I think you stand a very good chance of getting repaid. I paid up front because I thought my Ins. rider excluded any thing to do with my back. I found out it only disallowed outpatient procedured. Look at your contract's pre-certification requirement planned days stayed in the hospital. Don't go over that. Try to get the hospital and doctor to submit the claims for you. If they don't want to because of a "package price" then ask for an itemized bill from both and do it yourself. The ins may balk but they have no legal reason to deny repayment. I feel the worst case is that you will need a strongly worded letter from an lawyer to to them and your state's insurance commisioner get them to pay.

Good luck and see you on the other side

Pat