Health plans to credit enrollees for services provided by out-of-network provider at a lower cost than the plan's in-network providers

This bill requires Minnesota health plans to provide enrollees with good-faith cost estimates for both in-network and out-of-network providers before services are received. If an enrollee uses an out-of-network provider for a service that costs less than the plan's in-network rate, the health plan must issue a 50% credit for the cost difference. The credit is automatically applied to future payments without requiring additional action from the enrollee, and plans must provide annual statements showing credit balances. This directly affects health insurance enrollees who seek care outside their network at lower costs, ensuring they benefit from savings without administrative barriers.