For Her Head Cold, Insurer Coughed Up $25,865

[Hekate]

4. I will say it again: if health insurance companies gave a damn about how they disburse their money

...they would be in collective revolt against overcharging by labs, suppliers, and hospitals. They have the clout -- we do not.

I've been using a CPAP for 15 years. In the first few years, I received invoices along with the supplies, paperwork that showed the amount being charged to Blue Cross. It was stunning. I wish I'd saved some, because while there was no cost to us at that time, someone somewhere thought a length of plastic hose was worth $60+ dollars, and a bit of foam filter 1/2 inch by 1 inch was worth $15.

Behind the scenes, Blue Cross might have been negotiating a more reasonable price, or maybe it was just a case of one hand washing the other. But what if we'd had no insurance?

It's beyond disgusting.