True or False: When patients pay for their healthcare bills out of pocket, their information can be kept private from their health insurance plan.

When patients pay for their healthcare bills out of pocket, their information can indeed be kept private from their health insurance plan. This is grounded in HIPAA regulations, which grant patients the right to confidentiality regarding their health information. When a patient opts to pay for specific medical services directly and does not involve their health insurance, it allows for the protection of certain details related to those services from being disclosed to the insurance company.

This privacy is particularly relevant when patients seek services that they prefer not to be associated with their insurance, such as mental health services or certain sensitive health conditions. By choosing to pay out-of-pocket, patients can ensure that their health records remain confidential and do not affect their insurance coverage or lead to potential stigma.

Regarding the other answer choices, the assertion that only certain information can be kept private does not capture the full scope of HIPAA protections in this scenario. The option about it depending on state laws introduces additional complexity, but HIPAA generally provides a framework that allows for this privacy when it comes to out-of-pocket payments. Therefore, the concept that the patient's choice to pay out-of-pocket grants them the option for privacy aligns with HIPAA guidelines, making the statement true.