I've had United for a little over a decade, and overall I have to say it's been pretty good. My wife was hospitalized for about a month with our first born, racking up hospital bills over half a million USD. I think I paid about $3500 out of pocket. Then, a number of years later, the same child had her appendix removed. Again, terrifying bills, and about $3500 out of pocket.

That being said, after the second event, we had discharge orders from the surgeon that included very specific conditions for when we should bring her in. When some of those conditions presented, we brought her to her (in network) primary care physician, whose office is (incidentally) in our in-network hospital. The physician agreed with our having brought her in, and recommended a CT scan. My daughter was sent down the hall from her in-network pediatrician to the in-network emergency room where the CT machine was located. CT scan proceeded, findings were good, and my daughter recovered just fine.

So imagine my surprise when I get a bill for the CT scan. After many phone calls, emails, registered letters, etc. the final determination was that the ER was, at the time of the events in question, had been staffed by an out-of-network third party and thus would not be covered.

Now in the scheme of things, the CT scan was a drop in the bucket compared to everything that was covered, and I'm very thankful for how things worked out. But the principal of that situation really left a bad taste in my mouth. We had no reason to suspect that the CT scan wouldn't be covered, and were in no way advised as such. Doesn't seem right.