u/Ok-Package3395

I got a surgery back in march 27 that was supposed to be covered 100% by my insurance .
It ended up not being covered . I did the first appeal for 3 bills ( surgeon 2800$, anesthesiologist 2100$, and 34k $ hospital bill) and got denied . Just the surgeon’s bill is available since 33 days ago , the others are still “pending by insurance “.
I’m currently undergoing a second level appeal to the board of trustees of my union . ( my insurance is from my job).
I spoke to my surgeon’s office manager to place a hold due to second appeal undergoing and she told me:
“At this time, our system doesn't allow holds to be placed and on our end/standpoint, the EOB attached does show its PR per the denial. While patient may be appealing on their end, we cannot place the account on hold. PB DOS is aged to 35 days, they have 120 days from the first statement date before at risk of collections.
 
For Hb; it shows its still under the insurance bucket and is not currently aging at this time.”  

For my second appeal , the next meeting for the board of trustees to see my case is sept 25 .

If either way the appeal is accepted / denied .
Should I start paying in little quotes or full to prevent from going to collection? If I pay the full amount by the time I got a answer for my appeal , do I get reimbursed?
Either way I want to prevent any impact on my credit score which is 787

What is your best advise ?

I needed a bilateral mastectomy surgery which was cosmetic, I was quoting in my country 3k and here (“0$”) idk what the doctor’s management told the insurance but they say 100%coverage I even call to confirm it many times , cause I thought something was weird . But I decided to trust the surgeon’s group management. They got 2 written calls with my insurance ending up “ no prior authorization needed, 100%covered, no copayment”. After the surgery , my insurance didn’t cover anything quoting it was cosmetic , the surgeon’s group management had no clue why. I know they knew, they couldn’t get in touch with the insurance, so they told me to appeal . They did the appeal in my behalf and sent it , it got denied . The total claim for the insurance was around 40k.
The manager from the surgeon’s group emailed me saying she will contact the 3 offices ( hers, hospital, and anesthesiologist ) to reduce the amounts so It can be payable .
I feel like it was a poor management from them , got it look to be approved to proceed with the surgery.
I trusted both parties and now I’m the one affected .
I suffer chronic depression , and this is a big down for me .

I was able to pay the 3-5 k in my country for this surgery in my country and now could be more than 15-20k. ( 2 bills are ready in my name 5.5k in total , the big one which is the hospital 36k is still in hold and insurance pending )

I don’t know how to fight this .