This is good advice, but I can just feel the egregious hold times, insufferable IVR (our choices have changed!), and explaining the same thing to 5 different people until you get an answer that winds up being incorrect but good luck proving that in Small Claims because smartphones are very good at preventing you from recording conversations for your own records.

I understand the reasons why we structure our world using adversarial systems but geez, sometimes it really shows.

>"…because smartphones are very good at preventing you from recording conversations for your own records."

If you don't want to deal with the plethora of scummy apps to record call, you can go old-fashion and buy a telephone pickup microphone[1] for $20.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Olympus-TP-8-Telephone-Pick-up-Microp...

Yes, but the point is that it's insane that your advice is the correct advice. There should be borderline zero "barrier to entry" for knowing what monetary burden you are about to submit to, especially considering the state you are probably in, and the time-sensitive nature of health issues.

> In these cases, call the insurance company.

I did that once, they told me "we don't know because we don't know what the hospital will bill".

So I decided that I don't know if I'll pay..........

Is there a reason the hospital can't say "we don't know, call your insurance provider"?