Say you get pre-certified from your health care plan to have an elective surgery or procedure. You probably think your out-of-pocket costs aren’t going to be that much. But then you get a bill for thousands of dollars. Now, it can be a simple mistake. But it also may be a lack of homework on your part. When you’re having surgery, you want to make sure the surgeon is on your plan first. Usually people do this, but they don’t make sure the anesthesiologist is on their plan. Another possibility is that the in-plan doctor brings in someone else in his or her absence. You could be out thousands of dollars. What it boils down to is you have to make sure everyone involved in the procedure is in your plan. You have to have this additional conversation despite the hassle to you.