NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — As the pain in her back grew more severe, Sheila Luster knew surgery was her only hope at maintaining any kind of a normal life.
The life-long Nashville resident lives in a modest house within view of I-24. She doesn't make a lot of money but does have health insurance which is why she assumed the back surgery she had in May would be covered.
But after being released from the hospital Sheila quickly realized she was one of countless Americans who had fallen victim to so called "surprise" medical bills.
"I wish they would've told me about this before I went to the hospital," Luster explains sitting in her kitchen.
Luster has health insurance through Cigna, the hospitals where she had the back surgery performed is in-network. But like many Tennesseans, Luster soon learned that just because a hospital may be in-network, does not mean that all of the doctors are.
As she was recovering from surgery Luster received a $10,000 bill for an out-of-network procedure. On a fixed income, she was in shock.
"I think it's wrong, when I was getting ready to have the procedure done it should've been presented to me, not after the surgery was done," Luster added.
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander has been championing a bill that would end "surprise" medical bills. This week though that bill hit a road block in Congress.
