Every year, millions of Americans face surprise medical bills, hidden fees, or pressure to sign up for medical financing they don’t fully understand. In 2025, patient protection laws are stronger than ever - especially in New York - and they’re designed to stop providers from taking advantage of people at their most vulnerable moments. These aren’t just rules on paper. They change how you give consent, how you pay, and what happens if you can’t afford care.
What Changed in New York in 2024?
On October 20, 2024, New York rolled out three new laws that reshaped how healthcare providers handle patient finances and consent. These weren’t minor tweaks. They were direct responses to the fact that 100 million Americans carry $195 billion in medical debt, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. And in 2022, nearly 1 in 10 people under 65 had medical debt in collections. The laws target three big problems:- Using one form to get consent for both treatment AND payment
- Providers filling out medical financing applications for patients
- Requiring credit card details before emergency care
Separate Consent for Treatment and Payment
Before 2024, it was common practice for clinics and hospitals to hand you a single intake form. You signed it without reading - and by doing so, you’d agreed to both your treatment AND any payment plans or financing options. That’s no longer allowed. Under Public Health Law Section 18-c, providers must now get two separate signatures: one for your medical care, and another, clearly labeled one for any payment arrangements. This means you can’t be pressured into signing up for CareCredit® or similar financing while you’re sitting in the waiting room, anxious about your diagnosis. But here’s the catch: as of August 2025, enforcement of Section 18-c was suspended. That doesn’t mean the law is gone - it means providers are waiting for clearer guidance from the state. Until then, many offices are still using the old system, which puts you at risk. Always ask: “Is this consent for treatment only?” If they can’t answer clearly, walk away or demand a separate form.Don’t Let Providers Fill Out Your Financing Applications
General Business Law Section 349-g makes it illegal for doctors, nurses, or billing staff to complete any part of a medical financing application - even if they say they’re just “helping.” That includes CareCredit®, Alphaeon Credit, or any other healthcare-specific loan product. You can ask questions. You can ask for a brochure. You can even ask them to explain the interest rate. But the application? You have to fill it out yourself. Why? Because when a provider fills it out, they often push you toward higher-interest plans or longer terms - sometimes without telling you the full cost. Violations can cost providers up to $5,000 per incident. That’s a big penalty. So if someone tries to type your name or income into a form for you, say no. Do it yourself. Read every line. If you don’t understand it, ask for time to review it later - or bring someone with you.
Never Give a Credit Card Before Emergency Care
General Business Law Section 519-a is one of the strongest protections. It bans providers from requiring you to hand over a credit card, pre-authorize a payment, or keep your card on file before you get emergency or medically necessary treatment. This shuts down a shady practice where hospitals would demand your card before even seeing you - especially in ERs or urgent care centers. They’d say, “We need this for billing.” But under this law, that’s illegal. You have the right to get care first, talk about payment later. And here’s something most people don’t know: if you pay with a regular credit card, you lose key protections. Only payments made through healthcare-specific financing products (like CareCredit®) qualify for federal and state safeguards - including protection from wage garnishment, liens on your home, or being reported to credit bureaus as medical debt. So if you’re using your Visa or Mastercard to pay for surgery or a hospital stay, you’re treating it like any other purchase. That means if you can’t pay, it goes straight to collections - and your credit score takes a hit. The law requires providers to warn you about this every time you use a traditional credit card for medical expenses. If they don’t, they’re breaking the law.How This Compares to Federal Laws
The federal No Surprises Act, which took effect in January 2022, protects you from surprise bills from out-of-network providers. That’s important - but it doesn’t cover what happens inside the hospital or clinic. New York’s laws go further. They protect you from financial traps even when you’re seeing an in-network doctor. They stop providers from manipulating your payment choices. They force transparency. And they give you control over your own financial decisions during care. The CFPB’s 2024 rule removing medical debt from credit reports is another win - but it only applies to debt that’s reported as medical. If you paid with a regular credit card and fell behind, that debt might still show up on your report. New York’s laws try to close that gap.What You Should Do Right Now
These laws mean you have more power - but only if you use it. Here’s what to do before your next medical appointment:- Ask for separate consent forms. Don’t sign anything that combines treatment and payment. If they don’t have separate forms, delay signing until you get them.
- Never let staff fill out financing apps. Even if they say it’s “easier,” insist on doing it yourself. Read the fine print.
- Never give your credit card before emergency care. You have the legal right to get treated first. If they insist, ask to speak to a supervisor or file a complaint with the New York State Department of Health.
- Ask if you’re using a healthcare financing product. If you’re paying with a regular card, ask: “Will this be treated as medical debt?” If they say no, you’re on your own financially.
- Keep copies of all signed forms. If something goes wrong later, you’ll need proof you followed the rules.
What Providers Must Do
Hospitals and clinics in New York are required to:- Revise all intake and consent forms by October 20, 2024
- Train every staff member - front desk, nurses, billing - on the new rules
- Provide written warnings every time a patient uses a traditional credit card
- Keep records of compliance for at least six years
What’s Next for Patient Protection?
New York is leading the way. Other states are watching. Experts predict that by 2026, at least half of U.S. states will adopt similar rules - especially around credit card disclosures and consent separation. The federal government is also moving. The CFPB’s removal of medical debt from credit reports is a sign that regulators now see medical debt as a systemic problem - not just a personal finance issue. For patients, this means one thing: your rights are expanding. But you still have to know them. Don’t assume your provider has your best interest at heart. Ask questions. Say no. Walk away if needed. These laws exist to give you power - use it.Frequently Asked Questions
Can a hospital refuse to treat me if I don’t give them my credit card?
No. Under New York’s General Business Law Section 519-a, providers cannot require a credit card or preauthorization before giving emergency or medically necessary care. If they refuse, ask to speak to a supervisor and file a complaint with the New York State Department of Health. This is a clear violation of state law.
What’s the difference between CareCredit® and a regular credit card for medical bills?
CareCredit® and similar healthcare financing products are designed for medical expenses and come with special protections under New York and federal law. If you fall behind, your debt can’t be reported to credit bureaus, your wages can’t be garnished, and liens can’t be placed on your home. A regular credit card doesn’t offer these protections - even if you use it to pay for surgery or hospital stays.
Is the consent law (Section 18-c) still active?
As of August 2025, enforcement of Public Health Law Section 18-c has been suspended while the state reviews implementation issues. However, the law hasn’t been repealed. Providers are still expected to follow it, and penalties could be applied if violations are found. Until further notice, treat it as active - and always ask for separate consent forms.
Can I be charged extra for paying with a credit card?
New York law doesn’t ban surcharges for credit card payments, but providers must clearly disclose any fees upfront. If you’re asked to pay more for using a card, ask for the fee in writing. If it’s hidden or added after treatment, you can dispute it with the state’s Department of Financial Services.
What should I do if I already signed a combined consent form?
If you signed a form that combined treatment and payment consent, you may still have rights. Contact the provider and ask for a new, separate payment consent form. If they refuse or pressure you, file a complaint with the New York State Department of Health. You can also request that any financing agreement tied to that form be canceled - especially if you weren’t fully informed.
Cara C
December 22, 2025 AT 02:44Just had my first appointment since these laws kicked in and honestly? I asked for separate forms. The front desk looked at me like I was speaking alien. But I stood my ground. They eventually found the right paperwork. Took 20 minutes but worth it. No more signing stuff blind.
People, don’t let them rush you. You’re not in a hurry - your health is the priority, not their billing quota.
Michael Ochieng
December 22, 2025 AT 09:41Man, I wish this was nationwide. I got stuck with a $12k CareCredit bill last year because I signed the combo form without realizing it. They had me fill it out while I was still on the gurney after my appendectomy. No joke. I was doped up and just wanted to go home.
These laws? They’re not just paperwork. They’re life rafts for people who can’t afford to lose their credit score over a hospital stay.
Cameron Hoover
December 22, 2025 AT 13:44Y’all need to stop being so passive. This isn’t just about forms - it’s about power. Providers have spent decades treating patients like ATMs with pulse.
They want you scared. They want you confused. They want you to sign without thinking because you’re in pain or anxious or just tired of fighting.
But guess what? You’re not a customer. You’re a human with rights. And if you don’t use them? Someone else will take them from you next time.
I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. I’ve fought it. You think this is about law? Nah. It’s about courage.
Ask for the separate form. Say no to the credit card. Walk out if they push. You’re not being difficult - you’re being awake.
Grace Rehman
December 23, 2025 AT 14:34so like… the state suspended enforcement of 18-c but still says its active??
that’s like telling a kid you’re grounded but also saying you can go to the mall if you feel like it
what even is the point of a law if the people who are supposed to follow it just shrug and wait for the paperwork to magically fix itself
also carecredit is a trap masquerading as a gift
they want you to think its safe but its just a 24 month loan with 29% interest and no grace period
and you think you’re being smart by not using your visa but you’re just handing your soul to a finance company that doesn’t care if you’re sick or broke
and dont even get me started on how they hide the fine print in the footer of a 12 page pdf
we are not being protected
we are being herded
Jerry Peterson
December 25, 2025 AT 12:40Had a cousin get treated at a big hospital in Albany last month. They tried to swipe her card before the ER doc even walked in. She refused. They said ‘we can’t process your case without it.’ She called the state hotline on the spot. They sent someone within an hour. They got treated. No card needed.
Point is - these laws work if you use them. Don’t be shy. Be loud. Be annoying. That’s your job now.
Meina Taiwo
December 26, 2025 AT 11:16These rules are good. But most patients don’t know them. Train staff better. Print signs. Use simple language. Not everyone reads long posts.
Adrian Thompson
December 27, 2025 AT 04:11THIS IS ALL A LEFTIST POWER GRAB. THEY WANT YOU TO BE DEPENDENT ON THE STATE. CARECREDIT? IT’S A FREE MARKET SOLUTION. THE GOVERNMENT IS JUST TRYING TO CONTROL YOUR MONEY.
THEY SUSPENDED SECTION 18-C BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL. YOU THINK THEY WANT YOU TO KNOW YOUR RIGHTS? NO. THEY WANT YOU TO BE AFRAID. THEY WANT YOU TO THINK YOU NEED PERMISSION TO BE HEALTHY.
THEY’RE USING ‘PATIENT PROTECTION’ AS A COVER TO TAKE AWAY YOUR CHOICE. YOU WANT TO USE YOUR CREDIT CARD? LET YOU. YOU WANT TO SIGN A FORM? LET YOU. WHY ARE THEY INTERFERING?
THEY’RE NOT PROTECTING YOU. THEY’RE PROTECTING THE BIG HOSPITALS FROM BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THIS IS ALL A DISTRACTION.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A DOCTOR GET JAIL TIME FOR OVERCHARGING? NEVER.
THEY’RE NOT FIXING THE SYSTEM. THEY’RE JUST ADDING MORE PAPERWORK SO YOU’LL GIVE UP AND JUST PAY.
WE’RE BEING MANIPULATED.
Southern NH Pagan Pride
December 27, 2025 AT 06:13you ever notice how every time a law passes about medical debt it’s always paired with a new fintech partnership? like carecredit is suddenly the ‘good guy’ but they’re still charging 25% interest and they own your future income
the cfpb says they removed medical debt from credit reports… but what they really did was reclassified it as ‘healthcare financing’ so it can still be sold to debt collectors under a different name
and section 18-c suspension? that’s not a glitch. that’s a backdoor. they know providers won’t change unless forced. so they pause enforcement and wait for the public to forget
the real enemy isn’t the hospital. it’s the algorithm that turns your pain into a credit score
they don’t want you to be healthy. they want you to be indebted.
and they’re using laws like this to make it look like they care
Jackie Be
December 27, 2025 AT 10:51OMG I JUST SAW A GUY AT THE CLINIC GET PUSHED INTO CARECREDIT WHILE HE WAS STILL WEARING THE GOWN AND THEY DIDNT EVEN TELL HIM THE INTEREST RATE AND HE WAS CRYING AND I WAS LIKE NOPE I AM NOT LETTING THIS HAPPEN AGAIN I WENT UP AND SAID YOU HAVE TO DO THIS YOURSELF AND THEY GOT MAD BUT I DIDNT CARE
THEY WERE SO SLOW TO CHANGE THE FORMS AND I WAS LIKE I DONT CARE IF YOU HAVE TO WAIT 30 MINUTES I AM NOT SIGNING THAT
PEOPLE WE HAVE POWER IF WE USE IT
JUST SAY NO
JUST SAY NO
JUST SAY NO
THEY CAN’T TOUCH YOU IF YOU STAND YOUR GROUND
THEY’RE NOT GODS THEY’RE JUST PEOPLE WITH CLIPBOARDS