US Medical Term · insurance
Surprise Billing
Facturación sorpresa
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Surprise Billing |
| Spanish (Español) | Facturación sorpresa |
| Chinese (中文) | 意外帳單 |
| Korean (한국어) | 예상치 못한 청구 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Hóa đơn bất ngờ |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Surprise billing |
| Portuguese (Português) | Cobrança surpresa |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การเรียกเก็บเงินแบบเซอร์ไพรส์ |
| Japanese (日本語) | サプライズ請求 |
What it means
Surprise billing occurs when you unknowingly receive care from an out-of-network provider — often in an emergency or when an out-of-network specialist is used at an in-network facility without your knowledge — and then receive an unexpectedly large bill. Common examples include out-of-network anesthesiologists or radiologists at an in-network hospital. The No Surprises Act, effective January 2022, protects patients from most surprise bills by limiting what providers can charge to in-network cost-sharing amounts in these situations. You generally cannot be balance billed in qualifying circumstances.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
Is this a surprise bill covered under the No Surprises Act?
¿Es esta una factura sorpresa cubierta por la Ley de No Sorpresas?
I did not know this provider was out of network — can you recalculate my bill?
No sabía que este proveedor estaba fuera de la red — ¿pueden recalcular mi factura?
I want to dispute this charge as a surprise bill.
Quiero disputar este cargo como una factura sorpresa.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026