Know your health insurance

On Jan. 1, the No Surprises Act took effect, which provides protection from unexpected charges for medical care from out-of-network providers or facilities. This includes insurance through your employer, the Marketplace, or an individual plan you purchased. If you're uninsured or you decide not to use your health insurance for a service, with the new policy, you can often get a good faith estimate for the charges beforehand.

For services received in 2022, you can file a dispute if you receive a medical bill $400 over the estimate you were given. Most insurance cards show a member services phone number and/or website for your questions. If you plan to have a procedure done, contact your insurance company to get pre-authorization. At that time, you'll be told whether the provider and facility you've chosen are in your network. All health insurance is required to help pay for 10 Essential Health Benefits. They include:

Outpatient (clinic) care

Lab tests

Prescription medications

Preventive, wellness and chronic disease management

Emergency situations

Hospitalization

Pre-natal and infant delivery

Behavioral health, including substance use

Services and devices needed after an injury

Dental and vision for children

Health and Wellness

Ann Cochran

Dallas County Health Department