Tip No. 1
The single easiest way to control your medical costs is to follow the policies set by your insurance company regarding your child's use of medical services.
Before your first appointment you should make sure our practice participates with your insurance company and educate yourself about your child's coverage. Each year, you should receive information from your insurance company and/or employer that describes:
- Types of services covered
- Out-of-pocket costs for each covered service
- Types of services not covered by your insurance
- Services that require prior authorization from your insurance company or a referral from your doctor before coverage is granted
- Participating physicians
If you have any questions about whether a service is covered, contact your insurance company before your child receives the service.
Be sure to bring the patient's insurance card to every appointment. If the patient does not have a card, bring the subscriber's insurance card.
Remember, if your insurance company declines to pay for a service, the bill will be your responsibility. So do all you can to make sure services are covered before your child receives them.
Tip No. 2
Avoid late fees and other charges by paying your bills on time.
Please review our financial policies regarding when we expect payment and contact your doctor's office if you have any questions or concerns.
As a general rule, payments are required at the time of service. If you have insurance, this payment will probably be a co-payment or a payment toward your deductible. If you do not have insurance, payment in full is expected at the time of service. Our offices accept cash, checks and major credit cards.
If you have any unpaid charges, you will receive a monthly statement from us indicating an "amount due." This amount should be paid in full within 21 days of receiving the statement. If your bill is not paid in full before the cut-off or due date for the next statement, it is considered past due and subject to late fees. Payments made and charges incurred after the cut-off date for that month's statement will show on the next month's statement.
If medical bills create a financial hardship for your family, please contact our office before the bill becomes past due so we can develop a payment plan that accommodates your situation. Overdue fees are subject to be forwarded to a collection agency.
Tip No. 3
Help us submit accurate claims to your insurance company.
Making sure we always have the most up-to-date information from you is one way we help you maximize your insurance benefits and control your costs. You can help us submit accurate claims by bringing the patient's or subscriber's insurance card to every appointment and carefully reviewing your registration information at every appointment.