# Emergency Room Sticker Shock **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 17, 2025, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-room-sticker-shock/1023128 "2025-09-17T14:00:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 42
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-room-sticker-shock/1023128/42 "2025-09-24T23:33:54Z")
My issue with emergency medical sticker shock was with ambulance fees and balance billing, which I recounted here: > [@What are "Adjustments" to my medical bill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-adjustments-to-my-medical-bill/1007398/13): > > Yes, it’s called “balance billing” and is prohibited in some circumstance, but allowed in others. It is generally allowed if you seek non-emergency care at an out of network facility. Your insurance may cover some of that cost, and you will be responsible for the rest. If you go to an in-network facility, but receive out-of-network care; or in the event of an emergency, you cannot be billed for the balance. Your insurance will pay the contracted rate (at an in-network place) or a “reasonable … Fortunately my insurance covered the out-of-state ER itself, and there was no balance billing there even though they were out of network. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-room-sticker-shock/1023128)._