Federal agency ยท Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
No Surprises Help Desk: surprise bill questions and complaints
The federal help desk for questions or complaints that a plan, provider or facility broke the surprise billing rules. It reviews the complaint and may refer it to another federal or state enforcer.
Know before you go
You can submit a complaint online or call for help in English, Spanish and more than 350 other languages. It covers surprise out-of-network bills; it is not a way to appeal an ordinary claim denial, and some services, such as ground ambulance rides, are not protected by the No Surprises Act. The page says that if the desk needs more information it will get in touch within 60 days.
- Cost
- Not stated. The page lists no fee.
- Where
- Nationwide
- How to start
- Gather your bill, a photo of your insurance card and your explanation of benefits, then submit the online form or call. Write down your confirmation number.
- Phone
- 1-800-985-3059, as printed on the provider's page
- Have ready
- Your medical bill; A photo of your insurance card; Your explanation of benefits; Any good faith estimate or notice and consent form; Any notice of appeal decision
Where this comes from
- Provider
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Source we read
- https://www.cms.gov/medical-bill-rights/help/submit-a-complaint
- Date we read it
- . This is not a fresh check.
- Date the provider printed
- Not displayed
- What we checked
- We read the provider's public page. We have not verified availability, eligibility or outcomes for any individual.
Other starting points
- Program or service
FAIR Health Consumer cost estimates
A nonprofit's tools for estimating what providers charge and what insurers pay in your area, plus insurance basics. Useful evidence in an out-of-network payment dispute. It does not file appeals or negotiate for you.
From FAIR Health
- Program or service
Legal Action Center free legal help in New York
Free legal help for New Yorkers with substance use disorders or mental health care needs, including insurance barriers to treatment. Nationwide help is limited to certain addiction-medication cases.
From Legal Action Center
- Program or service
National Alliance on Mental Illness guide to insurance denials
A plain explanation of why mental health care is denied, five signs of a possible parity violation, and a link to a longer appeals guide written with The Kennedy Forum. Information only.
From National Alliance on Mental Illness