> However, nobody actually pays the amount that gets billed to the insurance company... While mostly true, the system always strikes me as insane when I see th

> However, nobody actually pays the amount that gets billed to the insurance company... While mostly true, the system always strikes me as insane when I see the amounts billed to my insurer alongside the amounts "allowed" or paid by my insurer (or paid by me until we hit the deductible). I'm talking about the negotiated rates, I guess, not even co-pays. I regularly see things like $8,889 billed and $149 "allowed."