Your rights on a freestanding ER bill

Federal surprise billing protection

Under the federal No Surprises Act, emergency services are protected from most surprise out-of-network bills, and that protection includes independent freestanding emergency departments. In most cases you should owe only your in-network cost share for emergency care.

Source: CMS, No Surprises Act key protections

Texas disclosure rules

Texas law requires freestanding ERs to disclose whether they are in your health plan's network, and to post a notice if they are not in any network. If you are stable and it is not an emergency, ask before you are treated.

Before you pay

• Ask for an itemized bill
• Compare it with your plan's explanation of benefits
• Ask whether the bill was processed as emergency care
• Call your plan if the numbers do not match

If something looks wrong

Call the facility's billing office first. If that does not fix it, contact your health plan, then the federal No Surprises Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059.