By: Brett Kelman
Tennessean
Eight months into her pregnancy, Halie Gallik is faced with a tough choice: switch hospitals, leaving behind the doctors she has grown to trust, or face a “surprise” bill that could cost thousands.
Gallik, 32, of Nolensville, is expected to give birth to her third child in late September at Williamson Medical Center, a hospital close to home where her two other kids were born. But Gallik’s insurance is shifting beneath her feet, and soon a birth at Williamson may cost her more than ever.
“We already have an established relationship with our doctor and familiarity with that hospital,” Gallik said. “Even though I would go to an in-network doctor at an in-network hospital, now they could still bill me for an extra $2,000 — or potentially more. That’s crazy.”