Information About Your Hospital Bill
Hillsboro Area Hospital accepts all patients for service without regard to race, color, creed or the ability to pay. Financial Aid is available to all those who cannot afford to pay. All hospital medical services are covered by this policy. At the hospital's discretion, every type of service and each occasion of service may be treated differently when determining financial aid, and financial aid may not be available to certain elective admissions or services. As part of the written application process, (See Link To Application Below) a patient may be directed to complete a Medicaid application as part of the financial aid process. Refusal to complete a Medicaid application or to supply the hospital with the financial information requested, which is necessary to determine financial aid, will result in an automatic denial. The financial aid application will be approved based on the income claimed and will require proof of income. Financial aid is based on gross family income and family size.
As a not-for-profit institution, we depend entirely upon income from patient services to maintain our financial stability. Please make sure all arrangements for payment of your hospital bill are made prior to discharge. Our credit and collections clerk will help you to make payment arrangements, explain hospital billing policies and answer any questions you may have regarding your insurance coverage. Credit and collections clerk may be reached by calling 217.532.4194 Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with extended hours on Thursdays until 6:30 pm.
Managed Care Contracts
In an attempt to respond to requests from employers and individuals to reduce insurance premiums, the insurance industry is becoming more involved in the management of patient care. As a result, our hospital has contracts with numerous insurance companies and managed care companies. These contracts usually require pre-authorization and pre-certification and also give the insurance company the right to determine what is medically necessary for payment purposes.
It is the insurance company's responsibility to inform its insured members of any special terms under its health insurance policy. We do our best to alert our patients of any circumstances that could affect their health benefits, but we cannot assume total responsibility. It is possible that you, the patient, may be responsible for a portion of your hospital bill simply because the requirements of your insurance policy are not met. These amounts can be substantial. Please contact your insurance company if you have any questions with respect to this matter or contact one of our patient account representatives. They can help determine what your insurance will cover and if you are eligible for financial assistance while you recover. A patient account representative may be reached by calling 217.532.6111. Don't wait until you are notified that your insurance won't pay before you address this issue.
Once you no longer need acute hospital care, your health insurance may limit what it will pay for. Some insurance carriers will not cover your entire hospitalization, which may be before you are fully recovered. In that case, you will be responsible for payment of continued hospitalization and/or for nursing home placement. You may also be responsible for home care services that your insurance carrier does not cover.
Some employers offer a choice of physician and hospital providers. If you are satisfied with your care at Hillsboro Area Hospital and would like to ensure that you may return here for care, if needed, you should tell your employer that you would like Hillsboro Area Hospital to be included in its insurance offering. For more information, go to Managed Care.
How Your Hospital Bill Is Determined
Hillsboro Area Hospital has negotiated payment rates with such payers as Blue Cross, commercial insurers and health maintenance organizations. Therefore, the hospital's billing for inpatient services under these negotiated contracts may be based on a variety of payment mechanisms, including co-payments, per diem, fee-for-service and global fees.
If your insurance coverage includes deductibles and co-insurance, these amounts will be calculated in accordance with federal or state law or as specified by contract. You must pay any deductible and co-insurance. Please plan to pay the amount of your co-payment when you register for service/admission.
The billing system for hospitals is quite complex and can be confusing. Our patient account representatives will do their best to answer any specific questions you may have. A patient account representative may be reached by calling 217.532.6111.
Physician Charges
Before being admitted to the hospital, you should understand the terms and conditions of your private insurance coverage, including whether or not any physician or other licensed practitioner who will care for you at Hillsboro Area Hospital participates in your plan. You should discuss this matter with your physician before your hospitalization. Most physicians (including emergency department physicians, anesthesiologists, anesthetists, radiologists and surgeons) involved in your care while in the hospital will bill you separately for their services. Therefore, it is important for you to know if these physicians participate in your private insurance plan. If they do not, you may be personally liable for a portion of their bills.
What If I Feel I Was Billed Incorrectly or Have Questions?
If you believe that your hospital bill is incorrect, please contact the hospital's Business Office immediately at 217.532.6111. A patient account representative will attempt to answer any questions and/or resolve billing problems. We make every attempt to ensure each bill is correct.
Other Services For Which You Are Responsible
Listed here are items available at Hillsboro Area Hospital that are not covered by Medicare and most other insurance carriers and which will be your personal financial responsibility if not covered:
• Care not at an acute or skilled level of nursing as defined by Medicare guidelines
• Cosmetic surgery
• Dental services
• Dietetic consultations (if on an outpatient basis)
• The difference between a semi-private and private room rate
• Medical transportation of any kind, including to and from radiation therapy centers
• Most services provided as part of a routine check-up
• Outpatient prescription drugs unless the drug is such that it must be injected by someone other than you
• Pap smears that are part of a routine check-up (generally, those performed more frequently than one every three years)
• Private duty nurses
• Television rental/telephone services or other personal convenience items
Financial Assistance/Financial Counseling
Hillsboro Area Hospital is committed to caring for patients regardless of their ability to pay.
Hospital bills can be daunting, especially to those who do not have insurance to pay for them. At Hillsboro Area Hospital, we understand how confusing medical bills can be. That's why we have a financial counselor who can help you understand your financial responsibility and the payment options available to you.
Patients are responsible for paying their hospital bills even if they do not have insurance or have inadequate medical coverage. Hillsboro Area Hospital's financial counselor can help patients find other ways to pay for their medical care. Interest-free payment plans are available to patients who have insurance but may have excessive out-of-pocket expenses or deductibles.
Sometimes patients are eligible for financial aid. Hillsboro Area Hospital financial counselors can review a patient's income, assets and resources to help determine if he or she is eligible for full or partial financial aid.
A financial counselor is just a phone call away at 217.532.4194.
Go to our Financial Assistance page for more information.
Patient's Bill of Rights
As a patient in the hospital in Illinois you have certain legal rights, that we are committed to protecting and promoting. The Patient's Bill of Rights outlines these rights to you.
Contact Information
Sue Ellsworth, Patient Accounts Manager 532.4190
>> Special Financial Consideration Application
