Patient Rights Hub
Billing protections, financial assistance options, and tools to understand your charges.
General guidance only. Not legal or financial advice.
Surprise Bill Protections
The No Surprises Act (effective January 1, 2022) protects you from unexpected out-of-network charges for emergency services, in-network facility visits with out-of-network providers, and air ambulance transport.
- • Emergency services: in-network cost-sharing only, regardless of provider network status
- • In-network facilities: out-of-network providers you didn't choose must charge in-network rates
- • Air ambulance: cost-sharing limited to in-network amounts
- • Good Faith Estimates available before non-emergency services
Why You Get Multiple Bills
After a single ER visit or surgery, you may receive 3-5 separate bills from different entities. This is standard practice — not a billing error.
- • Hospital/facility: building overhead, nursing, equipment, supplies
- • Physician: doctor's professional services, often via staffing companies
- • Anesthesia, radiology, lab: each bills independently
- • You may need to apply for financial assistance separately with each provider
Financial Assistance
Nonprofit hospitals are required by federal law (ACA Section 501(r)) to offer financial assistance programs. You may qualify for free or reduced-cost care based on your income relative to the Federal Poverty Level.
- • 0-200% FPL: often qualifies for full charity care (100% free)
- • 200-300% FPL: typically qualifies for 50-75% discount
- • 300-400% FPL: may qualify for 25-50% discount
- • You don't need to be uninsured — underinsured patients qualify too
Check Your Bill
Upload a medical bill to compare line-item charges against Medicare reference rates, check bundling rules, and review coding patterns.
- • OCR extraction reads CPT/HCPCS codes directly from your bill image
- • Medicare rate comparison shows reference rates for each service
- • NCCI bundling check identifies codes that are typically bundled together
- • Works with hospital bills, physician bills, and dental bills
Insurance Appeals
If your insurance denied a claim or paid less than expected, you have the right to appeal. Every insurer is required to have an internal appeals process, and you can escalate to an external review.
- • Internal appeal: first step, file within the insurer's deadline (usually 180 days)
- • External review: independent reviewer, available after internal denial
- • Urgent appeals: expedited process available for ongoing treatment
This information is for general guidance only. Consult a legal or financial professional for advice specific to your situation.
Billing protections and financial assistance programs vary by state, provider, and insurance plan.