How the law protecting Americans from surprise medical bills is driving up healthcare costs

Imagine you get hit by a car. An ambulance brings you to the nearest hospital. Your private health insurance covers emergency care, but the hospital isn’t in your plan’s network.

Before 2022, if you received emergency care from an out-of-network provider or hospital, you could get hit with an extra, often huge bill on top of what you owe as a copay, coinsurance or deductible.

A law called the No Surprises Act, which took effect in 2022, was designed to protect…

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