When do I become responsible for my bill?
You are legally responsible for your bill at the time you receive hospital services. The hospital requires all patient balances be paid, or acceptable payment arrangements made, upon receipt of your bill. As stated on our statements, we will bill third party liability insurance for you if requested, however, we will not become involved with negotiating settlements and will be billing you after 60 days.
How will I know what portion of the bill I should pay?
The amount you owe can be found in the box on the bottom right-hand corner of your bill. Your bill should identify the total charges, the amount submitted to insurance, and the amount you owe. If insurance has paid part of your claim, the statement will identify the amount paid by insurance and the amount you owe. The 'explanation of benefits from your insurance company will also indicate which charges you are responsible for.
What forms of payment do you accept?
- Cash
- Check (please include your account number on your check)
- Credit card (we accept Mastercard and VISA)
- If payment in full is not possible, you can make payment arrangements by contacting Patient Financial Services at 425.899.1600.
What is a deductible or co-payment?
A deductible is the initial amount that you must pay before your insurance plan begins to pay for your bills. Typically, a deductible is a flat dollar amount (e.g. $250 or $500). If you have a $250 deductible, you insurance company should pay all of the covered charges EXCEPT the first $250, which is your responsibility to pay.
A co-payment is a flat amount paid for each visit to a provider. If you have a $50 hospital co-payment, you must pay $50 for each visit and your insurance company will pay for the remaining balance on all covered services. Co-pay’s may vary depending on the location of the visit (i.e. urgent care, emergency department, outpatient hospital clinic and/or facility).
Do I have to pay my co-payment at the time of service?
Yes. You are expected to pay your estimated co-payment when services are provided.
What will I owe after insurance has paid?
Insurance contracts vary a great deal depending on allowed services, co-payment amounts, deductibles, and co-insurance. Because of this, it is impossible to know exactly how much your insurance company will pay or how much you will have to pay.