[brendanyounger]

Depressingly, this is closer to reality than most people realize. It's not just the risk of complications in treatment, it's also that most providers send off several hundred or thousand claims in a 1-2 week period and get a lump sum check a few months later from the insurance company. Believe me when I say the best and brightest in finance are not working in billing reconciliation in hospital systems. Most are only capable of saying "oncology reimbursements are up 0.7% this month yoy" and not much more.

They are pointedly uninterested in calculating what your particular surgery will cost you or your insurance. All they know is that you're one of 200 this month and your insurance pays, on average after all the adjustments and adjudications, about 15% less than average so please be quiet and don't make a fuss.