<prompt> Human: Hi there! I dont know if this will help but here is the background. Im a graduate student in California and I usually go to the student health center at my university for all my medical needs, including Pap smears. Last year I had my Pap smears in May at the student health center, and at the end of summer I got a call from a nurse who wanted to refer me to the university hospital for a follow up due to my age and abnormal Pap results in the past because my doctor at the student health center was on vacation. Eventually in November I went to get my test done at the hospital. The obgyn wasnt happy with the minimal and messy medical history that got faxed to her and she had no access to my record, so she did the Pap and colposcopy with biopsy. I also got a pregnancy test done as per protocol. Before I left I asked if I needed to pay, and I was told no. In January I received two separate bills. The first bill was about 40, so I just paid with my credit card. Then a second bill came and this time it was 450. Being a poor grad student, panic struck immediately. I went to check my insurance and found that I had three claims filed: one from my obgyn, one from the pathologist, and the third from the hospital. The 40 that I paid covered the first two claims. I called the hospital to obtain the itemized bill, but I only got a single bill that covers only the items listed in the third claim. I took a good look and found that the billing code 88305 was used in the second claim it was listed in the EOB. The same code was used in the itemized bill, but the hospital charged me three units of 88305, 318.35 per unit which totals 955.05. I googled 88305 and it stands for gross and microscopic examination of a specimen.I called the hospital again and asked the billing department for a review. Two weeks later they mailed the same bill to me. I guess that means they found no error in the bill. Im responsible to pay the amount after discount 429.91 for this particular item. 450 is the amount after adding the pregnancy test, which is also my deductible. I checked my insurance document and it says preventive services are covered 100 and deductible doesnt apply to these services. What is my next step? Call the insurance? Im sorry if this is too long, and I greatly appreciate any pointers as Im losing sleep. 450 is a lot to me...Edit: thank you so much for your advice! I called the insurance and was told that the hospital coded it as a sick visit. So I called the hospital billing department and they told me that because I was referred to a doctor who doesnt have her own clinic she is owned by the hospital so they had to code it as a sick visit. Also it turns out that I had three biopsy specimens, which explains why 88305 was billed three times. I then asked for a payment plan or discount. The best they can do is 10 discount if paid in full, or a deposit plus 6 monthly payments. I chose the latter because I still have some financial obligations summer school. I will end up paying the full amount.  <response>: Unfortunately the follow up for an abnormal Pap smear isnt preventative treatment from what I understand. You can usually call the hospital billing and set up a pay plan for 0 interest. Theyll often let you pay as little as 10-20 per month. 