My hospital doesn't do that anymore. They work with you to get as many benefits as possible and they have programs to help that I'm not eligible for (one I make too much and the other my bill isn't high enough) but I'm in this middle ground where they will even admit that it's a lot of money but not have answers. Fortunately I was approved for Medicaid for all expenses after my 4th day IP until the end of the month so that will cut my bill and reduce my payment once it goes through. I need to start pushing to make sure that happens.

But thanks for the idea. I wish it were still that way. I think that used to be a law and at least my state ended it several years ago. For a long time my hospital was still ok if you were making reasonable payments but in the last year it got more strict.

The good thing is that the woman kept talking about these two charges that added up to $500 and those weren't on the itemized statement she sent so that worry is gone.