I have Anthem BC/BC HMO with a Point of Service option which allows us to go outside the network, pay a high deductible and use non-network services. This part of the plan has a separate group number. Everytime we go to a doctor they bill us via the POS plan trying to get us to pony up the costs towards the deductible. It takes hours on the phone to resolve the issue every time. They blame us for giving the doctors our POS number when we did not even know what that number was. Our health insurance cards only have our HMO number on them.
Does anyone know how to pressure the provider to stop doing this? I don't know why it happens but it sure looks as though they are simply trying to run all costs through the option which is cheaper for them, and then hoping that people will pay them without questioning the bill or will give up on protesting the charges after spending hours on hold.
Has anyone found any relief by contacting a state insurance commissioner with a problem like this?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Contact your states Commissioner of Insurance. In my experience, they are about the only one that these insurance companies listen to.