Billing & Insurance
We know that medical bills can be confusing and overwhelming. Below, we have included some in-depth information to help you navigate the billing process and learn about all of the available resources we offer to help you with your bills.
Before Your Visit
Before your visit, you can take some steps to avoid any surprises and shorten the registration process. When making an appointment, be prepared to provide your insurance information, which will save time during registration. You can also ask the hospital about the services you are likely to receive during your visit so that you can confirm whether these services are covered with your insurance carrier. Additionally, our hospital also offers multiple ways that you can obtain an estimate for services at our hospital prior to your patient visit.
For more information on how we can help provide you with an estimate, please click here.
Even with insurance, there are several factors that can affect the amount a patient owes the hospital, including:
- Some health insurance plans may have special requirements for certain tests or procedures;
- The hospital or one of your treating physicians may not participate in your healthcare plan, making some or all of the services you receive “out-of-network;” and/or
- If you fail to meet your health insurance requirements, you may be financially responsible for all or part of the services you receive at the hospital.
Be sure to review your benefits plan to better understand all of the plan requirements affecting your financial responsibility.
Registration
When you arrive for your appointment or admission (nonemergency), you will generally need to complete paperwork required for registration. If you have insurance, please be sure to bring your insurance card, a prescription list and a valid ID with you. We accept most major health insurance plans and managed care programs. Please also be prepared to pay any co-pay you may have under your insurance policy. You will never be denied necessary medical care due to lack of insurance or inability to pay. However, you may be asked to pay a deposit upon registration or admission for an outpatient procedure.
During and After Your Visit
During and following your visit, your financial responsibility will be explained. Ultimately, you are financially responsible for payment of your hospital bill.
As a courtesy to our patients, we will bill the insurance company, Medicare or Medicaid program directly on your behalf. If you are insured, we will send an insurance claim to your insurance carrier prior to sending you a bill. If you are not insured, we will send you a bill to the address you provided at registration. This bill or claim covers all hospital services, prescriptions and supplies used during your visit to one of our facilities.
Please note that you may receive separate bills from a clinician or physician group for clinical services you received from one or more independent healthcare providers during your visit at our hospital. While we employ many healthcare providers, we do contract with independent physician groups in order to meet the needs of the community we serve.
Once we submit a claim to your insurer, your insurance carrier reviews this claim and checks whether the services are covered by your plan, during which your insurer may contact you or us to get more information about your visit. Then, your insurer determines whether to accept or deny the claim.
If your insurer accepts the claim, you may be financially responsible for any copays, deductibles, coinsurance, or balances remaining after insurance payment, based on the terms of your insurance policy or plan and whether the hospital has a contract with your insurer. If your insurer denies the claim, you have not met your deductible, or you do not have insurance, you may be financially responsible for the entire amount the bill. Your financial responsibility will be reflected on your billing statements from the hospital.
To assist you with your financial responsibility we offer payment options, including a payment plans, eligibility screening services that may be able to help you get health coverage from federal, state, or county programs, as well as a variety of financial assistance options under our Financial Assistance Program.
For information on how we can help identify potentially available health coverage from federal, state or county programs, please click here.
For information about how we can help you determine if you qualify for medical coverage that can assist with your visit click here.