Fewer than half of people who receive an unexpected bill from their insurer will challenge the charges, a survey from the Commonwealth Fund found.
The survey, published August 1, asked 4,803 adults if they had received an unexpected medical bill in the past year.
Here are five findings to note:
- Around four in 10 survey respondents said they or a family member had received an unexpected medical bill in the past year. Individuals with marketplace coverage were most likely to say they received an unexpected bill, while Medicaid beneficiaries were least likely to report receiving an unexpected bill.
- Of those who reported receiving an unexpected bill, 45% said they challenged the charges by contacting their provider or insurer. Among those who did not challenge the unexpected bill, the most commonly reported reason was they did not know they had the right to appeal.
- Around 1 in 5 survey respondents reported they or a family member were denied coverage for a screening, procedure or medication recommended by their physician.
- Of those who had a service denied by an insurer, 43% said they challenged the decision. Of those who did not challenge the denial, 45% said they weren't sure they had the right to appeal.
- Of the survey respondents who reported challenging denied care, 50% reported the service was ultimately approved by their insurer.
Read more here.