surprise billing
Unanticipated medical costs
Surprise billing is the practice of charging patients unexpectedly high medical costs, typically when they receive care from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities.
A patient visits a hospital covered by their insurance but gets treated by an anesthesiologist or specialist who isn't—then receives a bill for thousands of dollars.
Also called balance billing: The surprise billing from my emergency room visit wiped out my savings.
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- medicalOf healthcare practice
- sticker priceManufacturer's suggested retail amount
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- out-of-networkOutside approved provider list
ambulance · hospital · insurance · charges · sticker shock · out of pocket · invoice · debt · outrage · healthcare · copay · deductible · fine print · anesthesiologist · ER · air ambulance · balance · statement
- Healthcare Costshealthcare costs, healthcare spending, health spending, medical debt, premiums
- health lawshealth law, Obamacare, health standards, health regulations, healthcare mandates
- health policypublic health policy, health policy, healthcare policy, Affordable Care Act, health legislation
surprise billingtransparent pricing
Clearly disclosed cost structure
price transparency · upfront pricing · good faith estimate · cost estimate · price quote
surprise, bill, billing, surprised, surprising, surprisingly, unsurprising, unsurprisingly, surprises