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SB 195

AN ACT REQUIRING THAT HEALTH CARRIERS COLLECT OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES FOR COVERED BENEFITS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Saud Anwar and 1 co-sponsor

Connecticut bill requires health insurers to actively collect patient cost-sharing obligations at point of service to reduce unpaid medical debt in the system.

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Bill Summary · SB 195

Legislative bill overview

SB 195 mandates that health insurance carriers actively collect and track out-of-pocket expenses (copayments, coinsurance, deductibles) for covered benefits from enrollees. The bill requires carriers to establish systems to ensure patients pay their required cost-sharing obligations before or at the point of service rather than allowing unpaid balances to accumulate.

Why is this important

This bill addresses a significant issue in healthcare finance: many patients leave unpaid out-of-pocket costs that providers absorb, which ultimately increases healthcare costs for everyone. By requiring carriers to enforce cost-sharing collection, the legislation aims to reduce bad debt in the healthcare system and ensure more transparent, consistent payment of patient obligations at the time of care.

Potential points of contention

  • Patient burden concerns: Stricter collection requirements could delay care for patients with temporary financial hardship or create barriers to necessary medical services, potentially worsening health outcomes for vulnerable populations
  • Administrative costs vs. savings: The compliance infrastructure and enforcement mechanisms required could be expensive for carriers; unclear whether savings from increased collections would offset implementation and operational costs
  • Interaction with existing protections: Potential conflicts with state and federal surprise billing laws, balance billing protections, and charitable care standards that currently protect patients from aggressive debt collection at point of service

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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