How to Pay Your Medical Bill Online at Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital

Dealing with medical bills can be confusing and stressful. Hospital billing departments seem to speak a foreign language with codes, claims, and paperwork. Columbia St Mary’s Hospital aims to simplify the process for patients They offer convenient online bill pay options to view statements and pay your hospital bill digitally.

In this article, we’ll explain how to access and pay your Columbia St. Mary’s medical bills through their online patient portal.

Sign Up for MyChart Patient Portal

To manage your Columbia St. Mary’s billing and pay bills online, you first need to enroll in MyChart. This secure online portal gives patients access to their medical records, appointment information, and billing statements.

Signing up is easy. Go to ColumbiaStMarys.org and click on MyChart Login in the top right Select Sign Up Now

You’ll provide some personal details like your name, date of birth email, etc. Create a username and password. Accept the terms of use.

Once your identity is verified by Columbia St. Mary’s, you’re all set! You can access MyChart anytime to view your billing statements and account info.

Locate Your Medical Bills in MyChart

Now that you’re logged into your MyChart patient portal, here’s how to find your medical bills from Columbia St. Mary’s:

1. Click on Billing in the top menu.

2. Select the account you want to view – you may have a separate account for each hospital visit.

3. Choose Statements to see all your billing statements going back several years.

4. Click any statement to view a detailed breakdown of charges, payments, insurance claims, and remaining balances.

All your hospital billing information is now right at your fingertips in one place. No more shuffling through paper statements.

Understand Your Columbia St. Mary’s Medical Bill

Hospital bills can be overwhelming with medical codes and technical terms. Columbia St. Mary’s statements include clear descriptions so you know what each charge is for.

You’ll see separate charges for things like:

• Room fees – ER, ICU, etc.

• Medical services – tests, procedures, surgeries

• Medications

• Supplies – gloves, dressings, equipment

• Professional fees – doctor, surgeon, anesthesiologist

Make note of any charges you don’t understand or think may be incorrect. You can contact the billing department for clarification or to dispute a charge.

Pay Your Hospital Bill Through MyChart

MyChart makes it fast and easy to pay your Columbia St. Mary’s medical bills digitally. No need to mail checks or wait on hold with the billing department.

To pay a bill:

1. Select the account you want to pay from the Billing page.

2. Click Pay Now for the statement you want to pay.

3. Enter your payment amount and submit.

4. Provide your debit/credit card details or bank account info.

5. Your payment will process immediately and your balance will update.

For fast payments, have your payment details saved in MyChart. You can also set up recurring payments to pay automatically each month.

Set Up Payment Plans

If you can’t pay your full Columbia St. Mary’s hospital bill at once, you may be eligible for a payment plan to spread costs over time.

To apply for a payment plan:

1. Locate the account you want to make payments for.

2. Click Request Payment Plan.

3. Select your preferred payment frequency and date.

4. Submit your payment plan request.

The Columbia St. Mary’s billing department will review your request and let you know if it’s approved. If so, payments will be deducted automatically on the set dates.

Submit Documentation to Insurance

If your insurance claim is denied or still pending, you can submit documentation through MyChart to get it paid.

On the account summary, click Pay Insurance. Upload documents it requests like receipts, itemized bills, EOBs, etc. Add any comments.

This provides your health plan with the info needed to process your claim and reimburse you for covered costs. Payments will then apply to your balance owed.

Communicate with Billing Department

For billing questions MyChart can’t answer, you can message the Columbia St. Mary’s billing department directly through the portal.

Click Contact Billing Team. Select the relevant account. Write your question and attach any documentation that might help.

This sends a message to your billing reps who will investigate and respond within 3 business days. Much faster than playing phone tag!

Request Financial Assistance

If medical bills are causing financial hardship, Columbia St. Mary’s offers multiple assistance options based on your needs and income.

In MyChart, click Financial Assistance to:

• Apply for charity care to have your bill reduced or forgiven

• Set up interest-free payment plans

• Receive help applying for Medicaid

• Access other money-saving resources

Columbia St. Mary’s aims to ensure all patients can access the care they need regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay.