Hospital billing questions and answers

1. Do I need to tell my insurance company that I will be in the hospital? And what will they cover?

Because there are so many types of insurance plans, we usually cannot tell you whether you need prior approval or notification for your hospital stay. That's why we encourage you to contact your insurance company or your employer with questions about what is or is not covered by your insurance plan.

2. Should I bring my insurance card with me to the hospital?

Yes. The hospital needs information on your insurance card to file a claim with your insurance company.

When you register, we will ask for information about your insurance coverage and have you sign a few forms. This process goes much faster when you bring your insurance information with you.

3. Should I pay my co-payment when I register for my hospital visit?

Yes.

4. Will you bill my insurance company for me?

Yes. As a one-time courtesy we will bill your insurance company. It is your responsibility to provide insurance information requested (explanation of benefits, claim form, accident information) in order to make this happen.

5. How will I know if my insurance company has paid my bill?

After your insurance company has paid its portion of your hospital bill, we will send you a statement of account. This statement indicates the amount that has been paid and any balance you are required to pay. You have 30 days to pay any balance indicated on the statement of account.

6. How do I follow up with my insurance company?

When you call your insurance company about a claim, be sure to do the following:

• Have available your insurance card, date of service, facility name, original billed amount, patient name and claim number if applicable.
• If the bill has been paid, ask when and to whom. Note this information and whom you talked to at the insurance company.
• If the bill has not been paid, find out when the anticipated time frame of payment is, and ask if they need anything from you. (You may need to contact the clinic or the hospital's medical records department.)
• If the bill isn't paid in the stated time frame, call the insurance company again and, if necessary, ask to speak with a supervisor.

7. When will I receive a bill?

You will not receive a bill until after you health insurance company has paid or denied the claim related to your care. If you gave us insurance information when you registered, the first bill you will receive will indicate what your insurance paid and what you balance is after all insurance payments.

8. How can I pay my patient balance?

We offer three payment options:

• Cash, check or money order: Make check or money order payable to the hospital where the service was received, and include your account number. Mail it to Allina Hospitals & Clinics, P.O. Box 9125, Minneapolis, Minn. 55480-1391.
• Credit card: We accept MasterCard, Visa or Discover.
• Open-end interest bearing charge account: You may choose to have the hospital place your charges with MedCredit Financial Services. To learn more, talk to your hospital representative or call MedCredit at 612-585-8444 or 1-800-755-0965.

9. What if I get more than one bill?

Extra bills are usually for services done at the hospital by different medical professionals. For example, if you received anesthesia during your hospital stay, you may receive a bill from the anesthesiologist.

If you have questions about a specific bill, please call the phone number listed on that bill.

10. When do I become responsible for my bill?

You are legally responsible for your bill at the time you receive services from the hospital. We require all patient balances to be paid within 30 days after you are notified that you have a balance.