Everything I've ever read about medical debts (thanks to you folks, I got an HSA -- with a $300 balance! -- and I have been reading up on how to be a better medical consumer), everything has said... ALWAYS CHECK YOUR BILLS. Apparently, something like 70% of bills sent out to consumers are WRONG. Like you get charged for meals you didn't have (extra days in the hospital), or double charge for doctors' billing vs the ER billing... etc, etc.
Pretty much everything you've said here.
In other news, my best mate in Aus just had her baby (I'm an auntie!) in December. She paid NOTHING for her 1 week hospital stay, her company pays a full salary for 1 year, and 60% salary for the second year, AND the government gave her $4500 to "help get her baby off to a good start." Of course, there would be WAYYYYY too many people in the US that would take advantage of that lovely bonus, so it's not plausible here, but what about everything else??? I'm so blessed... I just scored a SWEET new job and the company pays 2 months sick leave (should something happen) AND they pay for our STD which is good for 6 months! They include maternity leave in that... I'm pretty sure that's unheard of.
