What is a deductible? A-co-payment?

• A deductible is the initial amount of "covered" health costs that you pay before your insurance plan begins reimbursement. A deductible is usually a set dollar amount such as $250 or $500.
• A co-payment is the portion of your health care expenses not covered by insurance. A co-payment is usually a percentage figure, like 10% or 20%.
  
  For example, on a $500 bill, your deductible might be $150, so you would have to pay the first $150. This leaves a balance of $350. Of that $350, your co-payment might be 20%, meaning that you will have to pay an additional $70. Your insurance company will pay the remaining $280.
  Once you have this information, there is a number of ways for paying your bill:
• If your insurance pays all but a deductible or co-payment, you will be required to pay an estimate of your portion of the bill at the time of service.
• The hospital will file the claim for you. After insurance has made payment, you will receive a bill asking for payment on the balance using cash, check, or credit card.
• In certain circumstances, you will be able to make monthly payments to the hospital until your bill is paid in full. You should discuss this with our Patient Accounts Department.

Make sure that you understand what the hospital requires and what payment options you have.

Who is responsible for paying my bill?
The hospital will bill your insurance company directly (unless you specify otherwise), you are ultimately responsible for making certain that your bill is paid. If a balance remains after your insurance has issued a payment or a denial, payment is due by you immediately upon receipt of your statement.

If you have Medicare and other health coverage, each type of coverage is called a “payer.” When there’s more than one payer, “coordination of benefits” rules decide who pays first. The “primary payer” pays what it owes on your bills first, and then your provider sends the rest to the “secondary payer” to pay. In some cases, there may also be a “third payer.” Be sure you have notified Medicare of any other coverage you have.

Whether Medicare pays first depends on a number of things. Be sure to tell your doctor and other health care providers if you have health coverage in addition to Medicare. This will help them send your bills to the correct payer to avoid delays.

Note: Paying “first” means paying the bill up to the limits of the payer’s coverage. If your medical costs fall outside those your policy defines, you could end up with an outstanding bill no matter how many policies you have in effect.

If you have questions about who pays first, or if your coverage changes, call Medicare’s Benefits Coordination & Recovery Center (BCRC) toll-free at 1-855-798-2627 or 1-800-999-1118. TTY users should call 1-855-797-2627.

To find the answer to this question,
you will need to check your account details.

To find the answer to this question, you will need to check your account details and look for the "Amount You Now Owe" Column.

Did you receive my payment?

To find the answer to this question,
you will need to check your account details.

Why didn't my insurance pay?

What if I do not have insurance?
You may be eligible for financial assistance based upon our Community Financial Aid (CFA) program. Please review the CFA policy and contact our Financial office for hospice services at 470-732-6710.

How do I view my account information and manage my account online? In order to view your account information and make payments online, you must enroll by entering your hospital account number, last 4 digits of your Social Security number, e-mail address and a password on the enrollment page. This information will ensure that only you can securely access your account information. Once enrolled, you will receive an e-mail notification whenever there is a change to your account.

What is a Hospital Account Number? The Hospital Account Number is given to the patient for whom services are rendered and is accessible by the person responsible for payment of the account and is printed on your paper statement. This number provides the access to your account information and is required to enroll for your online account. Once you are enrolled, you will only need to enter your social security number to access your account.

A family member can only access your account if you provide that person with your Hospital Account Number and password, or if they are shown as the guarantor on your account. If two family members are responsible for payment of accounts, then each person will have a different Hospital Account Number and be required to enroll separately.

Yes. During the enrollment process, you will be asked if you would like to receive your statements online only, or continue receiving your statements through the mail. At any time, you may go to your patient profile in the 'My Account' section to change your preference.

We collect your e-mail address so we can notify you when there is activity in your account, such as insurance payments received, balance now due from you, or if for some reason one of your accounts has become past due. Your email address is retained by WellStar and never shared or distributed to any other group or agency for any reason.

No, not at this time, however, we can be contacted by calling us at 470-732-6710 between 9:00am- 4:30pm Mon-Fri

Yes.

No. When it comes time to pay your bill, you will have the option to either establish an electronic payment method or print a payment stub out on your home printer.

You can make payment electronically, via credit card or debit card.

Yes. You have the option of printing a payment stub with all of your open accounts and sending that in with your check or credit card information to the hospital.

Not all patient accounts are available for viewing through this online product. If you know you have an account that is not represented here it may be at a zero balance, currently pending payment determination by your insurance company or awaiting an update for other reasons. For more information about listed accounts or those missing, please contact Customer Service at 470-732-6710.

If you lose your card, you can obtain a replacement card by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or online at the Social Security Administration web site. Make sure you have your Medicare number ready when you call. You should receive your new card in about four weeks.

You must call the Social Security Administration

If your income is limited, your State may help pay your Medicare costs such as your premiums and deductibles. Check the Important Phone Numbers page of this web site for the phone number of your State Medical Assistance Program. They can help you determine if you are qualified. If you have Medicare Part A, your income is limited, and your financial resources such as bank accounts, stocks, and bonds are not more than $4,000 for an individual, or $6000 for a couple, you may qualify for assistance as a Qualified Medicare Beneficiary or Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary. The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program (also known as QMB) pays the Medicare monthly Part B premium, deductibles and coinsurance. The Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary Program (also known as SLMB) helps pay the Medicare monthly Part B premium for qualified Medicare beneficiaries.

If you are receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement or disability benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. About 3 months prior to your 65th birthday or 24th month of disability, you will be sent an Initial Enrollment Package that will contain information about Medicare, a questionnaire and your red, white and blue Medicare card. If you want both Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance), you should sign your Medicare card and keep it in your wallet. If you don't want Part B coverage, you must put an X in the refusal box on the back of the Medicare card form; sign the form and return it with the card to Social Security at the address shown. You will then be sent a new Medicare card showing that you only have Part A.

Hospice services are covered under original Medicare Part A, even if you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) or other Medicare health plan. That includes any Medicare-covered services for conditions unrelated to your terminal illness or provided by your attending doctor.

If you are in Original Medicare, your doctor or other health care provider will file your claim with Medicare. You'll receive a statement showing how much you'll need to pay. If you do not receive a Medicare statement (Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Medicare Benefits), you'll need to contact your local carrier to have them send you a copy. Check the Important Phone Numbers page of this web site for the phone number of your carrier. If you have supplemental insurance or Medigap, they may pay part of your costs. Check with your supplemental insurance company to find out what they will pay.

Medicare is a Federal health insurance program for people 65 years or older, certain people with disabilities, and people with permanent kidney failure treated with dialysis or a transplant. Medicare has two parts - Part A which is hospital insurance, and Part B which is medical insurance.

If you have had a recent name or address change, it will need to be reported to the Social Security Administration. Social Security will notify Medicare of the change when they change their records. Their phone number can be found in the Important Phone Numbers page of this web site. If you are in the Original Medicare Plan, you should also notify the Part B carrier of your new name or address change. The carrier processes your claims for doctor bills and other medical expenses. Check the Important Phone Numbers section of this web site for the phone number of your carrier. If you are in a Medicare managed care plan, you should contact your plan of any name or address changes.

Medicare + Choice is a term used to describe the various health plan options available to Medicare beneficiaries.

You can leave a plan in one of 3 ways.You can:

• call the plan you wish to leave and ask for a disenrollment form; or
• call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to request that your disenrollment be processed over the phone; or
• call the Social Security Administration or visit your Social Security Office to file your disenrollment request.

The phone number for the Social Security office in your area can be found in the Resources section of this site. In most cases, you are disenrolled the month after your request is made as long as your request was filed before the 10th day of the month. If your request was made after the 10th of the month, you will be disenrolled the first day of the second calendar month after your request was made. You do not need to fill out a disenrollment form if you decide to join another managed care plan. You will be automatically disenrolled from your old plan when your new plan enrollment becomes effective.

Medicare Part B helps pay for durable medical equipment such as oxygen equipment, wheelchairs, and other medically necessary equipment that your doctor prescribes to use in your home. Other items covered by Medicare include:

• arm, leg, back and neck braces
• medical supplies such as ostomy pouches, surgical dressings, splints and casts
• breast prostheses following a mastectomy
• one pair of eyeglasses with an intraocular lens after cataract surgery

Medicare pays for different kinds of durable medical equipment in different ways. Some equipment must be rented, other equipment must be purchased. Your Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier can provide more specific information. Check the Resources section of this web site for the phone number for your Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier.

Generally, Original Medicare does not cover prescription drugs. However, Medicare does cover some drugs in certain cases such as immunosuppressive drugs (for transplant patients) and oral anti-cancer drugs. You should call your Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier for more information. Check the Important Phone Numbers section of this web site for the phone number. There are some Medicare Health Plans that cover prescription drugs. You can also check into getting a Medigap or supplemental insurance policy for prescription drug coverage. Medicaid may also help pay for prescription drugs for people who are eligible.

You qualify to enroll in Medicare during a Special Enrollment Period if you delayed enrolling in Part B because you were working and had group health insurance through your employer or your spouse's employer. If you sign up during the Special Enrollment Period, you do not have to pay the Part B premium surcharge. Signing up for Medicare Part B will begin your 6 month open enrollment period for buying a Medigap policy. You can enroll in Part B:

• any month in which you are still covered under your current enrollment; or
• the 8-month period beginning with either the date your employment ends or the date your group health plan ends, whichever comes first.

You should contact the Social Security Administration to file an application. The phone number for the Social Security office in your area can be found in the Resources section of this site.

Anyone who has refused, terminated, or withdrawn from Medicare Part B or Premium Free Part A coverage can enroll again. You can enroll during January, February, or March of each year. This is referred to as the General Enrollment Period. Your Medicare coverage will not begin until July 1st. You may or may not have to pay a premium surcharge. Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 for an appointment or visit your local Social Security Office to file an application. They will also tell you the amount of any premium surcharge you may have to pay.

Supplemental insurance policies are sometimes called Medigap plans. Medigap plans are private health insurance policies that cover some of the costs the Original Medicare Plan does not cover. Some Medigap policies will cover services not covered by Medicare such as prescription drugs. Medigap has 10 standard plans called Plan "A" through Plan "J". Each plan has a different set of benefits. The states of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Massachusetts have choices other than Plan "A" through Plan "J". Your State Insurance Department can answer questions about the Medigap policies sold in your area. Check the Important Phone Numbers section of this web site for the phone number of your State Insurance Department

If you have worked at least 10 years in Medicare covered employment you will qualify for premium free Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance). To qualify, you must be:

• 65 or older; or
• Disabled and receiving disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for 24 months; or
• Have permanent kidney failure treated with dialysis or a transplant

You should contact the Social Security Administration to file an application. Check the Resources section of this web site for the phone number of the Social Security Office in your area.

Medicare Part B helps pay for doctors' services, outpatient hospital care, blood, medical equipment and some home health services. It also pays for other medical services such as lab tests and physical and occupational therapy. Some preventive services such as mammograms and flu shots are also covered. Medicare Part B does NOT cover routine physical exams; eye glasses; custodial care; dental care; dentures; routine foot care; hearing aids; orthopedic shoes; or cosmetic surgery. It also does not cover most prescription drugs or health care you get while traveling outside the United States (except under limited circumstances).

Medicare covers the same supplies for both insulin and non-insulin dependent diabetics. They include: Glucose testing monitor, Blood glucose test strips, Lancets, Spring powered devices for lancets, and Glucose control solutions. Some frequency limitations may apply. Medicare does not cover insulin and syringes. Contact your Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier for more information. Check the Important Phone Numbers section of this web site for the phone number.

What is a Medicare deductible?

A deductible is the amount you must pay each year before Medicare begins paying its portion of your medical bill. There are deductibles for both the Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (doctor services) portions of Medicare. Your deductible is taken out of your claims when Medicare receives them. Medicare will not start paying on your claims until you have met your annual deductible. If you have any questions on the status of your deductible please contact your Medicare carrier.

How do Medicare managed care plans work?

Medicare managed care plans are another way for you to receive Medicare benefits. All plans must provide all of the services that you would receive under Original Medicare with some added benefits. You usually must use the doctors, hospitals and providers in the plan's network. You may have to pay a monthly premium to your health plan. However, you would not need a supplemental Medigap policy if you join a managed care plan.