Health plans required to credit enrollees for services provided by an out-of-network provider at a lower cost than the plan's in-network providers, and commissioner of commerce enforcement authorized.

This bill requires health insurance plans in Minnesota to credit enrollees for the difference in cost when they receive care from an out-of-network provider at a lower price than the plan's in-network options. The law mandates that health plans provide cost estimates to patients before services and automatically apply a credit equal to 50% of the savings when out-of-network care is cheaper than in-network care. Health plans must also report credit balances to enrollees and cannot charge higher premiums or impose restrictions that limit access to these credits. The commissioner of commerce is authorized to enforce these requirements, and the bill includes specific exceptions for services received outside the United States or when enrollees owe premiums.