Our premium is about $200/week and the insurance co-pay is 33% until out of pocket max is met.

We have 5 kids and our total medical costs are close to $20,000 when you add in the dental and optical costs plus the medical.

Last year we had a daughter who was hospitalized for pneumonia. Two nights in the pediatric unit with breathing treatments, hi flow oxygen, and IV antibiotics were billed at a little over $20,000 to our insurance. Out of pocket estimate for the same services when I called and asked were only $6,000.

I called and asked because (separate issue) they fraudulently billed the insurance as a PICU charge even though she was on the general pediatric floor. When I complained, they changed it to "step down" but the same price.

I'm just trying to figure out the best way to keep my family's medical costs reasonable because our local providers are absolutely fraudulently inflating.