To the Villas spouter about "bounce" billing: It is balance billing. If your insurance (you have a contract with) says you owe more than they pay, the doctor is required by law to collect that. They too have a contract, if one doctor decides to not balance bill then he will get more patients, cutting the other doctors out of their living. If a doctor does not go after that balance he is subject to fines and penalties by the government (for Medicare part) or the state insurance department.