A woman who got an IUD for birth control was in for a shock when she got hit with a $14,000 bill. Callie Anderson, 25, from Scranton, Pennsylvania, decided she wanted to stop taking her birth control pill last year. Instead, she decided to get an IUD, also known as an intrauterine device, which is a small piece of plastic that is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. She was told by her doctor that IUDs are 'almost universally covered under insurance' and didn't think twice about it.

But after a quick and easy visit to have the IUD inserted last March, Callie was left horrified after she received a bill in the mail for $14,658. She spoke about the ordeal recently to the Washington Post, explaining that she was charged $117 for a pregnancy test, $9,862 for the IUD, $4,057 for 'clinic service,' and $622 for the doctor's services. The Pennsylvania-native revealed that she was using her father's insurance, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

After contacting the insurance company, Callie said she learned that despite her doctor being in-network, they do not cover IUDs. A woman who got an IUD for birth control was in for a shock when she got hit with a $14,000 bill. Callie Anderson, 25, from Scranton, Pennsylvania, told the Washington Post recently that she was told by her doctor that IUDs are 'almost universally covered under insurance'. An IDU, also known as an intrauterine device, is a small piece of plastic that is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy (stock image).

'My understanding was [the doctor] would reach out to insurance, and if there was an issue they would tell me,' she said. While the Affordable Care Act 'requires health insurance plans to cover FDA-approved contraceptive methods,' the Post reported that Callie's insurance doesn't apply to that rule because it was started before the law went into affect. The 25-year-old said she spent 'hours' going back and forth with both the insurance company and the doctor's office, which was run by nonprofit healthcare company Geisinger.

The publication said she was 'rebuffed' when she asked about financial assistance. '[I was] told me that if I didn't pay in 90 days, it would go to collections, and that was scary to me,' she told them. Thankfully, Geisinger eventually made her a deal and said if she agreed to pay it all at one time, they would only charge her $5,236. DailyMail.com has reached out to Geisinger and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield for comment.

IUDs are shaped like a 'T' and are slightly bigger than a quarter. They prevent pregnancy by stopping sperm from reaching and fertilizing the egg, and can come in five different types. But after a quick and easy visit to have the IUD inserted last March, Callie was left horrified after she received a bill in the mail for $14,658. After contacting the insurance, Callie learned that despite her doctor being in-network, they do not cover IUDs.

Four out of five of the IUDs work by releasing a small amount of the hormone progestin, while the fifth - called ParaGard or the copper IUD - is hormone-free. Instead, it uses copper to trigger your immune system and prevent pregnancy, WebMD reported. Back in December, a woman named Tracy Hollis told DailyMail.com that she was hit by a shocking payment demand by her doctor after finding out she was pregnant.

She said she was asked to make an upfront payment for her entire pregnancy, birth, and post-natal care after her first scan at just six weeks, which totaled $3,600. She claimed that she was told she would not be able to book any further appointments until it was paid. 'I sat there in tears, because I couldn't establish care,' Tracy told DailyMail.com. 'I felt like I couldn't move forward at all.'. She ended up filing a complaint against the practice that asked for the upfront bill and left for another care provider.