I loathe insurance companies. Even more so than Walmart, bad drivers, potty soup, ranch dressing, and the obnoxious cartoon Sid the Science Kid. We pay mega-bucks for a 100% insurance coverage, but surprise bills and more deductibles keep popping up.
But you know what? This post-pregnancy I've actually got some time and a killer cell phone plan to battle it out. Me vs PEHP. And they cannot hang up on me.
The Battle: Infant Audio Screening Test $84. Insurance denies the claim because the doctor is out of PEHP's network. I go ballistic, not necessarily because of the money, but because I'm confused as to why the hell an out-of-network doctor is working at my already-insurance-approved hospital. (No wonder people have their babies at home. That almost might be worth giving up the epidural and going natural).
Many phone calls later, PEHP pays for part of the claim AND I get the bill down to $50.25 for Maya's deductible. BOOYAH! I saved $30 bucks, and I won a moral battle. I have now saved our family over $200 as of January because I would not give up.
Oh yeah, and it turns out the doctor is in the PEHP network. NEVER trust your insurance. Apparently, PEHP only hires old women for customer service to make you feel bad for swearing at them, but it's still a ruse. (And for the record, swearing only happens when x amount exceeds three digits).