For years, patients in Florida have faced a frustrating double standard: they must pay their medical bills immediately, but if they overpay, the doctor’s office takes months (or years) to issue a refund. Effective January 1, 2026, that dynamic has legally shifted thanks to the implementation of Senate Bill 1808, which created strict new deadlines for healthcare refunds. This law serves as a powerful new tool for patients, requiring providers to return your money within 30 days of discovering an overpayment. If you are a Florida resident tired of chasing your own money, this legislation finally gives you the leverage to demand a prompt check.
The 30-Day “Shot Clock”
Under the new statutes (Section 456.0625 and 408.12), the clock starts ticking the moment a provider “determines” that an overpayment has been made. This determination often happens when the insurance company pays the claim, leaving the patient’s upfront copay as a surplus. In the past, offices would leave this credit on your account indefinitely to apply to “future visits.” Now, they have exactly 30 days to cut you a check or issue a refund to your credit card. You no longer have to request the refund; the law mandates that the provider initiate it automatically.
Who Must Comply?
The law applies broadly to almost every medical entity in the state. This includes individual health care practitioners (doctors, chiropractors, dentists), facilities (hospitals, urgent cares), and even the third-party billing management companies that handle the paperwork. Whether you visited a massive hospital system in Miami or a small private practice in Ocala, they are all bound by the same 30-day rule. The only major exceptions are for overpayments made by insurers (which have different rules) and self-pay scenarios that weren’t billed to insurance. But for the typical insured patient, this protection is universal.
The Penalty for Non-Compliance
To ensure the law has teeth, Florida legislators included specific penalties for providers who drag their feet. For health care facilities, failure to refund within 30 days is now an “unclassified violation” subject to a fine of up to $500 per violation. For individual practitioners, it is grounds for disciplinary action by the Department of Health. This means that ignoring your refund request isn’t just poor customer service; it is a regulatory compliance risk that could jeopardize their license. Citing “SB 1808” in your complaint letter is a powerful way to get a billing manager’s attention.
How to Trigger the Refund
While the law requires automatic refunds, “determination” can be a gray area. To force the issue, send a certified letter or a secure portal message stating: “My insurance EOB dated [Date] shows my patient responsibility is $0, yet I paid $50 upfront. This constitutes an overpayment. Under Florida Statute 456.0625, I expect a refund within 30 days.” By documenting the date of notification, you start the clock that the state regulators will look at. Without this paper trail, a provider might claim they “haven’t determined” the overpayment yet.
What If They Still Don’t Pay?
If the 30 days pass and your mailbox is empty, you have a clear path to escalation. You can file a complaint with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) for facilities or the Department of Health (DOH) for individual doctors. The threat of a state investigation—and the associated fines—is usually enough to generate an overnight FedEx envelope with your check. You are no longer powerless; you have the state government on your side.
Check Your Old Statements
This law is prospective, meaning it applies to overpayments identified after January 1, 2026. Go back through your billing portal today and look for any “credit balances” sitting on your ledger.
Do you have a credit balance sitting at your doctor’s office? Leave a comment below—tell us how long they’ve held your money!
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Teri Monroe started her career in communications working for local government and nonprofits. Today, she is a freelance finance and lifestyle writer and small business owner. In her spare time, she loves golfing with her husband, taking her dog Milo on long walks, and playing pickleball with friends.
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