[Bernard]

The $300 is the bill rate, which is sort of like a sticker price on a piece of merchandise (can also be called the rack rate).

The $100 actually billed to the insurance carrier is mostly from a negotiated contract price for the service or good. Or it's the Medicare rate if you are a Medicare patient.

Normally Medicare pays 80%, or $80 for a $100 "invoice". The patient is responsible for the 20% difference. In certain cases, the patient balance is written off if the patient qualifies based on income and other factors. If you are actually paying the balance, the provider has no reason to find out if you qualify for a write-off.

And the whole system just gets more complicated from there.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“sticker price”

Thanks for the explanation. I got more out of your explanation than anything the DME or insurance company explained.

So the “bill rate” is entirely fictitious like “sticker price” on so many products?