Vent (small potatoes, but still)

I got a referral to an in-network cardiologist to have a consultation about some family history concerns. My insurance allows me to have specialist visits covered for “only” a $75 copay, so I thought I would be covered after that, as I was for some other specialist appts. recently. But I just got the bill processed, and it turns out I’m on the hook for about $500 for the 30-minute conversation. The cardiology unit is housed inside a large hospital, and the hospital has different billing procedures even though the physician I saw was technically in my network. I signed a disclosure on-site and everything saying that I understood their billing arrangement, but apparently I did NOT understand that I would have to pay a lot more than I expected. I already talked to my insurance and to the provider and they were both like, “yeah, that sucks.” 🤷‍♀️

I hate it here; the system we have is so stupid and predatory. I’ve been having a full-blown meltdown all afternoon and just needed to scream into the void. Aaahhh.