Nobody likes surprises when it comes to medical bills. The good news? Thanks to the No Surprises Act, you now have federal protections against many of those unexpected, sky-high charges — and we’re here to break it down in plain, easy-to-understand language.
Before 2022, getting hit with a huge bill from an out-of-network provider (often without knowing it) was a common — and stressful — experience. This typically happened during:
It’s called balance billing, and it could leave patients with thousands of dollars in unexpected costs. But not anymore.
As of January 1, 2022, new protections are in place if you have private health insurance through an employer, the Marketplace, or an individual plan. Here’s what’s changed:
✔️ No surprise bills for most emergency services — even out-of-network
✔️ No extra out-of-network fees for certain services at in-network hospitals
✔️ No balance billing for out-of-network care unless you’re properly notified and consent
✔️ Access to clear, upfront estimates when paying out of pocket
Good news: even if you’re uninsured or self-pay for services, providers must give you a good faith estimate of expected charges before you get care.
If your final bill is $400 or more above the estimate, you can file a dispute within 120 days of receiving the bill.
Some states already have their own protections — the federal No Surprises Act acts as a minimum floor of protections. If your state offers better safeguards, those will apply to you.
Questions? You can visit CMS.gov/nosurprises for all the official details.
And if you’re wondering how this affects your current health benefits package, give us a call — Zinn Insurance is always here to help.
