Attorney General’s Health Care Helpline recovers $1.53M for New Yorkers, report finds

New York Attorney General Letitia James said her office helped recover more than $1.5 million for consumers in 2025, resolving thousands of complaints related to medical billing errors, insurance denials and coverage disputes.

NY AG, Letitia James

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the Health Care Helpline handled 4,890 complaints statewide last year, securing approximately $1.53 million in restitution and savings for New Yorkers.

The annual report, released this week, outlines how the helpline intervenes on behalf of residents facing issues ranging from surprise medical bills to denied coverage for necessary treatments.

“Health care is complicated enough without families being forced to fight insurers for the care and coverage they are entitled to,” James said in a statement.

State officials said helpline advocates directly intervened in more than 3,200 cases, while providing guidance or referrals in additional complaints. The report also notes that consumer complaints often help identify broader systemic problems in the health care system, sometimes leading to further investigations.

The most common issues reported included provider billing disputes, which accounted for 42% of complaints, followed by improper collections and refund issues at 24%. Claim-processing errors and coverage denials made up 13% and 10% of complaints, respectively.

The report highlights several cases where intervention led to significant financial or medical relief for patients. In one instance, the office helped secure approval for a double-lung transplant for a patient whose insurer had initially denied coverage. In another case, advocates reduced a disabled patient’s medical debt from more than $262,000 to just over $1,200 after determining claims had been improperly handled.

Other cases included negotiating a five-figure ambulance bill down to $100, restoring insurance access for a cancer patient whose account had been wrongly closed, and recovering thousands of dollars for a consumer who had unknowingly purchased a fraudulent health plan.

Officials said the helpline also works to ensure that incorrect medical billing or insurance claims do not negatively impact consumers’ credit.

New Yorkers can file complaints through the Attorney General’s online portal or by calling the Health Care Helpline, 1-800-428-9071.

The Attorney General’s Office said it will continue using complaint data to monitor trends in the health care industry and take enforcement action when necessary.