure they ran it through your insurance correctly. Plenty of times the healthcare provider simply submitted the bill to the insurance incorrectly - the insurance denies it - so they just forward the bill in full to you instead of going to the insurance company.

 

[edro]

It's a huge cluster.
The first step is to verify they billed your insurance the correct procedure code.
You can then call your insurance to verify what they cover for that code.
Once that is settled, your final attempt is to call the payment/collections department of who you owe and ask for reductions.