I recently spoke with a patient who had a routine office visit for an annual checkup. Her last three visits were covered by her CareFirst Blue Shield plan, and she was not required to pay any out-of-pocket cost, short of the $15.00 copay for the office visit that day. Shortly after having her follow-up visit, she called me to discuss the medical bill she received from her doctor for $61.00 dollars.
Of course, she believed it was an error made by the physicians office and put the bill with the junk mail without bothering to followup on the outstanding $61.00 balance.