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Bills for services provided by health care professionals, hospitals, and clinics can be confusing. We hope this information answers some of the questions you may have regarding the financial aspect of your hospital/clinic visit.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact 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, contact Patient Financial Services:
(Patients with last name A - K) 866-429-6044
(Patients with last name L - Z) 888-801-1460
For questions regarding payment assistance, contact Financial Counseling:
Phone 319-384-6275
E-mail uihc-fc@healthcare.uiowa.edu
For other questions, Customer Service for Patient Financial Services is available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 319-356-2211 or fax 319-356-1610.
Customer Service is located at:
11104-A Pomerantz Family Pavilion and
CC102 General Hospital
200 Hawkins Dr.
Iowa City, IA 52242-1009
Arrival at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Please bring these items with you when you arrive at UI Hospitals and Clinics:
- Proof of identity (state driver's license or state non-driver ID)
- Address and phone number (daytime and nighttime)
- 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)
- 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 contact Patient Financial Services at 866-429-6044 (patients with last names A - K) or 888-801-1460 (patients with last names L - Z).
If you reside outside 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@healthcare.uiowa.edu.
Insurance
To help you get the most from your health plan, we encourage you to become familiar with your insurance (medical and pharmacy) plan's requirements before seeking care.
Plans can differ significantly. Each patient should know and understand his or her individual benefits package. Please contact your insurance company at the telephone number on your insurance card if you have questions regarding your coverage.
Patients with insurance (medical and pharmacy) are responsible for paying any co-payment, deductible, co-insurance or fees for non-covered services at the time the service is provided.
Your plan may have special requirements, such as a second surgical opinion or pre-certification for certain procedures or tests. It is your responsibility to be sure your plan's requirements have been met and that all referrals and prior authorizations are in place before seeking health care.
UI Hospitals and Clinics will submit a claim to your insurance company, provided you supply all the required information. Payment for service will be sent to UI Hospitals and Clinics. If your insurance company fails to pay within a reasonable time, you will be expected to pay for the service.
Many health insurance plans limit the payment for medical services based on their own schedule of "usual, customary, and reasonable" (UCR) allowances. These allowances may differ from the charge amount.
- If UI Hospitals and Clinics has a contract with your insurance company, the difference between the charge amount and the UCR amount will not be billed to you.
- If UI Hospitals and Clinics does not have a contract with your insurance company, the difference between the charge amount and the UCR amount will be billed to you.
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 800-633-4227 if you have questions about specific 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.
If you have elected to have Hospice benefits, please contact us at 319-356-3731 and provide our office with the name, address, phone number, and contact person's name for the Hospice office that we can bill.
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 frame for Medicaid applications runs from 30-45 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.
Worker's Compensation
If your health care needs are the result of a work-related injury, UI Hospitals and Clinics will bill your employer or your employer's liability carrier. UI Hospitals and Clinics will also ask for your health insurance information in the event that Worker's 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.
Glossary
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