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2024 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan - Standard and Basic Option
Section 4. Your Costs for Covered Services

Important Notice About Surprise Billing — Know Your Rights
 
Important Notice About Surprise Billing — Know Your Rights

The No Surprises Act (NSA) is a federal law that provides you with protections against “surprise billing” and “balance billing” for out-of-network emergency services; out-of-network non-emergency services provided with respect to a visit to a participating health care facility; and out of network air ambulance services.

A surprise bill is an unexpected bill you receive for:
  • emergency care - when you have little or no say in the facility or provider from whom you receive care, or for
  • non-emergency services furnished by nonparticipating providers with respect to patient visits to participating healthcare facilities, or for
  • air ambulance services furnished by nonparticipating air ambulance providers

Balance billing happens when you receive a bill from the non-participating provider, facility, or air ambulance service for the difference between the Non-participating provider’s charge and the amount payable by your health plan.

Your health plan must comply with the NSA protections that hold you harmless from bills.

For specific information on surprise billing, the rights and protections you have, and your responsibilities go to www.fepblue.org/NSA or contact the customer service phone number on the back of your ID card.