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Can we negotiate the medical bill with hospital or insurance company?

Recently a friend had an abortion and D&C, she has got the bill approx $2200, her medical insurance deductible limit is $3000 Is there any way of negotiating the amount with hospital or insurance company? Insurance is from Blue shield, blue cross Please suggest, can she try to get a lower and less amount to be paid towards bills Thanks for all help Thanks for all answer. Just to clear fact, she was running high fever 103-104 and she went to Doc as she had spotting, then Doc didn't said anything to her but after two days she had bleeding and when went to Doc, it was too late the baby was long gone. She didn't opt abortion, she has to go with it as baby was settled down in her uterus with no heart beats

Public Comments

1. She can try with the hospital. No sense dealing with the ins. company. If the hosp will not lower the amount then she just sends them 50 a month till the bill is paid
2. As a rule a lawyer handles this.
3. Not with the insurance - it will cover what it covers, period. You may be able to negotiate with the provider (hospital).
4. As far as I have learned, hospitals and insurance do not discount nor insure murder--and abortion is murder. Besides insurance companies and hospitals are not responsible for your friends decisions to be irresponsible.
5. Medical expenses can't be negotiated with the insurance company. The insurer processes the claim according to the benefits on the policy. Any payment arrangements/discounts are between the patient and the medical provider. Your insurance company never knows if you actually pay your share or not...its all between you and the provider. She can try negotiating with the hospital. If she's low income, they may have a sliding scale. (Though she'll have to provide proof of income, such as pay stubs or tax returns, etc.)
6. Yes she can try with the hospital. She really should have gotten this info straighten out before the procedure but she can try. She has a very high deductible. As others wrote, the ins. company will not negotiate the contracted amount. They just will not. But see if the hospital will lower the cost or put her on a payment plan. Too bad, condoms are what $5 or $10 dollars??? Even birth control which is about $100 - 250 out of pocket.
7. The only way to negotiate with a hospital/healthcare provider is to show up with cash upfront. They may then give the same rates as they have negotiated with various health insurers. However, don't expect a lowered rate AND a 'payment plan'.
8. Yes, when my mothers bill was excessive and padded so obviously, I challenged the hospital administrator on some of the charges. It was totally ridiculous, and they knew it was. So we went down the list of charges and I crossed off stuff she never got, even then some things was still excessive. They took X rays the bone specialist couldn't use. Which was never taken to the other doctor, and then we were charged for this company to read them who actually never did. They told us this is just standard procedure. They take X rays that no one reads and you have to pay for the x rays and the guy who never actually reads them. So if you break your leg just make an appointment with a bone specialist and stay in bed, never go to a hospital they won't help anyway. Now back to your charges, yes, some of the stuff was removed from the bill, but it was still padded with excessive stuff that she never received.
9. You would negotiate that amount with the hospital. She also needs to call her insurance. They will have a prenegotiated amount, with the hospital, so the bill should be lowered to the insurance discount amount, but she'll have to pay the whole thing until she has paid her deductible for the year.
10. damn, why was the abortion so expensive? can't you get it done at a clinic for cheaper? just curious! oh, i see why! i'm sorry the baby had died inutero! I wish the best!