What happens when patients receive a medical bill charging hundreds or even thousands more than the expected in-network costs? Before 2022, many Americans simply had to pay it.

Medical debt is the single leading cause of bankruptcies in the United States, with Americans owing nearly $200 billion, according to the U.S. Survey of Income and Program Participation. This debt in part stems from hospitals charging patients for out-of-network providers and services, despite patients going to hospitals that are in their insurance plan’s network.

“When my wife went to the hospital to have a kid, we picked a hospital that was in-network,” says John Staub, a brand development manager at Remodel Health, a health benefits management platform for employers. “Little did we know, one of the doctors doing rounds was out of network for us. Therefore, that doctor was able to charge us more.”

As a result, Staub paid a bill worth four times more than the in-network costs. However, as of this year, the No Surprises Act stipulates that patients cannot be held liable for out-of-network costs in situations where the patient is unable to choose an in-network provider. Instead, health plans must cover the added costs and only charge the patient in-network rates. If a patient still receives a bill from their insurer that violates these stipulations, they should file a complaint with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for further federal enforcement.

“The No Surprises Act puts up some...

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