I received a $13k bill for the anesthesiologist for my c-section because he wasn't in network. How tf am I supposed to know that? And it's not like I hadn't preregistered and they didn't have my insurance info months in advance.

I sure enjoyed ending the year with a need to meet the family max of $7100 last week.We've got to improve our healthcare financial practices.

@HumbleGirl : I so agree. I have the max taken from my husband's check for FSA funds, to pay for medical needs through out the year. The max is 2750. Even if I had the max taken out of both of our checks, it wouldn't come close to meeting the deductible required. How does that even make any sense? You can keep money out in an account, before taxes, for medical expenses, but we won't allow it to be anywhere what you need for the deductibles on your insurance. And oh, don't even think about saving it up, because you have to use it in full each year, or lose it. Which is why I bought almost 800 bucks worth of medical supplies at Walmart yesterday. I still have $150 I have to spend by tomorrow.

@MrsT : appalling.

@ParksideRes : That really sucks! I'm so sick of it. I mean you do everything you can on your end and still end up getting screwed. You go to a facility that's in your no work, you see a doctor that's in your net work but then they call and an anesthesiologist or send your sample to a pathologist or radiologist who is not in your network and then boom! You could hit with a $2000 bill. It's ridiculous.

@ParksideRes : Thank you for the tips! Happy new year to you and your family.