u/jordanlund describes his experience with U.S. healthcare and heart surgery as an employee with no lapse on coverage.

A while back I had to have a root canal. Total was something like $1500, insurance said they would pay for $900 and I begged my mom to pay the rest because by the time I could possibly save up $600 the tooth would be lost.

Later I got a bill in the mail for an additional $200 the insurance company didn't pay for. Even after both them and the dental office said it was covered. I called and they said too bad so sad, because apparently it is literally impossible to actually know what I owe until after the insurance payment comes through. The day of the procedure I paid my bill, so as far as I'm concerned my end of the transaction is DONE. I didn't pay it and never will, so I just hope I don't need dental surgery any time soon. In no other forms of business is it acceptable to charge more money for something already paid for and delivered. Imagine if you got gas and a few days later they mail you to say the price of gas went up and you owe them additional money.

But this is the case everywhere. Insurance says its covered, but after the procedure you can end up with huge bills because insurance for whatever reason didn't pay it in full. I don't understand how they can estimate a cost and it always ends up being more.

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