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Know your rights

The No Surprises Act protects people who use private insurance or don't have or use insurance.

The No Surprises Act is a federal law that went into effect on January 1, 2022.

It protects people in the United States who:

  • Use most types of private health insurance
  • Don't use health insurance
  • Don’t have health insurance

 

 

Read about your rights

There are different rights when you use health insurance and when you don't

 

Using insurance

Your rights when you use most types of health insurance

In most cases, the No Surprises Act protects you from unexpected out-of-network bills from: emergency room visits; non-emergency care related to visits at in-network hospitals, hospital outpatient departments, and ambulatory surgical centers; and air ambulance services.

Read about your rights

 

Not using insurance

Your rights when you don’t have or don't use health insurance

Usually, providers must give you a good faith estimate of how much your care will cost. You may be able to dispute your bill if it’s at least $400 more than the estimate.

Read about your rights

 

 

Exceptions

 

 

Ground ambulance services

Generally, ground ambulance services aren't covered by billing protections in the No Surprises Act (unless a state law has different rules). They're still allowed to charge out-of-network rates.

Learn what you can do if you get an out-of-network ground ambulance bill.

 

Vision-only and dental-only insurance

These balance billing protections generally don’t apply to vision-only and dental-only insurance plans, but they may apply if vision or dental benefits are included in your health plan.

 

Short-term limited duration and health care sharing ministry plans

Services covered by these plans aren't subject to the billing protections of the No Surprises Act.

 

Fixed indemnity excepted benefits plans, like hospital indemnity insurance

Services covered by these plans aren't part of the billing protections of the No Surprises Act.

 

Do you use Medicare, Medicaid, Indian Health Services, Veterans Affairs Health Care, or TRICARE?

These plans already protect you from some unexpected out-of-network bills.

 

But if you have a billing issue, we can help. Answer a few questions, and we’ll find an action plan that works for you.

Find an action plan

 

 

Talk to someone

Call us with your questions or to submit a complaint.

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Page Last Modified:
06/22/2023 11:18 AM