Surprise Medical Billing

Surprise billing happens when you are treated by a medical provider at a hospital or facility that you believe is in your health plan’s network. On top of paying your expected out-of-pocket costs, you’re also charged the difference between what your insurer has agreed to pay your provider and what your provider believes the service was worth. This amount could be hundreds or thousands of dollars.

“Consumers have been caught in the middle of these disputes for too long,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. “We told them to get health insurance and they did. And when faced with a medical emergency, they went to their health plan’s hospital. After playing by the rules, many are left facing surprise medical bills for hundreds or thousands of extra dollars.”

https://www.insurance.wa.gov/current-issues-reform/surprise-billing/

http://knkx.org/post/california-aims-limit-surprise-medical-bills