State Medical Bill Rights & Protections
Know your rights when dealing with medical bills. Each state has different protections for surprise billing, debt collection limits, financial assistance requirements, and consumer safeguards. Federal laws provide baseline protections, but many states offer additional safeguards.
Federal Protections (All States)
✓ No Surprises Act
Protects against balance billing for emergency care and certain services
✓ Credit Reporting Rules
Medical debt under $500 cannot be reported; 365-day waiting period for larger debts
✓ Hospital Charity Care
Nonprofit hospitals must offer financial assistance and screen patients
✓ Price Transparency
Hospitals must publish price lists and provide good faith estimates
State-Specific Protections
Texas
California
Florida
New York
What These Guides Cover
Surprise Billing
When you're protected from unexpected out-of-network bills and how to dispute them.
Financial Assistance
Hospital charity care requirements, eligibility thresholds, and application processes.
Debt Protection
Collection limits, credit reporting rules, wage garnishment protections, and complaint options.
How to Use These State Guides
When You Receive a Medical Bill:
- • Check your state guide for specific protections and rights
- • Verify if the bill qualifies for surprise billing protections
- • Review financial assistance requirements if you need help paying
- • Know your timeline limits for disputes and applications
For Debt Collection Issues:
- • Understand credit reporting protections in your state
- • Know wage garnishment limits and exemptions
- • Find state agencies to file complaints with collectors
- • Get contact information for consumer protection offices
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Don't See Your State?
We're continuously adding state-specific guides. Remember that federal protections apply everywhere, and many strategies work regardless of state:
Disclaimer: State laws change frequently and this information is for educational purposes only. Always verify current laws and regulations with official state sources or consult with a qualified attorney for specific legal guidance. CareRoute does not provide legal services.