How are patients protected from surprise medical bills?

Did you get an unexpected bill from an out-of-network doctor, hospital, or other health care provider? State and federal law protect patients from surprise medical bills. https://www.tdi.texas.gov/blog/you-might-not-have-to-pay-that-surprise-medical-bill.html

The law applies:
- In emergencies.
- When you didn’t choose the doctor. For example, when a radiologist looks at your X-ray.
- When you get air ambulance services.

What are surprise medical bills?

Surprise medical bills are bills you might get after getting care from a doctor or at a hospital outside your health plan’s network.

You don’t get surprise bills from in-network doctors or hospitals because they contract with your health plan to charge a certain amount. Those in-network doctors or hospitals bill your health plan and the plan pays the full amount.

Doctors and hospitals outside your network might charge more than the rate your insurance agrees to pay. When the health plan doesn’t pay the full amount, the doctor or hospital might send you a surprise bill for the rest. It’s often called “balance billing.”

How are Texans protected from surprise medical bills?

State and federal laws ban doctors and hospitals from sending their patients surprise medical bills. The law also bans air ambulances (planes and helicopters) from sending surprise bills.

What should I do if I get a surprise medical bill?

Call your health plan and ask why you got the bill. It might not be a surprise bill; it might be a bill for your coinsurance or copay.

How can I get more help? Visit our webpage, How to get help with a surprise medical bill: https://tdi.texas.gov/medical-billing/surprise-balance-billing.html

#SurpriseBill #BalanceBill #HealthInsurance

00:00 How are patients protected from surprise medical bills?
00:26 What are surprise medical bills?
00:59 How are Texans protected from surprise medical bills?
02:06 What should I do if I get a surprise medical bill?
02:47 For additional questions visit https://www.tdi.texas.gov or call the No surprises help desk at 800-985-3059
03:13 For health insurance or other questions visit https://www.tdi.texas.gov or call our help line at 800-252-3439

Видео How are patients protected from surprise medical bills? канала Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)