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Thank you for choosing University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for your health care needs. Bills for services provided by health care professionals, hospitals, and clinics can be confusing. We hope the enclosed information answers some of the questions you may have regarding the financial aspect of your hospital/clinic visit.
How to Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call us at the following telephone numbers. Our staff will help you resolve questions or assist you regarding your care at UI Hospitals and Clinics.
For questions regarding your bill or to discuss payment arrangements, call Patient Financial Services at the phone number on the back of your statement.
For questions regarding payment assistance, contact Financial Counseling: 319-384-6275 or
e-mail uihc-fc@uihc.uiowa.edu
Customer Service is conveniently located in the 1st floor, Main Lobby of Pomerantz Family Pavilion from 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday or 1215 Roy Carver Pavilion, just off the main entrance lobby from 8am to 6pm, Monday through Friday. You may call Customer Service at:
Patients with the last name A-K (Local) 319-384-2196 or (Toll Free) 1-866-393-4605
Patients with the last name L-Z (Local) 319-384-2197 or (Toll Free) 1-866-393-4606
Arrival at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
The following information will help ensure proper management of your patient account with University of Iowa Health Care. Please bring these items with you:
- Proof of identity (state driver’s license or state non-driver ID)
- Current health insurance cards (medical and pharmacy)
- Physician referral/pre-certification forms
Your Financial Responsibilities and
Payment Options
- Cash
- Check/money order
- Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover)
- Alternative payment arrangements
Your charges for hospital and/or clinic services and professional fees/services from UI Hospitals and Clinics will be combined into one bill. You are responsible for paying your bill in full by the designated due date on the billing statement. If you have a question about your bill or are unable to pay the balance in full, please call Patient Financial Services at the phone number on the back of your statement.
If you live outside of Iowa and do not have domestic (U.S.-based) health insurance, you will be asked to pay for services before seeing a physician, unless it is a medical emergency.
Our financial counselors can help you identify potential payment assistance from federal, state, and local programs. They can be reached at 319-384-6275 or uihc-fc@uihc.uiowa.edu.
Insurance
It is your responsibility to ensure that your insurance company has up-to-date and correct information about you and others covered by your insurance. We encourage you to be familiar with your insurance (medical and pharmacy) plan’s requirements before seeking care.
Each patient should know and understand his or her individual benefits package. Please contact your insurance company if you have questions regarding your coverage.
Patients with insurance (medical and pharmacy) are responsible for paying any co-payment, or fee(s) for non-covered services at the time the service is provided. It is your responsibility to make sure your plan’s referrals and prior authorizations are in place before seeking health care.
Upon receiving your insurance information, we will submit a claim to your insurance company. Payment for service will be sent to UI Health Care. If your insurance company fails to pay within a reasonable time, you will be billed for the services.
Many health insurance plans limit the payment for medical services based on their own schedule of “usual, customary, and reasonable” (UCR) allowances. These allowances are acceptable:
- If UI Health Care has a contract with your insurance company and the charge is on the fee schedule, the difference between the charge amount and the UCR amount will not be billed to you.
- If UI Health Care does not have a contract with your insurance company, the difference between the charge amount and the UCR amount will be billed to you.
Patient Financial Services
For questions regarding your bill or to discuss payment arrangements, call Patient Financial Services at the phone number on the back of your statement.
Medicare
Medicare is a health insurance program administered by the federal government.
Medicare Part A helps pay for:
- inpatient hospital care
- skilled nursing facility care
- hospice care
- home health care
Medicare Part B helps pay for:
- physicians’ services
- outpatient hospital services
UI Hospitals and Clinics physicians participate with the Medicare program. Note that Medicare specifically excludes payment for certain items and services. Please contact Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 if you have specific questions about Medicare coverage. Non-covered charges (for example, routine dental care) as well as deductibles, co-insurance, and co-payments are your personal responsibility and you may be asked to pay that at the time the service is received.
If you are enrolled in a Managed Medicare (HMO) plan, it is your responsibility to ensure that physician referrals and prior treatment authorizations are obtained before receiving services.
Iowa Medicaid/Title XIX
If you are underinsured or uninsured, you may qualify for Medicaid. Applications for Medicaid are available at your local Department of Human Services Office. The processing time for Medicaid applications runs from 30 to 45 days.
All Medicaid patients must present a current eligibility card at the time of arrival. You are responsible for all non-covered portions.
If your Medicaid program requires a referral from your primary care physician or you have an out-of-state Medicaid payor, you are responsible for making sure the referral is in place before the service is provided. UI Hospitals and Clinics may cancel all future visits until the referrals are obtained.
The IowaCare program is administered by the State of Iowa Department of Human Services. You may be required to pay a monthly premium for this program. For an application you can contact your local Department of Human Services or the Social Services office at UI Hospitals and Clinics. For additional information you may contact the IowaCare Assistance Center at 319-356-1000.
Worker's Compensation
If your health care needs are the result of a work-related injury, we will bill your employer or your employer’s liability carrier. We will also ask for your health insurance information in the event that Workers’ Compensation denies the claim. You are responsible for ensuring that your worker’s compensation company will cover services.
Veterans Administration (VA) Benefits
If you have VA benefits, a referral from the VA must be secured for every visit. You are responsible for making sure the VA referral is in place before the service is provided.
Delinquent Accounts
UI Hospitals and Clinics refers delinquent accounts to outside collection agencies for recovery when full payment has not been received after a prescribed number of written and verbal contacts with you or the responsible party.
Refunds
In the event of an overpayment, UI Hospitals and Clinics will issue a refund if all your patient account balances have been paid in full.
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