Surprise Medical Bills
Danielle: A Mother Caught Off Guard by Rising Facility Fees
Danielle, a mother in West Virginia, has always done everything she can to keep her six-year-old son healthy. Born at 29 weeks and diagnosed with multiple disabilities, her son has relied on consistent, trusted care from the same pediatrician since leaving the NICU. For years, their visits were simple: a small copay, the care he needed, and no unexpected bills. That changed in 2024, when the pediatrician’s long-standing independent practice was taken over by WVUMedicine.
When her four-month-old son fell from his highchair, Hanna Utkin rushed to the emergency room for help, only to later receive hundreds of dollars in unexpected “facility fees” for a visit that lasted just minutes. Her experience highlights how hidden hospital charges can leave families paying far more than they expect.
At 61, Delaine Dixon of Texas relies on pain management after multiple spine surgeries, but recent insurance changes and hidden facility fees have made getting care nearly impossible. Living on Social Security, she now faces the impossible choice between paying hundreds in unexpected charges or going without the treatment she needs to manage her pain.
Adrienne, a Pennsylvania resident and mother of two, never expected a simple diagnostic procedure to lead to over a year of financial and emotional distress. In February 2024, she underwent a thyroid biopsy at a hospital she knew well, the hospital where she gave birth to both of her children and one she visits frequently for appointments. Everything about the process felt routine—until the bill arrived.
Jim and Teresa Matthews never imagined that a hospital visit could unravel into a financial bureaucratic nightmare. When Teresa was hospitalized after a sudden episode of transient global amnesia—a rare, temporary loss of memory—they discovered a hidden flaw that left them with a $4,500 bill for a single day’s worth of medication and no clear path to challenge it.
When Ben Los’s 5-year-old son started experiencing seizures, they fought to get him the best care they could within their insurance network. Fast forward to two months after their hospital visit, their family received a bill for $2,518, a large portion of which was labeled as a facility fee. 
When she was 16 years old Christine needed a life-saving surgery at a childrens hospital out-of-state. The hours long ambulance ride resulted in an over $5,000 surprise bill that her parents weren't prepared for, placing a heavy financial toll on the family. How can patients be protected from these surprise bills?
Sue and John own a small business, but with Sue's rhumetoid arthritis they struggled to pay for high health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs. When receiving care they were not informed of pricing, and expected to blindly pay thousands of dollars for treatment. John and Sue had to sacrifice milestone celebrations, like their 20th anniversary trip to pay for their outrageous medical bills.