Understanding How to Pay Your Bill

understanding how to pay your bill

Take Charge of Your Bill

The hospital billing process may seem complicated, but learning about your bill can help. For example, if your child stays overnight, you can expect to see charges for the room, meals, 24-hour nursing care and medicine. The bill will also show charges for any special services, such as X-rays and lab tests. You’ll receive bills for doctors, surgeons and specialists separately from the hospital bill.

Commercial (Private) Health Insurance 

If you have commercial health insurance, then the hospital sends your claim to your insurance company based on the information you provide at registration. About a month after your child leaves the hospital, you’ll get an explanation of benefits (EOB) statement from your health insurance. This isn’t a bill. EOBs show:

 

  • the amount billed by the doctor or hospital
  • how much of that cost is covered by your insurance
  • how much you owe

 

Review this and all other bill-related documents carefully. If you have questions, contact your child’s doctor or the customer service number listed on the statement.

Medicaid and CHIP

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide free or low-cost health insurance based on your household’s income. If you earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, you still may be able to qualify for CHIP. You can apply for Medicaid or CHIP at any time, and if you qualify, coverage starts immediately. Visit healthcare.gov/medicaid-chip for more information.

Self-Pay Patients and Payment Arrangements

If you’re planning to pay your bills without help from commercial health insurance, then you’ll get bills directly from the hospital. Self-pay patients have the right to receive a "good faith" estimate before a planned hospital stay. To learn more, visit cms.gov/nosurprises.


When the first bill arrives, call the hospital's Financial Services department as soon as possible to set up a payment plan. If you don’t set up a payment plan, or if you stop making payments, then your account may be placed with a collection agency. The hospital wants to work with you, so reach out with any questions or concerns you have.

No Surprise Act

Starting in 2022, there are new protections that prevent surprise medical bills. If you have private health insurance, these new protections ban the most common types of surprise bills. If you’re uninsured or you decide not to use your health insurance for a service, under these protections, you can often get a good faith estimate of the cost of your care up front, before your visit. If you disagree with your bill, you may be able to dispute the charges.

Need Help?

You can contact Patient Finance Services Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. You may call to request an itemized bill, provide change of address or insurance information, or get payment information.

Understanding Coordination of Benefits (COB)

COBs happen when a patient is covered under two or more insurance companies. This may occur when both caregivers carry their children on their individual policies or if a patient has government insurance.


To prevent duplicate payments, COBs determine the primary payer. Your health insurance uses guidelines, like which caregiver’s birthday comes first in the year, to choose who this is. Check with your health insurance about their rules for COBs and primary payers.

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