How to Pay Your Radiology Bill

Going for a radiology exam like an MRI, CT scan, x-ray, or ultrasound can be stressful enough without having to worry about how you’ll pay the bill. Depending on your insurance coverage, radiology bills can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Fortunately, radiology centers offer various convenient payment options to help you take care of your bill. This article will explain the common ways to pay your radiology bill so you can choose the best option for your situation.

Overview of Radiology Billing

After your radiology exam, your images will be read by a radiologist and a report will be sent to your doctor The radiology center will then bill your insurance if you provided your insurance information when you scheduled the exam

• If you have health insurance, your insurance will be billed first. You will receive a bill for any remaining balance after insurance has paid their portion. This is known as the patient responsibility.

• If you are uninsured, you will receive a bill for the full cost of the radiology exam.

Many radiology centers offer discounts for uninsured patients or payment plans to split up the balance into more manageable monthly payments

Radiology bills are typically sent by mail or email, but you can also log into the radiology center’s patient portal to view and pay your balance online. Payment is usually due within 30 days of receiving your bill

Online Bill Pay

The easiest and most convenient way to pay your radiology bill is through an online bill pay system. Many radiology centers allow you to securely pay your bill online by credit card or from your bank account.

To use online bill pay, first locate your account number on your radiology bill. Then visit the radiology center’s website and look for the online bill pay or patient portal link. This will direct you to the secure payment platform. Enter your account number, last name, and billing zip code to pull up your account balance. Select your payment amount and method to complete the transaction.

Online bill pay allows you to view your current balance, payment history, and upcoming appointments. You can often opt for text or email reminders when new bills are available so you don’t miss the due date. Online bill pay ensures your payment is applied promptly to avoid late fees or collection notices.

Pay by Phone

If you prefer to speak with someone directly, most radiology centers allow you to pay your bill over the phone. Locate the billing or customer service number on your statement and call during regular business hours. The billing representative can pull up your account, confirm your balance, take a credit card payment, and email you a receipt.

Paying by phone gives you the opportunity to ask questions about your bill, work out a payment plan, get your balance refunded if overpaid, or set up autopay to have your bill paid automatically each month. The billing representative can explain your bill and make sure your payments get applied correctly.

Pay by Mail

Paying by check through the mail is a traditional bill payment method that many patients still use. To pay by mail, write the payment amount on your billing statement and detach the remittance slip from the bottom of the page. Place these along with your check in the return envelope provided and deposit in the mail. This ensures your payment is properly credited to your account.

One downside to paying by mail is the processing time. It takes 3-5 business days for your check to reach the billing office and additional time to manually process it. Paying online provides instant payment confirmation.

Prepay for Your Exam

Some radiology centers allow you to prepay for your exam when you schedule it. Prepaying saves you from getting a bill later on. Just give the scheduling staff your credit card information and they will charge you upfront. Make sure to ask for a price estimate so you know roughly how much to expect for the prepayment.

Prepaying for uninsured patients can earn you a nice prompt pay discount off the full price. Prepayments for insured patients will go towards the patient responsibility portion you’d owe anyway after insurance processes the claim. It’s a convenient way to take care of the bill in advance.

Apply for Financial Assistance

If paying for your radiology exam presents a financial hardship, ask the billing staff about financial assistance. Many hospitals and radiology centers offer charity care and income-based discounts for uninsured or underinsured patients.

For example, Rayus Radiology offers a financial assistance program providing discounted care for patients with household incomes between 100-244% of the Federal Poverty Level. You’ll need to complete an application with income verification but it could significantly reduce your bill.

Nonprofit hospitals are required to have financial assistance programs, so always ask about relief options before assuming you can’t afford needed medical care.

Set Up a Payment Plan

If the balance due is more than you can comfortably afford at once, call the billing office to set up a payment plan. Many radiology centers will approve interest-free payment arrangements to spread the cost over 6-12 months.

Auto-pay is often required so the installments are debited from your bank account each month. Make sure the monthly payment amount fits your budget. The goal is setting up a reasonable payment plan you can stick to until the balance is paid off.

Seek Provider Discounts

Sometimes you can get your radiology bill reduced just by asking. If the bill seems unusually high or you face financial challenges, call the billing office and politely ask if any discounts can be applied to lower the amount due.

Explain your situation and provide any details that might garner sympathy. Billing staff have some leeway to apply provider discounts as a courtesy, especially for uninsured patients. Asking respectfully may result in a discount that makes the bill more affordable.

Negotiate With Collections

If your account is turned over to a collections agency, don’t panic. You can still negotiate and settle the debt. Start by requesting a detailed breakdown of the amount owed and confirm it matches your records. Ask the agency to recall the debt from collections which removes it from your credit report.

Politely explain your financial situation and make a reasonable settlement offer (often 30-50% of the balance). Get any agreed payment plan or settlement in writing before sending payment. Keep the lines of communication open and update the agency on any change in circumstances.

Take Advantage of Assistance Programs

Government and nonprofit programs exist to help people struggling with medical bills. For example, Medicaid provides free or low-cost coverage for lower income individuals. Medicaid may retroactively cover bills from the 3 months prior to application.

The Healthcare Finance Agency offers interest-free loans to qualifying patients for expenses their insurance doesn’t fully cover. Nonprofit organizations like the HealthWell Foundation provide financial assistance grants for medical bills.

Do some research to see what programs might be available to provide you with financial relief for radiology bills or other medical expenses. Taking advantage of assistance can reduce the burden of medical debt.

It’s normal to feel anxious about paying for healthcare like radiology exams. But familiarizing yourself with the billing process and payment options available can take away some of that stress. Radiology centers aim to provide a smooth billing experience and help patients understand and manage their responsibility.

Communicate openly with the billing staff, ask questions, and let them know your challenges. They can clarify billing details and connect you with resources that make radiology care affordable. With the right payment arrangement for your needs, you can get the vital imaging your doctor recommends without being overwhelmed by the bill.