One call saved $500 on a lab test

I recently needed a biopsy sent to a medical lab. (It turned out to be negative, praise God!) This was my first time dealing directly with a provider, and I was shocked to receive an invoice for $580! Samaritan’s service team steered me to a newsletter article that gave tips on getting discounts. I followed the advice and made a phone call. A new bill arrived two months later, for $62! This certainly was a blessing to me, although the markup of 9 times more than what I paid raises serious questions about the insurance industry’s effects on billing. Be sure to ask for discounts.
Joseph, Nebraska