Short Analyses
Mon, December, 19th, 2022
Nicki Pogue is a healthy person with good health insurance. She even ran a high-altitude race to celebrate her 50th birthday. When Nicki felt ill shortly after she did what any of us in her situation would do – go to the doctor and take some medicine. When she got worse, waking up from a nap with ringing ears, a pounding heart and dizziness, she went to the hospital, got treated and went home.
Tue, August, 16th, 2022
El 1 de enero de 2022, entró en vigencia una nueva ley que ayuda a proteger a las personas de cargos inesperados por algunos tipos de atención médica. Esta ley, la Ley Sin Sorpresas, se aplica a las personas con seguro médico que obtienen a través de un empleador, a través de Marketplace o que han comprado ellos mismos, así como a las personas que no tienen seguro.
Wed, August, 3rd, 2022
On January 1, 2022, a new law went into effect that helps protect people from unexpected charges for some types of medical care. This law, the No Surprises Act, applies to people with health insurance they get through an employer, through the Marketplace, or that they have purchased themselves, as well as people who are uninsured.
Fri, July, 31st, 2020
COVID-19, Health System Distortions, and Surprise Medical Bills: Congress Must Act Now By Natasha Kumar and Jane Sheehan The growing burden of the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed fundamental cracks in our health care system that we have accepted for far too long. It is well-documented that millions of Americans lack comprehensive health coverage and access to affordable care.
Mon, June, 15th, 2020
Claudia Knafo, a Families USA storyteller from New York City, submitted this letter to the editor of the New York Post in response to a May 9 article, “Lawmaker Wants to Limit Insurance Reimbursements to Healthcare Workers.” In the letter, Claudia details her harrowing experience after receiving a surprise medical bill. To read more about Claudia’s story, check out this interview she did last year about surprise medical bills with ABC News’ Start Here podcast.
Mon, May, 4th, 2020
Now more than ever, families are vulnerable to unexpected health care costs due to both the spread of COVID-19 and rising unemployment rates. Americans should not have to fear or manage the financial impact of receiving a surprise medical bill for putting the health of themselves, their family members, and all in our nation first.
Tue, April, 21st, 2020
As our nation confronts a public health and economic threat greater than any we’ve seen in a century, every family is struggling to understand and manage the devastating and far-ranging effects of COVID-19. During this crisis, families need unfettered access to health care services.
Tue, March, 17th, 2020
The current Congress, with the support of the Administration, is taking real action to ban the abusive practice of surprise billing. No Surprises: People Against Unfair Medical Bills assesses various legislative proposals based on three clear principles.
Fri, November, 22nd, 2019
The Congressional Budget Office has completed analysis of four committee-passed policy proposals related to surprise medical bills. This fact sheet describes each of the proposals and its CBO score. Proposals that rely more heavily on arbitration to determine out-of-network provider payments are shown to save less due to the effect of higher premiums, reduced wages, and administrative costs.
Thu, September, 26th, 2019
For far too long, families have face unaffordable medical costs due to “surprise billing.” Surprise billing, also called surprise out-of-network balance billing, is a common problem when, through no fault of their own, families receive medical treatment from an out-of-network provider. The surprise comes in the form of doctor bills for the difference between what a provider charges and what the insurer pays that provider.