A surgical complication landed Tammy Taylor in the ICU for 11 days.
"The bill for that was $500,000," she said.
The insurance paperwork overwhelmed her. She says it became a full-time job. Add to that, the costs for ongoing care for son Jonathan, who has Type 1 diabetes.
"Test strips, infusion sets, Glucagon...this is all for one little kid," she said.
Both her sons also needed new hearing aids this year.
"For good digital hearing aids, you're talking $5000 a pair and up from there."
Tammy turned to Copay Solutions. For a $50 monthly fee and a portion of any savings they find you, the company says they successfully overturn 70 percent of denied claims, including the hearing aids for Tammy's sons.
John Fowler is the CEO. He describes how Copay Solutions works.
"It's like a concierge service. All your out-of-pocket expenses are tracked and your total financial picture for health care is captured and then audited and reviewed in great detail," he said.
You can also do it yourself.
"You need to take the time because it's meaningful dollars," according to Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List.
She says a poll of members found 75 percent of people who negotiated their own bills cut the cost, some by as much as half.
Just make sure to use a site like healthcarebluebook.com to compare prices.
Whether you do it yourself or hire someone else, take it from Tammy, the effort is well worth it.
"Being able to mail my papers away and know someone else would be accountable for them it took a real stress off me," she said.
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