Know your rights as a patient in Utah. 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 47 hospitals in Utah.
Utah hospitals charge an average of 3.7× their actual costs. The average hospital stay is billed at $148,000, while the actual cost is $40,000. Compare prices at specific hospitals →
The federal No Surprises Act protects all Utah patients, regardless of state laws:
SB 30 — Balance Billing Protections (2020) — Utah SB 30 (2020) protects patients from surprise out-of-network medical bills for emergency services.
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 SB 30 — Balance Billing Protections (2020) to dispute any balance bill.
Under Federal 501(r) & Utah Medicaid Expansion, hospitals in Utah must provide financial assistance to qualifying patients.
Income threshold: Varies by hospital (Medicaid covers up to 138% FPL)
Utah has a 6-year statute of limitations on written contracts. Medical debt falls under this limit. After 6 years, creditors cannot sue to collect.
After 6 years, creditors cannot sue you to collect medical debt in Utah. 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 Utah 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.
Utah has a 6-year statute of limitations on medical debt (Utah Code § 78B-2-309). After 6 years, creditors cannot sue you to collect.
Yes. SB 30 (2020) protects patients from surprise out-of-network bills for emergency services and requires advance notice before non-emergency out-of-network care.
Yes. Utah expanded Medicaid in 2020 (following a 2018 ballot initiative), covering adults with incomes up to 138% FPL.
Yes, after a court judgment. Utah allows garnishment of up to 25% of disposable earnings. Your home is protected up to $52,500 ($105,000 per couple).
Contact the Utah Insurance Department at 801-538-3800 for insurance complaints. For billing fraud, contact the Utah Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
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.
📞 1-801-538-3800
File a complaint →For deceptive billing practices, fraud, or consumer protection violations.
File a complaint →Compare prices at 47 hospitals across Utah. Click any hospital to see their procedure prices and negotiated rates.
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