Patients worried about getting hit with an unexpected bill after emergency care have a new layer of protection. The No Surprises Act went into effect this month.
Beginning January 1, The No Surprises Act will safeguard millions of Americans from surprise medical bills in instances where they had no control or choice over their care. Patricia Kelmar, Director, Health Care Campaigns, U.S. PIRG joins us to explain how this will fix long-standing loopholes in our health system.
The law won’t eliminate billing surprises. But it is expected to ease concerns, especially in emergencies where patients may not have time to choose an in-network doctor. A closer look at the law:Insurers form networks of doctors and hospitals that agree to provide care for a discounted rate negotiated with the insurer.
The new law ends these billing surprises for most emergency care by essentially requiring that patients receive in-network coverage with no additional billing from the provider. They have denied coverage if they deem patient visits to be not emergencies. Doctors worry this practice will deter patients from seeking life-saving care when they need it.
"This law does not mean can sit back ... and not be engaged when it comes to where they're getting their health care," said Emily Bremer, a St. Louis-area insurance broker.Many people don’t understand their insurance and how much it covers. That could lead to unpleasant surprises.