[Frangyomory]

I was a health plan administrator for many years. The issue of balance billing is most important to people on MEDICARE. If a provider accepts Medicare assignment (and you need to ask this of any doctor, lab or hospital you use) they CANNOT bill you for what Medicare does not cover, except deductibles. They will routinely try to do this but you simply respond that as a Medicare provider, they must accept what Medicare pays.

Now if you have Medicare and a supplement, they can send their bill with the Medicare explanation of benefit (EOB) to your secondary insurance. They will then be able to get additional funds from that company. Under NO circumstances except deductible balances, can they bill you after they bill your secondary insurance.

It is MOST importand actually for anyone with insurance coverage to be aware of this.
I would be happy to answer any questions I can if you post them here.