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Health Care Costs, Resources, State Efforts

“Surprise” Medical Bills: State Opportunities to Protect Patients

Published On November 30, 2018

By: Kristin Wikelius

Most people hope and expect that being covered by health insurance will protect them from financial ruin if they are sick or injured. Sometimes, however, having health insurance coverage is insufficient to shield people from serious financial pressure from medical bills.

People with insurance can face not only copayments and deductibles, but also unexpected “surprise” medical bills after they seek care, even if they were treated at a hospital or health care facility that is in their health insurance company’s network.

Read the full brief about surprise medical bills.