Health Affairs August 12, 2019
Every day Americans walk into hospitals, outpatient clinics, and surgical centers thinking they have good health insurance. They’ve done their research, picked the right plan, paid their premiums, and checked whether the facility was in-network. It’s only after they receive care that they discover a dark secret in the US health care system: Even if you’re receiving care at an in-network facility, you can get hit with a surprise medical bill from an out-of-network doctor.
Recent stories about egregious surprise medical bills charged by providers have moved the issue to the forefront of the health care discussion in this country. Those stories include a teacher in Texas who owed more than $100,000 after having a heart attack; a mom...