Kind of - you see $13,000. I think the ins company rarely pays those prices. If the Dr settled for cash, the price wouldn't be 13k either.
Well, either that, or the surgery center deals with only insurance companies THAT WILL pay their price...or at least pay very close to it. Which is why some surgery centers, and doctors don't accept certain insurances, and others do. ...Of course with the DR. it depends which network they are members of etc.
When I had a Mole removed at Johns Hopkins, at the time I had "Assurant Health". Every Doctor I saw asked "What insurance do you have?". After the 3rd time I said "Why is every one asking me this? (I already filled out the paper work at the front desk, and paid my co pay). The 3rd dermatologist said "Well, some insurance companies don't like to pay..."
I'm thinking to myself, Would they stop right there, and deny working on my issue if I told them a insurance company they knew didn't pay, or if it was one that they knew paid pennies on the dollar, would they choose to offer me less service? I thought it was strange every Dermatologist that walked in the room was asking me what insurance I had.
From a customer stand point In would rather pay Cash, and come to an agreement on the price for the service. Another thing is, they never tell you want things will cost before hand. ...That leads me to believe that some shady pricing practices are going on.
Wouldn't it be nice if we booked 4 hour weddings without the customer knowing the price, and we send them a bill for $9,500 6 months later? LOL