Billing Information

UnityPoint Health provides services and tools that make it easier for our patients to understand their costs, pay their bills, learn about coverage options or get financial assistance when needed.

Payment Options

Payments may be made via:

• Cash, check or money order
• Master Card
• Visa
• Discover

To pay your bill online by credit card, visit Pay My Bill.

Contact Our Billing Department

For questions about your hospital or clinic bill, please call 1-844-849-1260.

Hours (Central Time): Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Our Payment Policies

Before we bill you, we bill your insurance provider, including Medicare and Medicaid, and any secondary insurance providers. We don’t charge interest on any balance due after insurance payments are received. We'll send you a billing statement showing the most current balance due from you. If you can't pay the amount you owe in full, you may contact us about applying for financial assistance  or getting a payment plan set up. Emergency services will never be delayed or withheld based on a patient's ability to pay.

Co-payments/Down Payments

We ask for a co-payment and/or a down payment for services provided before you leave the hospital. If your test or procedure is elective and not covered by insurance, you’ll be asked to pay the estimated price at that time. You will be billed for any remaining balance.

An Explanation of Your Hospital Bill

UnityPoint Health is responsible for submitting bills to your insurance company and will do everything possible to expedite your claim. Remember, your policy is a contract between you and your insurance company. You have the final responsibility for payment.

Your bill reflects all the hospital services you received during your stay. Charges fall into two categories:

• A basic daily rate that includes your room, meals, nursing care, housekeeping, telephone and television.
• Charges for special services that include items your physician orders for you, such as x-rays or laboratory tests.

Bills from Other Physicians and Services

During a hospital stay, you may receive treatment from providers or service providers who will bill separately for their services. We give your insurance information to these providers. If you have questions about their bills, please contact them directly. Examples of these separate services include:

• Ambulance services
• Physician fees
• Emergency room physicians (physicians who provide emergency room service)
• Radiologists (physicians who read and review imaging)
• Pathologists (physicians who interpret and diagnose changes in tissues and body fluids)
• Anesthesiologists (physicians who provide anesthesia)

Provider-Based Clinics Billing

UnityPoint Health clinics operate as hospital outpatient departments or provider-based clinics. Provider-based clinics are often referred to as hospital-based clinics. Federal health care guidelines differentiate clinics that a hospital owns and employs the staff involved in patient care. These provider-based clinics are held to high standards of care and are required to meet federal accreditation standards for hospitals, which are greater than those of physician-based clinics. Visits to a provider-based clinic will result in two types of charges to the patient, one charge for hospital services and one charge for physician services. Depending on your insurance benefits, this model may result in higher out-of-pocket expenses.

Insurance Coverage

Your insurance coverage is a contract between you and your insurance company. Your benefits vary depending on your insurance policy. You’ll need to present your insurance card(s) at the time of service. Your card(s) will be copied to ensure the correct information is available. If your visit should be billed to another party, we'll give you a form to complete and return so we may submit your bill correctly.

UnityPoint Health will bill all your insurance providers, provided you submit all the necessary information. You’re responsible for any portion of your charges that are not paid by your insurance company. That includes non-covered services, co-payments and deductibles. It's your responsibility to be aware of any exclusions, benefits, co-payments and deductibles outlined in your insurance plan. Co-payments and deductibles are due before leaving the hospital and can be paid with cash, debit card, personal check or credit card. As a patient, familiarize yourself with the terms of your insurance plan.

If your insurance doesn't pay within 60 days, you'll be billed for the full balance. If you feel your insurance company should have paid your bill, contact your insurance company or call our central billing office.

If there’s a question about your insurance coverage, a patient access team member will contact you or a family member prior to your visit or while you are here. This insurance information is needed to process your claims. If we don't know the exact patient liability at the time of service, we may require a deposit. The deposit may vary depending on the services you received.

If You’re Part of an HMO or PPO

Your plan may have special requirements, such as a second surgical opinion or pre-certification for certain tests or procedures. It’s your responsibility to make sure the requirements of your plan have been met. If your plan's requirements are not followed, you may be financially responsible for all or part of the services rendered in the hospital. Some physician specialists may not participate in your health care plan and their services may not be covered.

If You Have Insurance Non-Contracted with UnityPoint Health

For non-emergency care, your insurance coverage may restrict where you receive care. If you use services outside of your network, you’re responsible for a larger portion of your hospital charges. Check with your insurance company to ensure your provider and hospital are in-network.

If You’re Covered by Medicare

Medicare patients must present their current cards at the time of service to verify eligibility and process your Medicare claim. Medicare patients are requested to pay their deductible at the time of admission. Deductibles and co-payments are the responsibility of the patient.

Medicare requires all tests have supporting diagnosis to demonstrate the test is medically necessary. The Medicare program specifically excludes payment for certain items and services, such as cosmetic surgery, some oral surgery procedures, personal comfort items, hearing evaluations and others.

If your physician orders a procedure or service that doesn’t support medical necessity, you'll be asked to sign an Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN). The ABN informs you in advance that Medicare is not likely to pay for the procedure. You will then receive a hospital bill for payment of the service provided. You have the option of agreeing to be financially responsible for the procedure by signing the ABN or refusing the tests or services. If you refuse the test or service, you’ll be asked to sign a form indicating you have elected not to have the service. If you request the service and will not sign the ABN, you will still be responsible for payment.

If You’re Covered by Medicaid or are Eligible for Medicaid

If you have Medicaid, you must be eligible for coverage at the time of service and present a card for the current month. If the Medicaid card shows you have additional insurance, you must also present that insurance card.
To bill Medicaid, we must:

• Ask questions to decide whether Medicaid   should be listed as the primary or secondary insurance. These questions must be reviewed at registration to ensure our information is accurate.
• Make sure any test or procedure ordered by the doctor is medically necessary. If Medicaid doesn’t consider the test or procedure necessary, you'll be asked to sign a form agreeing to pay for the test or procedure.

Our Medicaid specialists  and financial counselors  can assist you in determining if you might be eligible for Medicaid or other state or federal programs. These programs provide comprehensive coverage including prevention, primary care, hospitalization, prescription and other services for individuals, families and children. You’ll need to complete an application and provide supporting documentation to determine if you qualify.

If Pre-Certification is Required

If your insurance requires a pre-certification for service, we’ll attempt to obtain all required clinical information from your physician to collect the authorization from your insurance company. If you have any questions regarding pre-certification, please let us know. If we're unable to obtain pre-certification, we may need to cancel or reschedule your service(s).

COBRA

If you were recently covered by insurance under a group health plan, you may be eligible to pick up those benefits to assist you with your medical bills. Our financial counselors  can help determine if you qualify for COBRA benefits.

Worker's Compensation

If services you’re requesting are the result of a work-related injury, we’ll bill your employer or your employer’s liability carrier.

Past Due Accounts

If your account becomes past due, we’ll take appropriate action to recover the amount due. If there’s a problem with your account, it's your responsibility to contact the Central Billing Office  to discuss a workable solution.

Financial Assistance

If you’re not able to pay your entire bill and don’t qualify for Medicaid/Title 19, you may qualify for financial assistance. The amount of assistance you receive depends on:

• Household income
• Number of dependents
• Your assets

Read more about financial assistance.