Doctors and insurance companies should be required to tell patients what they will be expected to pay for medical tests and procedures before the patents undergo those test and procedures.
Why is this important?
I underwent extensive surgery to repair 3 hernias and torn muscles. The surgery required two surgeons. Before the surgery, I called Blue Cross to find out how much I would have to pay myself and the insurance company refused to tell me, except to say it would cover 80 percent of the "allowable amount." It would not tell me the "allowable amount." In the end, Blue Cross paid $1,076 of a $10,000 bill. I had the diagnostic and procedure codes when I called Blue Cross, they should have been required to tell me how much of the cost would fall to me. I may have waited another year for the surgery.
