Massachusetts Residents: Know your rights

Did you know Massachusetts  residents are entitled to get cost estimates for medical services?  All you need to do is call your carrier.
Those with high deductibles should be aware of their rights.
Wide cost variances means you may be able to save money depending on what services you are looking for.
From Section 36:
2478 SECTION 36. Said chapter 32A is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
2479 Section 27. The commission shall require any carriers or third party administrators with whom it
2480 contracts to provide a toll-free telephone number and website that enables consumers to request
2481 and obtain from the carrier or third party administrator, within 2 working days, the estimated or
2482 maximum allowed amount or charge for a proposed admission, procedure or service and the
2483 estimated amount the insured will be responsible to pay for a proposed admission, procedure or
2484 service that is a medically necessary covered benefit, based on the information available to the
2485 carrier or third party administrator at the time the request is made, including any facility fee,
2486 copayment, deductible, coinsurance or other out of pocket amount for any covered health care
2487 benefits; provided, that the insured shall not be required to pay more than the disclosed amounts
2488 for the covered health care benefits that were actually provided; provided, however, that nothing
2489 in this section shall prevent carriers from imposing cost sharing requirements disclosed in the
2490 insured’s evidence of coverage for unforeseen services that arise out of the proposed admission,
2491 procedure or service; and provided further, that the carrier shall alert the insured that these are 
2492 estimated costs, and that the actual amount the insured will be responsible to pay may vary due
2493 to unforeseen services that arise out of the proposed admission, procedure or service.
 
This bulletin is from December, 2013, but is worth reviewing.  
 
 
http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/insurance/providers-and-producers/doi-regulatory-info/doi-regulatory-bulletins/2013-doi-bulletins/bulletin-2013-10.html