Faced With Surprise Medical Bills, Some Texans Have Recourse. But The System’s Not Perfect.

From 2017 to 2018, the number of medical bills sent to the program more than doubled.

By Ashley LopezJanuary 18, 2019 9:30 am, , , ,

From KUT:

A growing number of Texans are turning to a little-known state mediation program to deal with surprise hospital bills. However, the program is likely only addressing a fraction of the surprise medical bills Texans receive in the mail every year.

The Texas Department of Insurance program is meant to intervene when Texans are stuck with a bill after their insurance provider and hospital can’t agree on a fair price for services – usually after an emergency. The practice is known as balance billing. The state only intervenes, though, after patients file a complaint with the agency.

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