A visit to the emergency room may cost you much more than you expected
Heads up – even if you choose an in-network hospital for an emergency room visit you might end up with a hefty bill. Some patients are learning the hard way that their emergency room doctor is a private contractor who is out of network or does not accept any insurance plans. Unfortunately, patients have no choice about which physician they see when they go to an emergency room and it is nearly impossible to find out if they are in-network. “It’s very common and there’s little consumers can do to prevent it and protect themselves — it’s a roll of the dice,” said Stacey Pogue, a senior policy analyst with the nonpartisan Center for Public Policy Priorities in Austin, Texas.
