{"id":19476,"date":"2022-01-03T17:12:41","date_gmt":"2022-01-03T22:12:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepapergown.zocdoc.com\/?p=19476"},"modified":"2026-08-14T10:37:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T15:37:28","slug":"what-the-no-surprises-act-means-for-your-medical-bills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/what-the-no-surprises-act-means-for-your-medical-bills\/","title":{"rendered":"What the \u2018No Surprises Act\u2019 Means For Your Medical Bills"},"content":{"rendered":"

Given the lengthy subtext and confusing terms, navigating health insurance can be quite frustrating. And for years, patients have had to go through <\/span>lengthy means<\/span><\/a> to avoid surprise medical bills.\u00a0<\/span>On January 1st, a new law fell into place, making paying for healthcare in the US more transparent. The <\/span>No Surprises Act<\/span> will protect Americans from having to pay the around <\/span>10 million exorbitant surprise medical bills<\/span><\/a> they get tossed each year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is huge news; <\/span>Around two-thirds of Americans<\/span><\/a> worry about being unable to pay unexpected medical expenses. Read on to learn more about the law and how it could come to your advantage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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When do patients typically get hit with surprise medical bills?<\/h3>\n

Surprise medical bills usually crop up when patients receive care from out-of-network providers they didn\u2019t necessarily choose. Most surprise bills stem from emergency room visits. In fact, the <\/span>Kaiser Family Foundation<\/span><\/a> estimates surprise bills pop up after around 1 in 5 emergency room visits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, you may receive a surprise bill if you\u2019re hospitalized at an in-network hospital, and an out-of-network anesthesiologist, or other doctor, provides you care while you\u2019re there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are your rights under the No Surprises Act?<\/h3>\n

At its simplest, the act ensures that if you go to the emergency room, you should <\/span>only expec<\/span><\/a>t to pay whatever deductible or copay you\u2019d pay in-network. You shouldn\u2019t expect any large, surprise bills in the mail after you receive care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The act also protects against surprise expenses related to nonemergency procedures. So, if you’re scheduling an appointment for something like a surgery, make sure to do it at an in-network hospital because it then can\u2019t hit you with out-of-network costs. <\/span><\/p>\n

If for some reason you do want out-of-network care, hospitals<\/a><\/span> are required to notify you at least three days in advance of potential out-of-network costs \u2014 including X-rays, drugs, specialist visits \u2014 along with comparable in-network options, before you go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Are there any exceptions to the No Surprises Act?<\/h3>\n

Ground ambulances.<\/a><\/span>\u00a0While air ambulances are prohibited from sending surprise bills, there aren\u2019t any rules applying to ground ambulances just yet. This means you will still have to pay full price if you take an ambulance, even if it’s higher than your in-network cost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What if I don’t have insurance?<\/h3>\n

The law<\/a> ensures that even if you don’t have insurance you’ll at least be able to get a “good faith” estimate of what your care should cost before you receive it.<\/p>\n

What if I have coverage through Medicare or a similar plan?<\/h3>\n

Have coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, Indian Health Services, Veterans Affairs Health Care, or TRICARE? Then, you’re already protected from surprise medical bills, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.<\/a><\/p>\n