Understanding Bills and Insurance
The back of your insurance card usually lists a telephone number and instructions to find out what your insurance covers. If there are terms that you don't understand, you can reference our online Billing Glossary.
Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills
When you get emergency care or are treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from balance billing. In these cases, you shouldn't be charged more than your plan's copayments, coinsurance and/or deductible. Click here to read more about your rights and protections against suprise medical bills.
Your Right to Receive a "Good Faith Estimate" Explaining How Much Your Medical Care Will Cost
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don't have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. Click here to read more about your right to receive a "Good Faith Estimate."
What Insurance Covers
Because some insurance policies may cover only part of your bill, you may wish to contact your employer or insurance carrier in advance to be sure you know what your policy will cover. Most insurers require that you pre-certify your stay prior to your day of surgery/admission.
What's on Your Bill
For your convenience, the facility where you receive services will bill your insurance carrier(s) directly. Each physician, including your anesthesiologist and radiologist, will bill you or your insurance carrier separately. Their charges will not appear on your facility bill. For more information about health plan participation of Arnot Health hospitals or associated providers, click here.
Your basic room charge includes 24-hour nursing care, meals and housekeeping. Other services you receive, such as X-rays, laboratory tests or medications, will be listed separately on your statement.
At Discharge
The facility's prearranged discharge program allows you to complete the necessary forms when you arrive for your services, so that, in most cases, you don't have to visit the Cashier's Office at time of discharge.
How You Are Billed
You should receive an explanation of benefits from your insurance carrier detailing the amount of the bill that is being covered and the amount that is owed by you. You will receive a statement from the facility's billing department for the balance.
Billing inquiries for all hospital and AMS may be directed to:
Patient Billing Call Center
607-271-2050
If paying all or part of your bill poses a financial hardship, find resources in Financial Assistance.
Private Room Charges
If your doctor decides a private room is medically necessary, your insurance carrier may cover the charge. Insurance carriers will not cover the extra charge for a private room if you request it for personal convenience. If you request a private room, you'll be expected to pay the difference between the private daily rate and the semiprivate daily rate.
Cosmetic Surgery
For cosmetic procedures, plan to pay charges in full before your admission. For elective procedures, you may be asked to provide a deposit before your stay, if your insurance coverage is limited or if you have no coverage at all.