10/23/2026
Hospitals and medical providers are increasingly asking insured patients to make payments before receiving non-emergency care, sometimes based on estimated deductibles or other out-of-pocket costs.
Federal law prohibits Medicare-participating hospital emergency departments from delaying required screening or stabilizing treatment because of payment issues. In Florida, covered health care providers must generally refund patient overpayments within 30 days after determining that an overpayment occurred.
If you paid a pre-service deposit that was never fully refunded, it may be worth reviewing the charges against your insurance benefits and final bill.
