More Patients Feel Pain of Surprise Billing Even After Going ‘In-Network’
From NJ Spotlight
Lawmakers want to curb the costly, escalating practice, but doctors and hospitals vehemently oppose Trenton’s solution
Patients with health insurance often assume most of their medical costs will be covered when they visit the emergency room at a hospital that is part of their coverage network.
But new national research shows that at least one in five of these patients were still treated by an out-of-network physician, despite seeking treatment at an in-network facility. And these visits resulted in surprise medical bills that averaged more than $600 — but could cost consumers as much as $19,600 extra.