Out of Network in 2018

[anonymous]

I know when I worked for LabCorp they did NOT balance bill. They did bill for every penny the patient owed in regard to their deductible or copay and they were VERY aggressive about that but the didn't balance bill. In other words if the bill to the insurance carrier was $2K and the insurance company said no, we will only agree to an amount of $1K and the patients insurance covered 80% of that then the insurance carrier would pay the lab $800 and the patient was responsible for $200. If the lab were to "balance bill" then that would mean they would bill the patient for the $200 that is their share PLUS the $1K that the insurance carrier didn't cover. That is balance billing. There is no law that says you have to balance bill or that not balance billing is any type of illegal practice.