This is certainly something that anyone having surgery of any kind needs to consider. I too was hit with a huge bill after my cervical fusion surgery. It was for the specialist that monitors my nerve conduction during the surgery and was for $7k ... a totally unexpected portion of the bill and not something I had any control of.. but...
This guy was not a subscriber to my Blue Cross insurance and they would not cover his charges.
Fortunately my employer at the time was self insured and they choose to instruct the insurance company to cover the "reasonable and customary" charges for this portion of the procedure.
There are many members of a surgical team, many of whom we never know about that are present when we have an operation. Despite making sure your facility of choice, surgeon and follow up is within your insurances network.... there may be those involved in your care who are not. And this really makes the consumers homework a LOT more difficult
