Laws Laws by State
Balance Billing Laws by State 2026
Balanced Billing Protections
Comprehensive
None
Partial
State | Balanced Billing Protections↓ | |
|---|---|---|
 | California | Comprehensive |
 | Colorado | Comprehensive |
 | Connecticut | Comprehensive |
 | Florida | Comprehensive |
 | Georgia | Comprehensive |
 | Illinois | Comprehensive |
 | Maine | Comprehensive |
 | Maryland | Comprehensive |
 | Michigan | Comprehensive |
 | New Hampshire | Comprehensive |
 | New Jersey | Comprehensive |
 | New Mexico | Comprehensive |
 | New York | Comprehensive |
 | Ohio | Comprehensive |
 | Oregon | Comprehensive |
 | Texas | Comprehensive |
 | Virginia | Comprehensive |
 | Washington | Comprehensive |
 | Arizona | Partial |
 | Delaware | Partial |
 | Indiana | Partial |
 | Iowa | Partial |
 | Massachusetts | Partial |
 | Minnesota | Partial |
 | Mississippi | Partial |
 | Missouri | Partial |
 | Nebraska | Partial |
 | Nevada | Partial |
 | North Carolina | Partial |
 | Pennsylvania | Partial |
 | Rhode Island | Partial |
 | Vermont | Partial |
 | West Virginia | Partial |
 | Alabama | None |
 | Alaska | None |
 | Arkansas | None |
 | Hawaii | None |
 | Idaho | None |
 | Kansas | None |
 | Kentucky | None |
 | Louisiana | None |
 | Montana | None |
 | North Dakota | None |
 | Oklahoma | None |
 | South Carolina | None |
 | South Dakota | None |
 | Tennessee | None |
 | Utah | None |
 | Wisconsin | None |
 | Wyoming | None |
Balance Billing A practice in which an out-of-network healthcare provider bills a patient for the difference between the provider’s charge and the amount paid by the patient’s insurance plan.
Navigating healthcare costs can be challenging, especially when patients receive unexpected charges after treatment. State laws vary in how they regulate balance billing and surprise medical bills, leaving protections stronger in some states than others.
State protections against balance billing vary widely. Eighteen states have comprehensive protections in place. Fifteen states provide partial protections, typically limited to certain types of services or insurance plans. Seventeen states have no specific state-level balance billing protections.
Understanding the balance billing laws in a state is crucial for protection from unexpected medical expenses. Because protections vary widely, patients should review the specific laws that apply where they receive care.
