The Hospital Bill
La. R.S. 22:1874 — an in-network provider may not bill an insured patient beyond copays, coinsurance and deductibles
No billing past the network rate. A contracted health care provider may not bill, try to collect, or collect from an insured patient anything beyond the coinsurance, copayments, deductibles, noncovered services, and other amounts the insurer's explanation of benefits says the patient owes.
- A contracted provider may not sue the patient for the insurer's share or for more than the contracted rate, and if it does, the winning side recovers costs and reasonable attorney fees.
- A hospital gives written notice that independent professionals, such as anesthesiologists and radiologists, bill separately and may not be in the patient's plan.
- An out-of-network physician who bills an insured patient sends an itemized bill with the dates of service and a telephone number to discuss it.
For uninsured medical debts from a catastrophic or terminal illness or injury, the homestead exemption covers the full value of the home.
Sources for this section (3)
- La. R.S. 22:1874 — Billing by contracted healthcare providers
- La. R.S. 22:1880 — Balance billing disclosure
- La. R.S. 20:1 — Declaration of homestead; exemption from seizure and sale; debts excluded from exemption; waiver; certain proceeds from property insurance exempted
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Louisiana attorney.