Health Education and Advocacy Unit
Services
The Health Education and Advocacy Unit (HEAU) of the Consumer Protection Division offers free mediation services to consumers who need help with:
Billing and Payment Issues
- Billing disputes with healthcare providers
- Hospital financial assistance programs - get help navigating these programs
- Denied financial assistance or an income-based payment plan by a Maryland hospital
- Surprise medical bills from out-of-network emergency care facilities or out-of-network providers at in-network hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers
- Bills higher than good faith estimates given before planned medical treatment
- Outpatient facility fees billed by Maryland hospitals without proper facility fee disclosure notice
Insurance and Coverage Problems
- Denied coverage of all or part of care by private health plans
- Plan termination by private health plans
- Maryland Health Connection issues - denied enrollment in Qualified Health Plans or denied Advanced Premium Tax Credits or Cost-Sharing Reductions
Medical Records and Equipment
- Medical records - help obtaining copies
- Medical equipment disputes
Note: The HEAU is unable to provide legal representation or initiate lawsuits on behalf of individual consumers.
For information on nursing homes, hospitals, hospice, assisted living facilities, and more – including quality and performance reports, price comparison, filing complaints, and telehealth information – visit the Maryland Health Care Commission’s Maryland Quality Reporting website.
File a Health Billing & Insurance Complaint
Open Enrollment Information
The Open Enrollment period for 2026 health and dental insurance through Maryland Health Connection is: November 1, 2025 - January 15, 2026.
For more information about applying under a special enrollment period, go to Maryland Health Connection or call 1-855-642-8572. Not a Marylander? Visit Healthcare.gov.
Need in-person help with Maryland Health Connection?
Maryland residents can apply for health insurance and financial help to pay the cost of insurance with free, in-person assistance from a navigator, insurance broker or other in-person assistor in their community.
You can apply for Medicaid year-round.
Additional Resources
- File a Complaint
- Quality of Care Complaints
- About the No Surprises Act
- Consumer Satisfaction Survey
- HEAU Annual Reports
Contact Information
HEAU Hotline:
Open Monday to Friday 10:00am to 2:00pm
410-528-1840 | En español: 410-230-1712
Toll free: 1-877-261-8807
FAX: 410-576-6571
Email:[email protected]