No, hospitals absolutely share a lot of the blame for problems like this. Even WITH insurance, I've been burned so many times that I ask a lot of questions in an attempt to prevent problems and surprises. I get asked to sign forms acknowledging I've seen papers that they can't show me because they don't have them. They will refuse to provide care without me signing the form. Eventually I sign - and will later see a copy of this paper when I contest a bill. I will ask them what something will cost me in the event that my insurance doesn't cover it, and they'll tell me "it depends on how it's coded", and it takes time for them to find out how it will be coded. They will tell me. And then they will code it differently when billing the insurance. I've had bills from doctors for services provided at a hospital that had no record of that doctor, yet the doctor had copies of all the forms I signed at that hospital. And insurance wouldn't cover it because the doctor was not part of my network, even though the hospital proper was.

Insurance companies are full of scum bags and I have my problems with them too, but there's plenty of blame above that really has nothing to do with my insurance company.