Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CRCR Practice Questions and Study Guide

When a patient receives non-emergent services from an out-of-network provider, the most significant outcome is typically an increased payment responsibility for the patient. This situation arises because insurance plans generally have different coverage levels for in-network versus out-of-network services. Out-of-network providers often do not have agreements with insurance companies to accept lower contracted rates, leading to higher costs that the patient must cover.

The insurance coverage for out-of-network services may involve higher deductibles, co-insurance, or no coverage at all, meaning that the patient might be left paying the full billed amount or a significantly larger share of the costs compared to using an in-network provider. Patients may also encounter balance billing, where the provider bills them for the difference between what the insurance pays and the billed amount, further increasing their financial responsibility.

Thus, the correct answer reflects the reality of how insurance coverage typically works when patients choose non-emergent care from out-of-network providers, leading to a higher out-of-pocket expense for the services received.