Your Rights & Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

What Is Balance Billing?

When you receive care from a healthcare provider who is outside your insurance network, you may be charged for costs that your insurance doesn't cover. This is known as balance billing.

Surprise billing occurs when you unexpectedly receive a bill from an out-of-network provider, such as during emergency care or treatment at an in-network facility.

Your Protections Against Surprise Billing

Federal and Minnesota laws protect patients from certain unexpected out-of-network charges.

• Protections for qualifying emergency services

• Protections for certain out-of-network services at in-network facilities

• Limits on patient cost-sharing in covered situations

• Rights concerning consent to certain out-of-network charges

Additional Patient Protections

In situations covered by these laws, you generally cannot be charged more than your applicable in-network cost-sharing amount. Your health plan also has certain obligations concerning coverage and deductible calculations.