So my husband and I went to the ER back in March due to dehydration from norovirus. I ended up with a $2000 bill and DH's bill hasn't even finished processing (he was a much worse case.) I am trying to negotiate my bill in two different ways and I'm wondering if anyone else has experience in this area.

1) They rated my care at a Level 4, leading to a large bill. ER cares is rated from 1-5, and I don't think I was a level 4. I just needed one dose of Zofran and 2 bags of IV fluids. However, the dr DID keep me for 7 hours for observation, and because DH was in the room next door. I feel like they kept me longer than necessary (I was asleep). I still don't think dehydration merits a level 4. I asked the billing dept for their criteria for deciding on a level, and thus a billing code, and they were evasive and said they'd get back to me. I want them to change the code down to a level 3, and thus less money.

2) They charged me for each bag of IV fluid, AND getting the IV itself, AND the two hours of being on an IV. Each is a separate charge. Is it normal to get that many charges for IV treatment? It counts for $1367 of my bill.

Lastly, I'm just now noticing that they didn't charge me for the oxygen mask they put on me at some point during my sleep.... supposedly my sats were low because I had a stuffed nose. Is oxygen something typically covered in a separate charge? Or is that something that got left off my bill, that they might add on if I press things?

All of this is so stupid and all services and products in hospitals should be labeled and you should have to consent to each one verbally if possible. I should've turned down the blood tests, they were unnecessary. The ER dr told my husband to get a CT scan 4 separate times, and then finally relented and did just an xray.