<prompt> Human: Hello rpersonalfinance!I visited a local, in-network doctor in January. Its a smaller shop, not a hospital. My insurance covers preventative blood work, so I went in and told them explicitly what insurance I had, and that I wanted preventative blood work tested. I specifically remember saying the word preventative to the nurse, who said something along the lines of Yes, we get this all the time. No worries. We will call you with the results.This was 3 months ago. I never heard back from the doctors office on the results, and yesterday I received a bill in the mail from the lab for 600 for the blood work! I called the doctors office, and it looks like they sent the blood to an out-of-network lab, which was not subject to my deductible problem number 1, and they also ordered tests that were not labeled preventative under my insurance problem number 2. So according to the bill, Im on the hook for the full out of network amount for each test. The insurance company says I need to sort it out with the doctors office, as They were the ones who sent it to the lab, and the lab billed it to the insurance company correctly based on what was ordered. My question to you all is: What would be my best course of action with the doctors office? Is there a way I can threaten to complain to some agency if they dont sort this out? This was wildly unprofessional. They were an in-network provider and, knowing my insurance info, still sent my blood to an out-of-network lab. They also ordered tests that I did not request. Thanks in advance for your help!  <response>: Honestly, this happens all the time. A good practice will have multiple labs to send things to depending on what network you are on. Before the day of your draw, youll have your insurance pulled and the in-network lab confirmed, and your labels printed as such. But mistakes happen. You might be on nearly identical sounding plans, with different in-network labs. A good practice will realize they made a costly mistake for you, and settle the costs. I cant say what your practice will do for you. But, I can say that you should be calm, polite and level-headed when you call your doctors office. Ask to speak to someone in billing. 