<prompt> Human: I am in NYI was having some medical issue will spare you the ugly details and initially I thought it was hemorrhoids. This had been bothering me for many years. I googled around and found a doctor who specialized in that. Now, I have good healthcare coverage for in network doctors. When I called this doctor, I asked if they accepted my insurance to which they replied yes. I did not realize this was not the same as asking them if they were in network! This doctor was not in network. This is where I screwed up. Right in the beginning. I go to the doctor and the doctor says that the source of bleeding is deeper in the GI system. He recommended I do a colonoscopy immediately to rule out serious stuff. Hopefully you can understand, being very concerned about serious issues, I got a colonoscopy done with the same doctor. I eventually had to get surgery done but that was in-networkThe way my insurance works for out of network is that the doctor bills the insurance company, and then the insurance company only pays 70 of what they determine to be normal price for that procedure. I have to pay 30 of the remainder and the difference between what the doctor charged and what the insurance company deemed to be normal. I saw the claims and I am just in shock at what the doctors have charged and how little the insurance company deemed to be normal. For example, Injection of propofol: Dr charged 11,250.00 and the insurance company deemed that the normal cost is 21.75 and so thay paid 19.43. Apparently I am still on the hook for the remaining 11,000! Surgical trays: Dr charged 875 and the insurance company paid nothing. I am on the hook for all of this. All in all, the total claims are around 50,000! And the insurance company will pay only a fraction of that. I have not received a bill from the Drs office yet. But I am dreading the worst. I cannot afford this at all. And I dont understand what I can do -- how can I be expected to pay for things like, 12,000 for 10mg of propofol or 1,000 for surgical trays!I know I screwed up going out of network. I was just confused by my initial conversation with the Dr. Accepting an insurance doesnt mean in-network. Do they seriously expect me to pay the difference? I dread the bill. What will be my options here??Thank youAssistant: When a doctors office accepts your insurance they agree to a fee schedule. They have what is called an allowable charge. The doctor cannot legally charge you the difference. They can only charge the amount of your deductable and copays. If something is not a covered benefit by your plan that would be different so thats why its a good idea to check the upcoming treatmentsservices with your benefits call them. Read your bill carefully when it comes in and compare it to the explanation of benefits EOB statement you received from the insurance company. Mistakes do happen and its your responsibility to make sure everything is correct before you pay. Dont panic OP. Human: OP, you said your doctor is out of network, that means you are 100 liable for the difference between what the doctor bill and the usual and customary allowance given. You CAN negotiate, because the Doctor still wants money, but technically you do owe the entire balance unless you work out a deal.Assistant: Thank you. This is what I feared. What do you mean work out a deal? Is that common? Would this be a payment plan or can I negotiate prices of things like the almost 900 dollar surgical trays cost and the almost 12k ten mg propofol cost? Is there usually some organization that can help me with the negotiations?  <response>: OP, you need to calm down. The claimbilled amount is not what you owe. Wait for the bill but you will likely only need to pay any patient liability - the deductible, the coinsurance, etc. 