Nothing is Impossible with God

UPDATE: I was billed for a total of $817.88 out-of-pocket cost. Everyone agreed it wasn’t fair or reasonable. Adjustments were made and it looks like I am going to end up with a total of $245.38 in medical expenses. A lesson learned.

A month ago I went to the emergency room with a severe headache and vomiting. I thought I was having a stroke. I couldn’t stop throwing up; the pain in my head was so strong, I couldn’t see, concentrate, or even walk well. I have never experienced pain so severe.

Because I am acutely aware of health insurance policies and limitations, I made sure to go to an in-network facility. Long story short, when I received an explanation of benefits from my insurance company, I was stunned. Apparently, emergency room doctors were not covered and were considered out-of-network. I had no idea that such a thing was possible — an in-network facility staffed with out-of-network doctors. I was devastated to say the least.

I cried. I prayed. I fell apart. I argued with God. I cried some more…And then I felt like God was telling me that I will not end up paying those bills. I wasn’t sure what to think about this. Am I imagining this? Am I thinking this because I want to think this? Is this for real? I considered these words, weighed them, mulled over them and decided that I will have to wait and see what happens. At that particular moment in time I didn’t see any way out of paying hundreds of dollars in medical bills, but I decided to trust.

About a week later I received the actual bill from one of the doctors. I cried. I thought there would be no bill, but here it is. How can this be? Was I so wrong? What am I going to do now? I had to get my emotions under control and called the billing office. They told me they would correct their mistake. I asked if there was any way this particular doctor would be covered by my insurance as an in-network provider.

The nice lady on the phone informed me that yes, indeed, this physician is covered. I, in turn, told her my insurance company has refused to process this claim as an in-network claim. She told me that in cases like this one where the facility is in-network, but the doctor is not, the fact that the facility is in-network supersedes. In other words, my insurance was supposed to have processed this claim as in-network on all counts. They are just being cheap.

And this is not all. She also told me that they will write off the balance since this facility is in-network and my insurance is processing things incorrectly. I was speechless. Could this be for real? Just like that, the balance has disappeared into thin air? I felt so thankful to God for his faithfulness. So far, $86.29 has been written off. There are two other bills that should be written off as well. I stand amazed because God made a way where I thought there wasn’t even a hint of one or any hope for one. Nothing is impossible with God indeed.