No Surprises Act

When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from balance billing. In these cases, you shouldn’t be charged more than your plan’s copayments, coinsurance and/or deductible. 

Note: No Surprises Act doesn't apply to individuals with coverage through programs such as Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Medigap and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), because these programs do not permit surprise billing.

What is "balance billing" (sometimes called "surprise billing")?

When you or your child sees a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan's network.

"Out-of-network" means providers and facilities that haven't signed contract with your health plan to provide services. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called "balance billing." This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.

"Surprise billing" is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care or your child’s care — such as when you or your child have an emergency, or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider. Surpirise medical bills could cost thousands of dollars depending on the procedure or service.

Why am I receiving this notice?

You are receiving this notice because:

• You or your child are a covered individual under a group health plan, or a health plan offered by a health insurance issuer, like the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program; and
• Your doctor or this health care facility may provide a treatment or service for which the provider or health care facility is going to ask you to pay a copayment, coinsurance or deductible, or is going to submit a bill to your health plan.

For what types of services am I protected from balance billing?

Emergency services

If you or your child have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments, coinsurance and deductibles). You can't be balance billed for these emergency services. This may include services you might get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.

Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgery center

When you or your child receive services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgery center, certain providers at that facility may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.

You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

If you or your child get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you, unless you give written consent and give up your protections.

When balance billing isn’t allowed, what other protections do I have?

• You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (such as copayments, coinsurance and/or deductibles) that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network.
• Your health plan generally must:
  • Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).
  • Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
  • Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
  • Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may call the federal agencies responsible for enforcing the federal balance billing protection law at: (800) 985-3059 or visit cms.gov/nosurprises for more information about your rights under federal law.

You may also file a complaint with the relevant state agency as follows:

• Delaware: Delaware Department of Insurance at (800) 282-8611 or email the Delaware Department of Insurance at consumer@delaware.gov.
• New Jersey: State of New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance; Consumer Inquiry and Response Center (“CIRC”) at (609) 292-7272 or the Consumer Hotline at (800) 446-7467 or go to https://www.state.nj.us/dobi/consumer.htm#insurance.
• Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Insurance Department at (877) 881-6388 or email the Pennsylvania Insurance Department at ra-in-consumer@pa.gov.
• Florida: The Florida Office of Insurance Regulations Division of Consumer Services at (877) 693-5236 or email Consumer.Services@myfloridacfo.com.

For a downloadable copy of this notice, see attached.
New Jersey Only: For a downloadable copy containing additional information about your rights under NJ law, see attached.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

• You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any nonemergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment and hospital fees.
• Your provider will give you a Good Faith Estimate in writing before your scheduled medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
  
• If you receive a bill that is at least $400.00 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
• Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

Get More Information

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-MEDICARE (800) 633-4227).