Protection Against Surprise Medical Bills
For years, American families were caught off guard by unexpected medical bills that often stretched into thousands of dollars. These surprise charges not only strained household budgets but also left patients facing serious financial stress.
In 2022, Congress introduced the No Surprises Act, a bipartisan law designed to stop such billing practices. According to a new study, this legislation has significantly reduced both the frequency of surprise medical bills and the amount patients pay from their own pockets.
Key Findings of the Study
Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and the Mass General Brigham health care system evaluated the law’s impact on insured adults under the age of 65. The study, published in The BMJ on August 27, tracked data from more than 17,000 individuals with private health insurance.
- Average savings: In states where the law brought new protections, patients saved about $600 per year in out-of-pocket costs.
- No change in premiums: Despite hopes that the act might lower insurance premiums by fostering fair negotiations between providers and insurers, premiums remained unchanged.
- Financial burden remains: The share of income spent on health care and the percentage of people facing “high burden medical spending” (10% of income or more) did not improve.
Why the Law Matters
Study lead author Dr. Michael Liu, a clinical fellow at BWH, emphasized the importance of the findings.
“Before the act, one in five insured adults faced surprise bills, often causing major financial hardship. Our analysis shows the No Surprises Act made a real difference, but more reforms are still needed,” he explained.
Senior author Dr. Rishi Wadhera, associate director of BWH’s Smith Center for Outcomes Research, added that policymakers must continue exploring solutions to protect patients from financial strain and ensure affordability in U.S. health care.
What Still Needs Improvement
Although the No Surprises Act has reduced out-of-pocket spending, loopholes remain. Some providers, particularly those backed by private equity firms, are reportedly finding ways to negotiate higher payments — a move that may undermine cost relief efforts.
Experts argue that additional steps are necessary to further shield Americans from overwhelming medical expenses and to truly ease the nation’s health care affordability crisis.
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