A hospital stay changes the financial equation for patients. In 2022, 50% of people in the United States who had a hospital stay incurred at least $1,000 in out-of-pocket health-care spending, compared with 19% of people who
A hospital stay changes the financial equation for patients. In 2022, 50% of people in the United States who had a hospital stay incurred at least $1,000 in out-of-pocket health-care spending, compared with 19% of people who
The No Surprises Act prohibits balance billing for out-of-network emergency services and certain non-emergency services at in-network facilities, with independent dispute resolution available when providers and insurers can't agree on payment. The federal IDR system recorded 2,559,375
Out-of-network means the doctor, hospital, or other provider doesn't have a contract with the patient's insurance plan, so there's no pre-negotiated rate in place. In practical terms, that changes both pricing and patient liability, and it's why
