How to Pay Your Bill at Deaconess Health System

Receiving medical care can be stressful enough without worries over how to pay the bill. Deaconess Health System offers patients multiple convenient payment options to keep the billing process smooth and anxiety-free. This comprehensive guide will explain the various ways to pay your Deaconess Health System medical bills.

Understanding Your Deaconess Bill

After receiving care at any Deaconess Health System facility, you will get a separate billing statement for each service provided. For example, you may receive bills from the hospital, physician services, outpatient clinics, labs, imaging, etc.

Deaconess will automatically bill your insurance provider as a courtesy. You are responsible for any balance after insurance, including copays, deductibles and coinsurance.

Payment is due within 15 days of the statement date. If unpaid after 45 days, accounts are sent to collections.

Pay Online

The easiest way to pay your Deaconess bill is online through MyChart or the website. In MyChart you can securely pay by credit/debit card or bank account.

On the website, you can also pay by credit card or electronic check. Online payments are fast and let you view billing statements and payment history.

Pay by Phone

Call Deaconess Patient Financial Services at 812-450-6815 or 800-467-6802 to make a payment over the phone Have your billing account number ready to reference which bill you are paying.

Phone payments can be made by credit/debit card, with fees applied based on payment amount.

Pay by Mail

Mail a check or money order payable to Deaconess Health System to the address on your billing statement. Make sure to include your account number on the check memo.

Allow 5-7 days for mailed payments to avoid late fees. Do not mail cash payments.

Pay In-Person

For cash payments or paying with multiple bills, visit the cashier’s office located inside each Deaconess hospital. You can pay by cash, check, money order or credit/debit card.

In-person payments allow you to get same-day receipts and discuss billing questions face-to-face.

Choose Recurring Payments

Setup automatic recurring payments through MyChart or the website to have your Deaconess bills paid automatically each month.

Recurring payments prevent missed payments and late fees. They provide peace of mind knowing your medical bills are always paid on time.

Apply for Financial Assistance

Deaconess provides financial assistance options and payment plans for patients unable to pay their full balance. Call the number on your bill to speak with a financial counselor and review available resources.

You may qualify for Medicaid coverage, charity care discounts or an extended interest-free payment plan based on your financial situation.

Consider Medical Loans and Financing

If you need help covering large, unexpected medical bills, Deaconess offers financing options. Explore medical loans or financial products that allow fixed monthly payments over 6-24 months.

Financing allows you to pay off large balances over time while receiving needed medical care upfront. Have your account number ready when inquiring about financing eligibility.

Communicate with Deaconess

Be proactive in communicating with Deaconess about any billing issues or challenges. Calling early in the process allows the billing team to help identify solutions before the account is sent for collections.

Notify them if your insurance information needs updating or if you anticipate difficulty paying the full balance when due. Remember the billing team is there to help you.

Keep Records of Payments

When paying bills, be sure to keep your own payment records including receipts, bank/credit card statements and cancelled checks. These can help resolve any future questions or discrepancies.

Also log into your MyChart account regularly to view billing statements and payment history details. This creates transparency into what you owe.

Expect Multiple Bills

It’s common to receive multiple Deaconess bills from different departments involved in your care. Do not ignore smaller bills thinking insurance will cover them. Each bill needs to be addressed separately and paid accordingly.

Know Your Billing Rights

You have rights as a patient when it comes to medical billing and debt collection. This includes receive clear monthly statements, ability to dispute errors, and protection from abusive collection tactics.

Learn your rights and do not hesitate to report any suspected violations to the Deaconess billing department for immediate investigation.

Request Itemized Bills

If you are unsure about charges on your Deaconess statement, request an itemized bill. This will provide details on each medical service, supply, room charge, etc. that was billed.

Review itemized bills closely for any duplicate, incorrect or unauthorized charges which can then be disputed with the billing department.

Check for Hidden Out-of-Network Charges

Deaconess facilities are in-network for most major health plans. However, specific physicians like anesthesiologists or radiologists who assist with care may be out-of-network.

Carefully review each bill to check provider network status. You should not pay more than your plan’s in-network cost sharing for any Deaconess facility charges.

Monitor Effects on Your Credit

If left unpaid long enough, medical bills can end up in collections and impact your credit score. Be diligent about paying Deaconess bills timely to avoid credit damage.

You can also negotiate deletion of any unpaid Deaconess accounts from your credit report by paying the past due balance as part of a settlement.

Consider Tapping Retirement Savings

As a last resort, you may opt to access funds from a 401(k), IRA or other retirement plan to pay large medical bills. This should be done cautiously though, since retirement savings withdrawals can have costly tax implications.

Explore all other lower interest financing options before tapping into your retirement nest egg. The billing team can advise you if this choice makes financial sense.

Navigating medical bills can be confusing, but Deaconess offers patients various payment methods for their convenience. Being proactive, exploring your options and communicating openly with the billing team will help smooth the payment process. Seek assistance early if you anticipate any problems paying your Deaconess Health System bill.