We saved up the money to completely pay off my newest son's birth. Just finished paying the last big bill, $1,300, everything else is $100 or lower and can be paid in our monthly budget.

Then, the unthinkable..

A bill for anesthesia comes in at $3,500. I had to have a cesarean due to fetal distress, and now I'm being slammed with this bill because the anesthesiologist isn't an in network doctor. I picked an in network hospital. My OB was in network. The one person I had no ability to choose, wasn't in network and now I'm being punished for it. So, insurance sucks. What was I supposed to do? "Oh hey, I know you just said you're the only anesthesiologist on call right now, but can I check to see if you're in network before you stick that giant needle in my back?!" 😩