02-07-2015, 12:23 AM
First, take another look at your bill. It may not be the tests cost so much, but the doctor. It occasionally happens that the practice or hospital has a deal with the insurance company, but the physician you happen to see or the phlebotomist or in-house (or outside) testing company is out of network. If this is the case, you may be able to fix it in the future by simply requesting only in-network care.
As for negotiating with a clinic, dunno. Worth calling and inquiring.
Hospital billing departments will often have policies to carve up to 50% off of a bill with a cash offer for the remainder. (Contrary to what they say in self-help articles, they usually follow strict bureaucratic procedures with pre-defined tiers for these kinds of discounts and are only willing to actually negotiate when they get served with a lawsuit.)
As for negotiating with a clinic, dunno. Worth calling and inquiring.
Hospital billing departments will often have policies to carve up to 50% off of a bill with a cash offer for the remainder. (Contrary to what they say in self-help articles, they usually follow strict bureaucratic procedures with pre-defined tiers for these kinds of discounts and are only willing to actually negotiate when they get served with a lawsuit.)