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.
