Know your rights as a patient in Maryland. From surprise billing protections to financial assistance programs, here's what the law says about your medical bills.
Based on CMS cost report data from 41 hospitals in Maryland.
Maryland hospitals charge an average of 1.4× their actual costs. The average hospital stay is billed at $127,800, while the actual cost is $89,600. Compare prices at specific hospitals →
The federal No Surprises Act protects all Maryland patients, regardless of state laws:
All-Payer Rate Setting System & HB 1122 (2021) protects Maryland patients from unexpected out-of-network medical bills.
If you receive a surprise out-of-network bill, you are not responsible for the balance beyond what you'd pay for in-network care. Contact your insurer and reference the All-Payer Rate Setting System & HB 1122 to dispute any balance bill.
Under Maryland Medical Assistance Program & Hospital Financial Assistance (COMAR 10.37.10), hospitals in Maryland must provide financial assistance to qualifying patients.
Income threshold: 200% FPL for free care; up to 300% FPL for reduced-cost
Maryland has a 3-year statute of limitations on medical debt (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101). This is one of the shortest in the nation.
After 3 years, creditors cannot sue you to collect medical debt in Maryland. The clock starts from the date of your last payment or acknowledgment of the debt.
Beyond surprise billing and financial assistance, federal and state law provide these important protections.
Uninsured or self-pay patients can request a good faith estimate of charges before receiving care. If the final bill exceeds the estimate by $400 or more, you can dispute it through the federal process.
You have the right to an itemized bill showing each charge. Review it carefully — billing errors are found in up to 80% of hospital bills according to industry estimates.
Since 2021, all hospitals must publish their standard charges and negotiated rates online. Use Taven's price comparison tool to see how Maryland hospitals compare.
Hospitals must offer reasonable payment plans before pursuing collections. Ask about interest-free options and negotiate monthly payment amounts based on your income.
Maryland has a 3-year statute of limitations on medical debt (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101). This is one of the shortest in the nation — after 3 years, creditors cannot sue to collect.
Maryland is the only state where hospital rates are set by a state commission (HSCRC). All payers — insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid, and self-pay patients — pay the same regulated rates at each hospital.
Yes. Maryland hospitals must provide financial assistance to qualifying patients. Those at or below 200% FPL qualify for free care, and reduced-cost care is available up to 300% FPL.
Maryland's all-payer system regulates hospital rates, resulting in a charge-to-cost ratio of about 1.4× — much lower than the national average of 3-5×. This means bills more closely reflect actual costs.
Contact the Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) at 1-800-492-6116 or file online. For hospital rate issues, contact the HSCRC. For billing fraud, contact the Maryland Attorney General.
If a hospital or insurance company is violating your rights, you can file a formal complaint.
For insurance-related complaints: claim denials, balance billing, network issues.
📞 1-800-492-6116
File a complaint →For deceptive billing practices, fraud, or consumer protection violations.
File a complaint →Compare prices at 41 hospitals across Maryland. Click any hospital to see their procedure prices and negotiated rates.
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