For the first time in my life I had to go to the e...

For the first time in my life I had to go to the emergency room. My condition was not life threatening but extremely painful. When the EMTs arrived and were asked they said most trips were around $1000. As I was in excruciating pain and that seemed normal I did not say no and the EMTs did a professional job at an acceptable charge. While I was being treated my wife was also told the Flat fee was $1000. Somehow they took our insurance information and we later received a bill for $3000 plus $700 for the 5 minute doctor visit. A sum we cannot afford to pay. When I called they confirmed that $1000 was the normal price, but since we had insurance they sent a $3000 bill the AETNA who then charged us the ENTIRE amount as a deductable. I have since called the hospital twice and tried to pay the $1000 to settle our debt, but they insist we must pay 3 times that much for no good reason. I work part-time and attend school, with a wife and 2 children to support. We also no longer can afford health insurance or the unfairly inflated bill from SMH. I have never had a debt sent to a collection agency, but I do not know what can be done. How can a company triple their bill after stating the original lower price 3 times? If I had known what they were going to charge I would never had gone. I wish I could feel differently, but I will have to be bleeding to death before I will ever take a chance on trusting a word the SMH ER staff has to say.