Billing Information
Patients often have a variety of questions regarding their medical bills. Here are some common questions along with suggested responses for medical office staff:
"You received this bill for the services provided during your recent visit on [date]. It includes charges for the specific services or procedures. If you need a detailed breakdown of the charges, your insurance can provide that for you."
"The charges on your bill reflect the various services and procedures you received. If you need more detailed information about any specific charge, our billing sta; will be happy to go over them with you. Alternatively, your insurance claim department can provide you more details as well"
"The cost of your bill is determined by the services and procedures provided. Healthcare costs can vary based on the complexity and duration of care. If you’d like, our billing team can review the bill with you and explain each charge in detail. Additionally, if you have insurance, you may want to check with them about coverage details."
"Adjustments on your bill usually represent discounts or adjustments made based on agreements with insurance companies or other adjustments. These could be negotiated rates between the medical o;ice and your insurer or corrections to previous billing entries."
"Even with insurance, you may still be responsible for certain costs, such as co-pays, deductibles, or any services not covered by your insurance plan. This bill reflects those charges. If you have questions about what your insurance covers, you might want to contact your insurance provider directly."
"You can compare the bill from our o;ice with the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) you received from your insurance company. The EOB will show what your insurance covered and what portion you are responsible for. If there are discrepancies, please let us know, and our team can review it together."
"Yes, we o;er payment plans to help manage your healthcare expenses. Our billing team can assist you in setting up a plan that fits your budget. Our billing o;ice can discuss your options."
"If you’re having di;iculty paying your bill, please let us know as soon as possible. We can discuss financial assistance programs, payment plans, or other options that may be available to help you manage your medical expenses."
"There are several reasons why an insurance claim might be denied, such as lack of coverage for the service, the service being deemed not medically necessary, or errors in the claim submission. It’s best to contact your insurance company directly for the specific reason. If needed, we can assist you in understanding and possibly resubmitting the claim."
"Certainly! The EOB from your insurance company explains what was covered, what was not, and why. We can go through it with you to help you understand how it relates to your bill."
"There might be several reasons for this. It could be due to your insurance plan's limitations, co-pays, deductibles, or non-covered services. Let’s review your bill and insurance policy together to determine why this charge has been applied."
"Absolutely. I can provide you with an itemized bill that breaks down each charge and service. Would you prefer it to be mailed or emailed to you?"
Financial Policy Information
The patient, parent or guardian accompanying the patient is responsible for providing our office with a valid and current insurance card. We must be notified of any changes, prior to rendering services. Patients unable to provide valid insurance information may be required to pay in full at the time of service or reschedule their appointment.
Copays, as directed by insurance, are due at the time of service unless prior arrangements have been made by our office. All missed co-pays will be assessed a $6.00 administrative fee. For you convenience, we accept cash, personal checks, VISA, and MasterCard. There is a $40.00 service charge for returned checks.
The bill will be sent to the health plan on record for direct payment to our office. If the insurance has not paid our claim within 60 days due to lack in information requested from the insured, we may expect payment from the patient. The patient, parent or guardian will remain responsible for any services that are not covered or noted as patient responsibility by the health plan.
All services deemed patient responsibility by insurance will be billed to the parent or guardian that has accepted financial responsibility. A statement will be generated by our office and all balances are due and payable in full unless other arrangements have been made with our billing department.
We Participate All the National & Local Insurances.
Accounts with outstanding balances that are 60 days overdue will be required to contact our billing department to make payment arrangements prior to scheduling appointments. As a courtesy, budget payment arrangements can be made until the balance is paid in full. Budget payments are due each month. Missed payments may result in a default of your budget payment arrangements and may result in your account being assigned to a credit reporting collection service.
Please note that payment collected at the time of service may not reflect the full patient responsibility after insurance. Our office is not responsible for any limitations in coverage that may be included in your plan. We advise our families to understand their insurance benefits and review their explanation of benefits and billing statements carefully. If you feel there has been an error, always contact the appropriate party with questions within a timely manner.
Minors Right to Consent to Health Care Without a Parent or Guardian
Under Washington State law, minors have the right to consent to certain health care without a parent or guardian’s consent. For further information, please look under our New Patient Information section for the “To the Parent of Minor Children” form.
Once a patient becomes pregnant, their care will be transferred to an appropriate provider who cares for pregnant patients.
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