Insurance and Medical Billing

What a freaking headache. Need I say more? Probably not, but here goes:

Our little story starts back in November of 2006. Trisha is having some medical problems that involve her Lap-Band and her Gall bladder. Her Dr. determines that she needs to get her gall bladder removed and her lap-band replaced. I immediately know that the insurance is going to throw a fit, so I decide to make sure everything is planned out for billing before the surgery so the insurance has no reason to screw up. I was naive to think that by having them agree to something before hand would prevent the billing nightmare.
The insurance will not pay for the lap band, nor anything to do with the lap-band, but because it would be cheaper for the hospital/Dr. to do the surgery at the same time, they will pay half of the hospital expense, the Dr. expense related to the gall-bladder removal and half of the anesthesiologist. I still have to pay 3000 to the Dr, 4000 to the hospital, and 450 to the anesthesiologist. It sucks, but it needed to be done.
November, she has the surgery. She is in pain and has to get used to some new eating habits, but everything goes well. We pre-paid for everything but the Dr. where we are doing a payment plan to pay him off over a year period of time.
December 2006, we receive the bills from the hospital. Balance due: $4800. Ha ha ha! Those medical billing guys are SO funny! They forgot about our deal! So the rigmarole begins.
The insurance denied the claim. Plus, the discount wasn't factored in. I ask them to re-consider the claim.
Beginning of January 2007, we receive the bill. Balance due: $0. Yay! They did their jobs.
Middle of January 2007, we receive another bill. Balance due: $4800. Boo! They suck at their jobs.
Calls are made, supervisors are talked to, promises are made to make everything better.
End of January 2007, we receive another bill. Balance due: $4800. C'mon guys.
Calls are made, supervisors are talked to, notes are read and researched. Promises are made.
Middle of February 2007, we receive another bill. Balance due: -$2800. WaHOO! they are AWESOME!
A week later, we receive a check for $2800 bucks! Woot!
The same day we receive the check, I receive a call saying that a stop payment has been placed on the check. Boo!
Calls are made. Supervisors are talked to. Promises are made.
End of February 2007, I receive another bill. Balance due, $0. It's about time. They got it right.
April 2007, I receive another bill. Balance due, $4800. Aww.. C'mon.. How did that happen?!
Calls are made. Supervisors are talked to. Promises are made.
May 2007, I receive another bill. Balance due, $0. For heaven's SAKE! They say that this is the correct bill and I have nothing to worry about. Everything is settled.
May 2008, I receive another bill. Balance due: $4800 bucks. You've got to be kidding me.. Right?
Calls are made, supervisors are talked to, promises are made.
Middle of May 2008, calls confirming that balance is at $0 and that this whole thing was a mistake. Promises are made.
June 2008, I receive another bill. Balance due: $4800 bucks. I don't even know what to say at this point.
Calls are made. Supervisors are yelled at. Research is underway.
Middle of June 2008, I receive a phone call that everything is finally resolved and that I won't be seeing any more bills ever. I asked for a final bill showing the $0 balance. Promises are made.
End of July 2008. I still have not received that bill.
...
The really funny thing is that this isn't the only medical billing problem that I've had since this time. I'm still trying to get some other stuff paid for by an insurance company I had a year ago, and another bill has been paid, but the provider can't find proof of the check coming in, even though the insurance company provided proof of the check.
...
Why can't they just get their crap together and do it right the first time?