When we go to the hospital, we expect care—not financial chaos. But too often, even insured patients are hit with unexpected charges that far exceed the cost estimates they were given. That’s not just unfair—it’s a betrayal of trust. 

The No Surprises Act was supposed to protect patients from exactly this kind of billing shock. And while it’s helped some, a huge loophole remains: insured patients aren’t guaranteed the same good faith cost estimates that self-pay patients are. That means even when you do everything "right" —get pre-approval, check your network, ask for an estimate — you can still end up owing thousands more than you expected.

Hospitals and providers must be held accountable. If they give an estimate, they should stick to it. And if they can’t, they should be required to explain exactly why the final bill is higher.

We're calling on the Department of Health and Human Services, Congress, and state regulators to enforce clear, transparent billing for everyone—and to extend good faith estimate protections to all patients, regardless of insurance status.

Because no one should be afraid to get medical care just because the bill might be a mystery.