Your Billing Rights

What a surprise bill is

When you see a provider or visit a health care facility, you usually owe certain out of pocket costs such as a copayment, coinsurance or deductible. A surprise bill, sometimes called balance billing, can happen when you receive care from a provider who is not in your health plan's network and you are billed for the difference between what your plan pays and the full charge.

You are protected from balance billing for

For these services you cannot be asked to give up your protections, and you cannot be required to seek care outside your network. You are only responsible for the cost sharing amount your plan would apply to in network care.

• Emergency services, whether or not the provider or facility is in your plan's network.
• Certain services from out of network providers at an in network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, including anesthesiology, pathology, radiology, laboratory and services by assistant surgeons or hospitalists.
• Air ambulance services from an out of network provider.

Your right to a Good Faith Estimate

If you do not have insurance, or you choose not to use your insurance, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of the expected charges for your care before your visit. Ask our staff for an estimate when you schedule, or any time before your appointment.

If you receive a bill that is at least 400 dollars more than your Good Faith Estimate, you may be able to dispute the bill. Keep a copy of your estimate.

Help paying for care

We accept most private insurance plans including Medicare and Medicaid. If you are uninsured or having difficulty paying, tell a Patient Service Representative and our staff will direct you to our Care Management or Accounting staff, who may be able to help with applying for insurance, our sliding fee discount program or a payment plan.

Questions and complaints

Call our Thibodaux clinic at 985-492-6170 or our Houma clinic at 985-360-3755 to ask about a bill or an estimate. For more information about these federal protections, or to report a possible violation, visit cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.