Test: Sudden Medical Bills Surprising, But No Fun

Balance billing is putting a strain on patients. What can physician leaders do about this phenomenon? So far, few have any answers , so lawmakers are using their powers.

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The surprise medical bill — or balance billing, in which a patient is billed for amounts not covered by insurance — has become part of health care in the United States, whether it’s for out-of-network charges or being underinsured and having gaps in one’s coverage. A 2016 Kaiser Family Foundation study found that a third of nonelderly adults having trouble paying medical bills faced unexpected out-of-network charges.