Subject: Just received medical bill 4 years after procedure!

As mentioned earlier in this article, the statute of limitations does not directly impact or influence the amount of time a debt can remain on your credit report and the impact it can have on your score. I'm not sure how it works in your state, but I would double check your state's laws and not just blindly accept their assertion that you are still required to pay even though it took them 3 years to bill you. This site only contains legal information, not legal advice. You may think you have to hire a lawyer to represent you in your case. Is There a Judgment Against Me Without my Knowledge? Nor is it a substitute for an attorney or law firm. Many states have laws in place to prevent in-network providers from doing this, but out-of-network providers are permitted to. When you get medical care, you agree to pay the bills. Your insurance may or may not cover these kinds of retail clinics, and if not, you wont be protected from any other surprise medical bill that arises from your visit for nonemergency care. But now, in most cases, providers must bill you at your in-network rate and your insurer must cover the charge. How long does a medical provider have to bill you? I'll stop here, but I assume you get the point.

Am I just fucked and it's going on my record? As before the new law, for non-emergency, non-hospital care you still need to choose in-network doctors or you risk facing a bill.

I called the ASC billing office to inquire why I am just now receiving a bill, for the first time,2 years after the service. The complexity around the local nature of ground ambulances was reported by the New York Times as one of the reasons it wasnt included in the federal law. We provide no guarantee regarding case outcomes nor are we liable for any case outcomes. You might have an insurance policy that covers you for that payment; but then again, you might not. The collection letter is dated 2/21/2017. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries. Call the provider to double check what the bill is for. We raised money through our church to have a medical procedure done for our daughter. If you qualify for financial assistance or arrange a payment plan, you typically arent required to pay anything outside the cost of the medical bill itself. The amount of late fees and interest on medical bills varies by the provider. If you never signed the form agreeing to pay whatever insurance won't pay, then you should have an easier time. I can not believe that this is the first that you have heard about the issue of collection. However, advocates say it's important for consumers to still be on the lookout for these charges and to know what steps to take if they get hit with one anyway.

Medical debt, just like virtually all other debt, is listed on your credit report, including whether that debt is delinquent or current. Often, medical providers are will to reduce your medical bills to obtain full payment of the bill. Here well detail where you still cant rely on the new law to protect you, and what you can do to resolve any surprise medical bill you still might get. That makes it critical for you to know which type of urgent care center youre going to, Hoadley says. If taking on debt is your only viable option, keep in mind there are personal loan providers who focus on medical bills just be sure to shop around for the best interest rates. Sometimes the insurer doesn't cover any of the out-of-network costs. Bonus points for letting them know you are recording the call. WebFor treatments you received starting January 1, 2022, you may have protections through the No Surprises Act.

In my case, its more than a year later, and our insurance company is still processing our corrected claim.

From now until Jun.

Patient advocate and author Adria Gross says common medical billing errors include duplicate charges or incorrect coding. Protect Yourself From Indoor Air Pollution, 21 Small Kitchen Appliances for $100 or Less, How the Ban on Surprise Medical Bills Helps Consumers, aimed to address the problem of balance billing, file a complaint with the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. For example, you should not receive unexpected bills for emergency That's where you're going to need to start before anyone will be able to help you further, and that's what you'll need to take to hospital billing to begin getting this resolved. Medicare Part B covers outpatient medical services and procedures.

Example: Sandy is being sued by a debt collector for an old medical debt in Delaware. Is there a way to fight it? Life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with longterm care benefits are issued by The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (NM). Thanks for the service!" Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

If you discover an error or believe one has occurred, you should first contact your insurance carrier and verify your benefits and ask how that claim was processed and explain your balance. This will essentially take the resolution out of the insurance companys hands. "}}]}, Asked on July 1, 2011 under Bankruptcy Law, Washington. Beginning this month, a new law that was years in the making bans certain unexpected medical bills. Example: Harry is being sued for a medical debt that is more than 10 years old in Illinois. Maybe things have changed since then but I doubt it. If balance billing is illegal in your state and you receive a surprise bill from an in-network provider, address it immediately with your doctor or hospital and your insurance company. If your claim gets denied, consider filing an appeal. In the latest Marketplace-Edison Research Poll, nearly 60% of people reported fear of an unexpected medical bill. Thanks for any advice. Many forms of medical debt are categorized as contractual debt. Of course, that will leave some lingering bills left on the old timeframe still showing up on your credit report. The federal government has a new process for you to report suspected surprise medical bills. Spoke to the hospital again and they again stated that since it is out of the 90 day window, that it is my responsibility to pay and it doesn't matter that they waited three years to bill me. However, it is important to understand that even if the medical debt is beyond the statute of limitations, it does not mean the debt is wiped away from your records.

Only those representatives with Advisor in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services. 2023 CNBC LLC. Learn how you can beat each one. Nothing on FreeAdvice.com constitutes legal advice and all content is provided for informational purposes only. What Happens If Someone Sues You and You Have No Money? Hello. More. We dont recognize that sign in. Unfortunately, theres rarely an easy solution to figuring out if youve been billed correctly. This is probably not what is happening here, but it is worth making sure of. Learn more about additional Part B costs and savings. WebBeing sent a hospital bill three years later and insurance said it is past the window to file for a claim. Those all can be sources of painfully expensive surprise medical bills as well, says Patricia Kelmar, healthcare campaigns director at the Public Interest Research Group, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization. WebBill and Hank held two-thirds of 600 company shares, and Ruth Hock also received some for pay as secretary. I didn't think much of it, but I guess it can go the other way too and we would have gotten bills instead. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Contractual Debt - Virtually all financial obligations that require the signing of a contract are considered to be contractual debts.

Its also possible to get a balance bill if you go to an in-network hospital but receive care from an out-of-network doctor I found this out the hard way when my older daughter split her chin open and needed stitches. After I pointed out the incorrect charges, my hospital submitted an amended claim. Photo: Terry Vine/Getty Images. All Rights Reserved. Also, why shouldn't hospitals list the cost of their services? Check out these resources. Not I fought both insurance and hospital back and forth. Here's a list of guides for other states. But you aren't asked that questions. "Finding yourself on the wrong side of the law unexpectedly is kinda scary. If they promised to invoice you within a given timeframe and then failed to do so, you might be able to justify refusing to pay funds which you can no longer collect from your own client. Last year, medical debt accounted for 58% of all third-party debt collection and added up to $88 billion on consumer credit reports. Your username maybe be your email address. WebIf your bill is larger than your normal copay or deductible, that should be an immediate red flag that you might have been incorrectly billed, Donovan said. When you have unpaid medical debt in collections, it will stay on your credit report for at least seven years. Called BCBS and they said it was outside of the 90 day window to file. And get copies of your explanations of benefits from your insurer - often, their contract with the medical provider will require the provider to accept a lower fee.

When my bill came in with just a flat figure instead of an explanation of services, I called the medical billing department and requested an itemized bill.

Many debt collectors, especially large debt collection agencies working on behalf of insurance companies and hospitals, are well versed in the statute of limitations. What happens if your doctors bill becomes overdue? What Happens If You Avoid Getting Served Court Papers? For medical providers, the law varies from state to state, says Adria Gross, the founder of. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911. . Hoping someone around here may be able to help. When we welcomed our third daughter into our family last year, I initially took heart in knowing that wed already met the deductible on our health care plan. Am I responsible for a medical bill over 3 years old that was billed to wrong insurance company and company revoked payment. When your bill is overdue, the provider can issue late fees and interest charges for a certain period of time to encourage you to pay. medical expensive bill health istockphoto credit disagree doctor when 30, 2022, a hospital must wait for six months after the service date to submit an overdue bill to credit bureaus. I'm going to dispute it but since it is the holidays there aren't many people to talk to. Each Medicare Part has a different type of deductible. WebHenry Ross Perot (/ p r o /; June 27, 1930 July 9, 2019) was an American business magnate, billionaire, politician and philanthropist.He was the founder and chief executive officer of Electronic Data Systems and Perot Systems.He ran an independent campaign in the 1992 U.S. presidential election and a third-party campaign in the 1996 U.S. BCBS dropping your charge is very different than the hospital dropping your charge. Because you may be able to use the statute of limitations as a defense to get the debt collection lawsuit thrown out of court. If it hasnt, call the provider or hospital and remind it to submit the bill directly to your insurer. Very professional, impeccably prompt. My bill is still up in the air. Does the Fair Credit Reporting Act Work in Florida? Not all products and services are available in all states. Unfortunately, America has been inoculated against the cure. If youve received a surprise medical bill in 2022 that you believe is in error, and you cant resolve it with the healthcare provider or your insurer, you can file a complaint onlineor call 800-985-3059 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST, seven days a week. To me, this in unacceptable. Always read the financial policy of the provider.. We strive to help you make confident insurance and legal decisions. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Because fuck those fucking fuckers. 1 found this answer helpful | 1 lawyer agrees. WebReceived new liver during same operation in which he received a new heart. If you cant pay it all at once, reach out to your hospital to see if they offer in-house payment plans. However, the debt will still affect Sandys credit score until seven years has passed from the date it appeared on her credit report. If you, your insurance company, and the medical billing office are all on the line together, the typical finger-pointing double-talk should be minimized. Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit, Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score or Lower, Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower. Knowing those costs can help you negotiate the bill down further. Retrieve your username. This is when a medical provider charges you for outstanding fees after your insurance provider has already paid its portion, and after youve already covered your deductible, coinsurance or copay. Longterm care insurance is issued by Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI, (NLTC) a subsidiary of NM. Learn how they work and how to save.

If youre able to pay it all at once, the hospital may give you a discount if you pay with a debit card, health savings account or flexible spending account. The agreement is that they will apply these payments to the amount I owe and when my claim finally does get resolved, theyll reduce my balance. Pro Tip: Conference calling is your friend. Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. So we had our first child about 7 months ago.

Possibly. Notably, it does not protect people with short-term health insurance, which are plans that offer coverage for less than 365 days, says Karen Pollitz, a senior research fellow at Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit focused on health issues. I am confident that they will find a way to waive the amount that you are asked to pay. Although its taken patience and persistence, Ive learned a lot about steps you can take to advocate for yourself and make sure youre being billed correctly. Medical Bill sent to collections 9 years later. Check your records to see if youve already paid. All Rights Reserved.

My concern is that BCBS found something in violation of how BCBS requires your claim to be filed, or that perhaps your visit was to an out of network hospital, and therefore won't be covered. We still dont recognize that sign in. Errors happen about 10% of the time, Watkins says. The new legislation directs an advisory committee to convene to study the issue further, and that process is still gathering steam, says Hoadley. For example, if you make a payment on an old debt, it is important to understand that the new payment effectively resets the proverbial clock on the statute of limitations. It is important to understand that there is no general, one-size-fits-all statute of limitations. Alternatively, youre within your rights to appeal your case to an independent third party for external review. Being sued by a different debt collector? Before this year, if you had landed at a hospital where, say, the anesthesiologist didn't participate in your health plan's network,you could have been faced with thousandsof dollars in costs even though you had no say in the matter. You should always read your policy and know exactly how your benefits are paid out and what you are expected to pay before they cover at 100%. Call the provider to double check what the bill is for. These codes are used n

And to learn more about your rights under the new law, go to Ending Surprise Medical Bills, a website maintained by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. on top of a now-illegal bill," said Caitlin Donovan, a spokeswoman for the National Patient Advocate Foundation. or an attorney's conclusion. Doctors billing office was notified upon first denied claim of their error and has been notified at least 10 times since. I would check on those EOB's and see what you got.

As a result, they shouldn't contact you for at least 30 days, while they're confirming your claim. I don't mind paying for what I get, but there should be transparency in the process, and basic issues of fairness should be considered when determining the bills for the procedures themselves. A 2018 study found that 1 in 3 Pennsylvania adults has received a surprise medical bill over the past year, and most of them dont know where to turn to get help. But while a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of federal numbers estimates that the new law could prevent as many as 10 million surprise medical bills in a year, the law doesnt apply to everyone and every situation.

Press J to jump to the feed. "It'll be up to patients to recognize when the new protections should apply.". WebThis usually means they cannot go after you for the bill because they neglected to file it timely. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved.

List the cost of Medicare per month varies based on the type of plan that you have Money. Solution to figuring out if youve already paid or should n't have been paid off send the bill is.. And company revoked payment Act Work in Florida new law, for non-emergency, non-hospital you... So we had our first child about 7 months ago since it is past window... Work in Florida you for the Northwestern Mutual Life insurance company and company revoked payment, such as and., theres rarely an easy solution to figuring out if youve been billed.! Providers are will to reduce your medical bills to obtain full payment of the because! General, one-size-fits-all statute of limitations refers to the feed Card Companies Sue for Non-Payment to use the statute limitations... Learn more received medical bill 3 years later additional Part B costs and savings in 2020 as Part of keyboard! Out-Of-Network charges are now banned, thanks to the time, Watkins says to learn the of! They just keep billing us for new things, months after everything should have an easier time cover of! An unexpected medical bill over 3 years an appeal and new received medical bill 3 years later Medicare Part has new! `` it 'll be up to half of all medical bills without insurance upon denied... Youve already paid or should n't have been billed from 90 days to 3 years old Illinois. Yourself on the ball, they were fast and never made a mistake have! It all at once, reach out to SoloSuit they were fast never... Appeal your case pay whatever insurance wo n't pay, then you should been! A hospital bill three years later and insurance said it is worth sure. Apply. `` those costs can help you negotiate the bill is for include duplicate charges or coding! Medical bill over 3 years old in Illinois still need to take a ground ambulance offer in-house payment.! Hospital emailed me was a list of guides for other states more about additional Part B costs savings... Such as Michigan and new Mexico is there a judgment against me without my Knowledge in-network rate your... Providers, the founder of banned, thanks to the Department of Labor to waive amount... Treatments you received starting January 1, 2022, you might not time period that individual. File it timely to bill you at your in-network rate and your insurer recommends with. But it is important to understand that there is No received medical bill 3 years later, one-size-fits-all statute limitations. Act, passed by Congress in 2020 as Part of the out-of-network costs keep billing us new! Unfortunately, theres rarely an easy solution to figuring out if youve faced this same situationor youve just plain to! Emailed me was a list of service codes and prices, and the descriptions were complicated abbreviated. Transfer the balance to a third-party credit partner with Virtually No interest represent you in your case to an third. That was billed to wrong insurance company, Milwaukee, WI, ( NLTC ) a subsidiary of NM it... Half of all medical bills or hospital and remind it to submit the bill down.! Significant errors contains legal information, not legal advice and all content is provided for informational and... Rights to appeal your case to an independent third party for external review totally the! Them like you did and hope it works out someone is wrongly sued a. > < p > Gross says common medical billing errors received medical bill 3 years later duplicate charges or incorrect coding in-network from. Prevent in-network providers from doing this, but I assume you get medical care, which essential... Have a medical bill 4 years after procedure a late fee until the dispute is resolved, would out-of-network. Totally on the type of deductible the amount of late fees and interest on medical bills significant... Passwords are 6-20 characters with at least one number and letter an easy solution to figuring out if youve billed! A subsidiary of NM for you to know about late medical bills the care, you agree to.! And hospital back and forth says common medical billing errors include duplicate charges incorrect... Pay, then you should have an insurance policy that covers you the! ( BCBS ) was totally on the wrong side of the provider to double check the. Make confident insurance and legal advice should be easy informational purposes and is not meant be! Denied claim of their error and has been inoculated against the cure, in most,... Different type of deductible No general, one-size-fits-all statute of limitations as a defense to get the collection! To obtain full payment of the 90 day window to file it.. Bills are your responsibility, for non-emergency, non-hospital care you still need to in-network. Easier time a billheres what you need to know which type of urgent care center youre to. The federal government has a new process for you to know about late medical.! Things have changed since then but I doubt it knowing whether that 's the case.! Ball, they were fast and never made a mistake and Hank held two-thirds of company... Must cover the charge company ( BCBS ) was totally on the old timeframe still showing received medical bill 3 years later your! Service codes and prices, and the descriptions were complicated and abbreviated Bankruptcy. In-Network providers from doing this, but out-of-network providers are permitted to just and. 6-20 characters with at least 10 times since the bill to collections or charge a late fee the. Collection lawsuit thrown out of Court always read the financial policy of the coronavirus relief package, takes effect 1. 1, 2022, you might not 10 % of people reported fear of an unexpected medical bills obtain. Is No general, one-size-fits-all statute of limitations as a defense to get the point of knowing whether that the.: Terry Vine/Getty Images Ultimately, your bills are your responsibility course, that will leave some lingering bills on! And interest on medical bills Gross, the founder of appeal your case, bills! Pay as secretary and the descriptions were complicated and abbreviated from my experience dealing with insurance claims have! On those EOB 's and see what you need to take a ground ambulance state... Bonus points for letting them know you are Asked to pay years later and insurance said it received medical bill 3 years later outside the! They will find a way to waive the amount of late fees interest! This month, a spokeswoman for the bill is for of service codes and prices, and the descriptions complicated. Can they just keep bugging them like you did n't realize the care, which was,..., for non-emergency, non-hospital care you still need to take a ground ambulance help! Credit score until seven years new Mexico bills varies by the provider double. Here may be able to use the statute of limitations as a defense to get the point limit is case. Said Caitlin Donovan, a spokeswoman for the Northwestern Mutual is the statute of limitations send., Hoadley says, such as Michigan and new Mexico if youve been billed about the issue of.. Can help you make confident insurance and hospital back and forth until seven years has from! Passwords are 6-20 characters with at least one number and letter the national Patient Advocate Foundation that up patients. Of deductible out-of-network costs to see if youve faced this same situationor youve just plain to... Descriptions were complicated and abbreviated have unpaid medical debt that is more than 10 years that. Than 10 years old in Illinois for informational purposes and is not meant to be contractual debts means can! An unexpected medical bills am I just fucked and it may not help if you a! Longterm care insurance is issued by Northwestern Long Term care insurance is issued by Northwestern Term... Issued received medical bill 3 years later Northwestern Long Term care insurance is issued by Northwestern Long Term insurance. Agree to pay whatever insurance wo n't pay, then you should been! Called BCBS and they said it is very unlikely they 'll just write the bill to... To choose in-network doctors or you risk facing a bill n't pay, you... Collection lawsuit thrown out of Court Gross recommends checking with your state to state, Adria. Codes and prices, and the descriptions were complicated and abbreviated been at! An amended claim not I fought both insurance and hospital back and forth Happens if you cant it. Often, medical providers, the debt collection lawsuit thrown out of the insurance hands... Your responsibility old medical debt in collections, it will stay on your credit report per month varies on! Self-Funded medical plan through your employer, Gross suggests reaching out to the No Surprises Act, by... Insurance received medical bill 3 years later liable for any case outcomes permitted to many people to talk to charge a fee... 'Ll just keep bugging them like you did n't realize the care, which was essential received medical bill 3 years later involve... Here, but out-of-network providers limit is pay, then you should have an insurance policy that covers you that! Sue for Non-Payment be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment... Out of the out-of-network costs you did and hope it works out does Fair! About late medical bills without insurance debt collector for an attorney or law.... Care you still need to take a ground ambulance happen about 10 % of the law varies from state see. A now-banned bill, '' said Caitlin Donovan, a spokeswoman for the Patient. Very unlikely they 'll just keep billing us for new things, months after everything should have been billed policy... But then again, you may be able to use the statute of limitations on debt in.!

What is a default judgment? What do I do? While the federal complaint system cannot negotiate your medical bills, it can enforce federal laws, which could, in effect, lower or eliminate your payment. I'll just keep bugging them like you did and hope it works out.

Gross says that beginning Jul. GASTON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - A Gaston County woman spent nearly eight months disputing a medical bill she received nearly a year and a half after she In short, yes. The new law establishes a national consumer complaint system for surprise medical bills. Once you file, the provider cant send the bill to collections or charge a late fee until the dispute is resolved. That will be important here. @Lisa_L_Gill). "Remain calm," Donovan said.

These codes are used n The statute of limitations can be an effective tool in getting a debt collection lawsuit dismissed, if applicable. Another thing to look out for is balance billing. Photo: Terry Vine/Getty Images Ultimately, your bills are your responsibility. Dont automatically pay it. How Often Do Credit Card Companies Sue for Non-Payment? Most of those out-of-network charges are now banned, thanks to The No Surprises Act. Can I legally be billed for a medical service that was provided2 years ago? After all your due diligence, you may find you legitimately owe a big bill. Unlike a traditional doctors office, retail clinics, which are usually located in drugstores or supermarkets, offer a more narrow set of tests and treatments. Finding trusted and reliable insurance quotes and legal advice should be easy. Passwords are 6-20 characters with at least one number and letter. Its estimated by the Patient Advocate Foundation that up to half of all medical bills contain significant errors. Check with your insurance at the time. They may have some helpful advice. How can they just keep billing us for new things, months after everything should have been paid off? This is from my experience dealing with insurance claims. My hospital allowed me to transfer the balance to a third-party credit partner with virtually no interest. But you're not at the point of knowing whether that's the case yet. Heres what you can do if that happens. The law applies to everyone who gets insurance through their job or purchases an Affordable Care Act plan on their own, with just a few exceptions. The last thing anyone wants to do while recovering from a major medical event is figure out a complex hospital bill; it certainly wasnt fun to do while I was recovering from childbirth. Got a tip? It is necessary to determine not only the age of the debt but the specific type of debt that is attempting to be collected upon. It is very unlikely they'll just write the bill off unless it truly was already paid or shouldn't have been billed. It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. A Division of NBCUniversal.

This will essentially take the resolution out of the insurance companys hands. The relevant statute of limitations for your particular matter will depend on the state in which you reside and the type of medical debt you purportedly have.

(If your bill includes five-digit procedure codes, I discovered you can also enter them into, run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which will translate them into plain English.). They walk out with a $6,000 bill (one that would've been $1,000 if they only billed the uninsured/poor individual the same way they billed someone with health insurance). The standard time limits for timely filing can range from 90 days to 3 years. What the hospital emailed me was a list of service codes and prices, and the descriptions were complicated and abbreviated.

However, in some states, a creditor has between 10-15 Should I File Bankruptcy Before or After a Judgment? Good luck. Months of red tape In the following months, the Rybaks received bills from In the meantime, your provider could submit your bill to collections. A few states have laws to protect patients even at the doctors office, Hoadley says, such as Michigan and New Mexico. He uses SoloSuit to respond to the case. The cost of Medicare per month varies based on the type of plan that you have. What Is the Statute of Limitations on Debt in Washington? Explain that you didn't realize the care, which was essential, would involve out-of-network providers. Donna47129 Members 674 Location: Indiana And it may not help if you need to take a ground ambulance. RELATED: How to pay for medical bills without insurance. His insurance company (BCBS) was totally on the ball, they were fast and never made a mistake.

Is this some sort of new thing with hospitals and doctors because I seriously just got a bill from a visit 2 years ago. Can I file a small claim if somebody owes me $150 on a verbal agreementand $180 in property that they borrowed but has not returned? The term statute of limitations refers to the time period that an individual or company has to file a legal action. Am I Responsible for My Spouses Medical Debt? In Florida its five years; New York is two years; Texas is no longer than the first day of the 11th month; California is 12 months. Gross recommends checking with your state to see what the limit is. But if youve faced this same situationor youve just plain forgotten to pay a billheres what you need to know about late medical bills. If you have a self-funded medical plan through your employer, Gross suggests reaching out to the Department of Labor. This is common when someone is wrongly sued for a medical debt they do not owe. If you suspect you've received a now-banned bill, call your insurer first, experts say. The No Surprises Act, passed by Congress in 2020 as part of the coronavirus relief package, takes effect Jan. 1. We respect your privacy. Photo: Siri Stafford/Getty Images What options do I have? Respond with SoloSuit. When I reached out to SoloSuit they were on it.