Recently Kaiser Health News http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/ * reported: “When you need emergency care, chances are you aren’t going to pause to figure out whether the nearest hospital is in your health insurer’s network. Nor should you. That’s why the health law prohibits insurers from charging higher copayments or coinsurance for out-of-network emergency care. The law also prohibits plans from requiring pre-approval to visit an emergency department that is out of your provider network. (Plans that are grandfathered under the law don’t have to abide by these provisions.)
That’s all well and good. But there are some potential trouble spots that could leave you on the hook for substantially higher charges than you might expect.
Although the law protects patients from higher out-of-network cost sharing in the emergency room, if they’re admitted to the hospital, patients may owe out-of-network rates for the hospital stay….” * to read the full KHN story “Beware Of Higher Charges If You Go To An Out-Of-Network Emergency Room” by Michelle Andrews, highlight and click on open hyperlink
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2014/August/29/Beware-Of-Higher-Charges-If-You-Go-To-An-Out-Of-Network-Emergency-Room.aspx?utm_campaign=KHN%3A+First+Edition&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=13959522&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–FLZ2E0dzGeOfZqrrZq8LHMwf1ffMixwZu1QnLfCdoSuMV1dsrv4eVsqoGGSCSmKR9k9kZT1or0Nrl4M0eneIyGXs9mvGfkbV3g58pBzwC2TvwKMw&_hsmi=13959522
Doctor, Did You Wash Your Hands? ™ provides information to consumers on understanding, managing and navigating health care options.
Jonathan M. Metsch, Dr.P.H., is Clinical Professor, Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; and Adjunct Professor, Baruch College ( C.U.N.Y.), Rutgers School of Public Health, and Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration
This blog shares general information about understanding and navigating the health care system. For specific medical advice about your own problems, issues and options talk to your personal physician.