The Next Health Care Battle May Affect Your Insurance Premium

The No Surprises Act was designed to protect patients from unexpected medical bills when they unknowingly receive care from an out-of-network provider. On that point, the law has largely succeeded.

The debate has now shifted to something most patients never see.

When an insurer and a medical provider disagree about payment, they can ask an independent arbitrator to decide. Insurers argue that some providers are abusing that process to obtain higher payments. Providers respond that insurers often make unreasonably low payment offers, leaving arbitration as their only practical option.

Why does this matter in Kansas?

If insurers consistently pay more through arbitration, those costs may be reflected in higher insurance premiums for Kansas employers and families. If insurers gain too much leverage, some physician practices may struggle to remain financially viable, reducing access to care.

Congress intended the arbitration process to resolve occasional disputes—not become a battleground. Lawmakers are now hearing complaints from both sides and may consider changes to the law.

As with many health policy debates, the challenge is finding a system that protects patients without giving either insurers or providers an unfair advantage.

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-pulse/2026/07/24/next-in-the-surprise-billing-wars-01010916