No More Surprise Bills for Medical Emergencies

Providers in Nebraska may no longer balance bill patients for medical care received from out-of-network providers or facilities in emergency situations. The recently passed Legislative Bill 997 (LB997), also known as the Out-of-Network Emergency Medical Care Act, keeps consumers from getting surprise bills from out-of-network providers or facilities for medical emergencies. Facilities are defined as a general acute hospital, satellite emergency department or ambulatory surgical center licensed pursuant to the Health Care Facility Licensure Act.

This state mandate applies to all fully insured plans and non-ERISA groups. We are applying to all lines of business, including ERISA groups; however, custom ERISA-ASO groups may opt out of this provision. To opt out, a group's broker or group leader must notify a member of the group’s BCBSNE account team by 5 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020.*

For groups effective Jan. 1, 2021, the plan documents will include this new provision. For groups that renew after Jan. 1, 2021, please use the documents below to amend your plan documents:   

• Amendment for Summary Plan Description  
• Amendment for Fully Insured Contracts/Certificate of Coverage

Group leaders should notify their employees of this change.

If you have questions, please contact your insurance agent/broker or your BCBSNE account executive.

^{*Please note: If we do not hear from you or the group leader by the deadline, benefits will be covered the same as for our fully insured business.}