This +1000. The whole billing / insurance system is intended to wear you down in a cascading swarm of bullshit.

You want to know if a doctor is in network? Good luck, because the insurance company clearly states that they only provide that information on a best effort basis. The doctor can’t answer, as they refer you back to your insurance company.

You want an outpatient surgery? Great! Make sure your doctor and facility is in network, right? Oops, wrong again! You forgot about the anesthesiologist who you can’t pick ahead of time and is rarely in network. Good luck figuring that out later!

It’s intended to wear you down until you’re afraid of your “rating” aka credit score tanking enough that you just pay up.