What is balance billing, and which federal law specifically protects patients from it in emergency situations?

Balance billing occurs when an out-of-network provider bills you for the gap between their charged rate and what your insurer paid, leaving you with a potentially massive unexpected bill. The No Surprises Act, effective January 2022, prohibits balance billing for emergency care at any facility, and for non-emergency care at in-network facilities when an out-of-network provider is used without the patient's knowledge or written consent. Patients in these protected scenarios pay only their in-network cost-sharing amount, and the dispute between the provider and insurer is resolved through a federal arbitration process.