Well, wish me luck today -- I'm wrangling with the doctor's office and insurance company. Looks like I paid $214 for two appointments in February, but they only filed $94 to the insurance company, so $120 never went toward my deductible. On my income that makes a big difference.

I also got my preliminary statement from the insurance company on my colonoscopy. They said the provider-- the gastroenterology office -- has filed a $900 charge and after insurance pays their portion, the office "may" charge me over $600. That doesn't count the fees for the doctor who performed it or for the anesthesiologist, which total over $1000. Those have been filed but not yet processed. The office hasn't billed me yet, so I don't know what I will actually be expected to pay, but it isn't looking good.

I'm starting to feel that as a healthy woman with no risk factors for cancer, I should have said no to the colonoscopy!