A friend, in a bizarre accident, had his car run over his head, years ago. He went to Providence, spending a month. He got great care, or would have died. However, his insurance company screwed him. The salesman who sold him the policy and one of his employees, filled out the application while asking him questions, then had him sign at the bottom. The insurance company found out that he had an alcohol problem years earlier, but though he told the salesman, the latter didn't put it on the form. He'd been sober for about 20 years at that point. So they refused to pay. He paid off the whole bill at Providence, though it took him years, but they didn't charge the rates as if he were insured. They probably charged two or three times as much and refused to bargain it down as much as a nickel. I just got a Medicare bill. The provider charged $1,850, but Medicare approved $642.59, paying $503.79.  My secondary plan picked up the balance, since I met my deductible and co-pay.  Understand now?