This is a perfect example of over billing/price gouging by the health care industry. This is business as usual for the health care industry. With INSURANCE based fees it becomes a game of you go high I go low bartering. It's someone else is paying for it syndrome.

From what I've heard most doctors and practices already know what a particular carrier and/or plan pay so why all the balance billing which is supposed to be illegal. I thought there were actual contracts between the provider and insurer in regards to plans,services and fees.

Then apparently after the bill is challenged the hospital was able to reduce his bill over 30%. Also of note is that hospital's gross charges were reduced by 85% after dealing with all the carriers and government. If your over billing by 85% your are either a crook, greedy, incompetent and/or ignorant.

Then the health care industry likes to hype all the so called "free" services or unpaid bills that are already inflated/based on what is still a voluntary form of payment. They have the gaul calling servicing uninsured patients as "charity" work yet they frequently paid in cash or compensated. They're just crying because they didn't their desired fee, not what was needed cover actual expenses-a desired insurance based inflated fee is not an actual expense.

It's what,why and how much is being paid and NOT WHO will pay for medical care provided by the health insurance industry.