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There is no doubt that health insurance benefit plans are confusing. Most plans do not provide 100% coverage for a hospital bill. Each plan has its own set of rules, exclusions and services that are not covered. It is your responsibility to be familiar with your specific benefit plan. If you are unsure of your coverage for a particular medical procedure or test, you should call the customer service telephone number on your insurance card before scheduling the procedure. Your health insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance company. As a service to you, Boulder Community Hospital will send a claim to your health insurance company. By working together, we can minimize misunderstandings, payment delays and billing costs. However, you are responsible for any charges not covered by your benefit plan. Depending on your plan, you may be required to get approval (pre-certification) before you receive hospital services. Even in a life-threatening situation, your benefit plan may require you to contact them within 24 hours of receiving hospital care. We will assist you in doing that, but if you don’t obtain approval from your insurance company, you are responsible for paying for your hospital care. Also, obtaining approval does not guarantee that the cost of the service is completely covered by your benefit plan. You will still be responsible for any charges not covered by your benefit plan. Some insurance companies have established "usual, customary and reasonable" (UCR) maximum dollar amounts they will pay for certain procedures. Any amount of money the insurance company will not pay because it exceeds the UCR amount is your responsibility. If Boulder Community Hospital does not participate in your insurance plan, you can still receive services here. However, your insurance company will consider our services as "out of network" and you will probably be responsible for paying more of the bill. Medicare If you are covered by Medicare, we will send in a bill for you. We accept assignment, but you are responsible for any deductible, coinsurance or non-covered services. You should present a valid Medicare card. MedicaidIf you have Colorado Medicaid coverage, we will send in a bill for you. We accept assignment, but you are responsible for any co-payment. You should present a valid Colorado Medicaid card. Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP) This state program helps low-income Colorado residents pay their medical bills. You must be a U.S. citizen or documented alien and not eligible for Medicaid. You must apply within 90 days of your hospital date of service. Boulder Community Hospital accepts CICP payment for residents of Boulder, Eldorado Springs, and the mountain communities of Allenspark, Jamestown, Nederland, Pinecliff and Ward. Our Financial Counselors can help you apply for CICP. Call 303-440-2139 to make an appointment. Their office is in Suite 190 of the BCH Medical Pavilion, 1155 Alpine Avenue (next to Boulder Community Hospital). Accident-related Injuries If you are involved in an accident-related injury, we will submit a claim to your insurance company for you. Any medical expenses that are not paid by insurance are your personal responsibility. Workers’ Compensation If your medical care is covered by workers’ comp insurance, we will bill your employer’s health insurer. If the claim is disputed, you are responsible for paying the hospital bill. Preparing for Your Visit Please bring these items with you to the hospital: - insurance cards;
- referrals or pre-certification numbers/information from your physician;
- valid driver’s license or state identification card;
- payment for your co-pay, deductible, and any services that are not covered by your health insurance plan
Self-Pay Self-pay patients are expected to pay in full prior to any scheduled service. Where possible, we will estimate the required payment when you schedule your service. You will receive a prompt-payment discount consistent with the hospital’s managed care contracts. We have Financial Counselors who can help you determine if you qualify for CICP or other financial assistance programs. These Counselors also can help you work out reasonable payment options. You can call 303-440-2139 to make an appointment. Their office is in Suite 190 of the BCH Medical Pavilion, 1155 Alpine Avenue (next to Boulder Community Hospital). We will reschedule self-pay patients who are unable to pay prior to a scheduled service and have not made appropriate payment arrangements with our Financial Counselors. Paying Your Bill We accept cash, checks, VISA and MasterCard. Go to Online Payment options Physician Bills You will receive separate bills from the physicians (radiologists, surgeons, etc.) involved in your care. If you have questions or concerns about those bills, call the physician office or the customer service telephone number on your insurance card. Keeping Records It’s your responsibility to ensure that your health benefit plan meets its obligations to you and pays everything it should. An important step in doing that is to keep every hospital (and physician) bill you receive. Likewise, keep all the documentation sent by your health insurance plan. In this way, you can compare the payments made by your insurance company against your health benefit plan. Questions About Your Bill? The Patient Business Affairs Department is available to assist you with questions concerning your hospital bill. Call Customer Service at 303-544-5744 weekdays (except Thursdays) from 9 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. On Thursdays, Customer Service is available from 11 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Walk-in office hours are weekdays (except Thursdays) 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. On Thursdays, walk in office hours are 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Return to Top
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