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Providing Consumer Protection Preventing Underinsurance and Medical Debt California Health Initiative on Overcharging and Underinsurance (Health IOU)
HOW TO REDUCE YOUR HOSPITAL BILLS
As of January 1, 2007, the Hospital Fair Pricing Act (AB774), requires all California hospitals to offer free or discounted care to qualified patients who need help paying their hospital bills. You may qualify even if you have health insurance, and even if you are not low income. Each hospital can make its own eligibility and application rules, so you may be eligible for a discount at one hospital and not at another.
On this resource page, you can find information and resources to help reduce your hospital bills.
Factsheets
Tools for Consumers
- Research California hospitals to find ones where you might qualify for free or discounted care
- Research California hospitals to see which ones charge the fairest prices (as measured by "cost-to-charge" ratios)
- Sample letter to hospital to stop billing, collections or legal activity pending determination of eligibilty (scroll to page 6).
- Sample letter to collection agency requiesting suspension of collection activities pending determination of eligibility (scross to page 7).
- Sample complaint to the California Department of Health Services requesting review of a hospital's failure to comply with the requirements of the Hospital Fair Pricing Act (scroll to page 8).
- Questions? Need legal assistance? Contact your local Health Consumer Center.
Holding Hospitals Accountable
- Have you or someone you know been overcharged since January 1, 2007? Tell us your story, and help us hold hospitals accountable. Be sure to include:
- The hospital name;
- date you were admitted,
- number of days you stayed,
- amount you were charged,
- the name of your insurance company, if any.
More tools for Advocates and Policymakers
Hospital Billing Archives
- Paper: Give Us A Sign! Hospital Compliance with Voluntary Guidelines Prior to Enactment of fair Pricing legislation (2004)
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