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Billing FAQs

Our most frequently asked questions regarding our billing procedures are listed below. If your question is not in this list please contact our billing department for further information.

We know that it is important for individuals to have healthcare pricing information. We are committed to making this information available to consumers so they can better anticipate and understand their financial responsibilities and make informed healthcare decisions.

 

What is pricing transparency?

“Pricing Transparency” is the term used to describe initiatives in the healthcare industry to provide meaningful pricing information to consumers. The healthcare industry is often complex and difficult for consumers to navigate. Price transparency is a means of providing consumers price information on common services. Our hospital is committed to presenting pricing information on its website in a way that will be easy for the consumer to access and understand, as well as providing other useful information about financial assistance available, definitions of key terminology, and key financial policies.

What services are included in my hospital bill?

If you are viewing estimates provided on this website, the pricing includes estimated room and board, supplies, nursing care, equipment use, nutritional services, and any services handled by the staff of the hospital within the walls of the hospital. It does not include services from outside providers such as lab or doctors fees.

What services are excluded from my hospital bill estimate?

Your personal physician or other physicians providing you with services related to your hospital stay or visit will bill you separately. Independent laboratory will also bill you separately for lab work. If ambulatory services were used those would also be separately.

How often is the pricing estimate data refreshed?

We plan to refresh the data used on our website and by our Service Representatives at least annually.

What does uninsured mean?

It means that you have to pay for your services and that you do not have coverage for the hospital services by a third party like Medicare, Medicaid, Workers Compensation or an insurance company. Other common terms used when referring to Uninsured patients are: Self Pay and Private Pay.

Why can’t I rely on the pricing estimates posted on this website?

Those figures are estimates of what an Uninsured Patient would have to pay. If you have insurance or some form of medical coverage, your out of pocket typically can include a deductible, coinsurance, co-payment or even non-covered services. The prices for your services are based on the contract terms negotiated by your insurance company with the hospital. In order to give you a more accurate estimate, we need to evaluate your coverage and specific plan. To do that, please give us a call at (772) 238-7734.

What if the service I need is not listed here?

Please give us a call at (772) 238-7734. We will be happy to try to provide you with a price estimate.

What information should I have when calling for a price estimate?

If you are insured, prior to your call, it is important that you contact your insurance company to ensure that the services required are “covered services”. In the event that they are not a covered service under your plan, please refer back to our Uninsured information.If you have insurance, you will also need:

  • Your Insurance Card – please have your card available so that if needed, we can get the following information from you: name of insurance company, type of policy (e.g. HMO, PPO, POS, Indemnity), policy holder’s name, group name and number, policy number, insurance company phone number.
  • Policyholder’s Personal Information – it is possible that the insurance company will want us to verify the Social Security Number and date of birth of the person who is named as the primary insurance policy holder.

During your call, we will attempt to verify your specific insurance benefits to provide the most accurate representation of your estimated financial obligation based on your specific coverage.

Can I get an exact pricing quote?

Unfortunately, no. We will do our best to provide you with a pricing range based on our hospital’s historical pricing for comparable services. Price quotes are not guaranteed since the services used to compute the quote can vary from services you receive due to treatment decisions, unforeseen complications, additional tests or services ordered by your physician, and variation in the clinical needs of each patient.

What is expected of patients in terms of payment?

Similar to your visits to your physician’s office, we expect payment at time of service. If you have insurance or other coverage, we will expect you to pay your co-payment, coinsurance and/or deductible upon arrival at the hospital. After your insurance company pays us, we will send you information about any amount you may still owe.If you are uninsured, we expect payment at time of service (or will work with you to arrange monthly payments) for the estimated price of your services. If, after your services are received, any additional payment is due, we will send you information about any amount you may still owe. If you receive emergency care and cannot pay for your services, with your cooperation, our financial counselors will evaluate whether you qualify for Local and State programs, including County Assistance and Medicaid, or our Charity Discount Policy. We accept major credit cards, checks, money orders and cash. Failure to meet payment arrangements may lead to collections involvement per company policy.

How does the insurance billing process work?

If you are insured, a claim will be sent to your insurance company. After they receive the claim, the insurance company may contact you for additional information. Please respond to your insurance company’s questions as quickly as possible so their payment is not delayed. It usually takes 30-45 days for your insurance company to pay your claim. After they pay us, we will provide you with information about any amount you may owe that you did not already pay upon arrival at our facility. Please keep in mind that your policy is a binder between you and your insurance company. If you did not follow your insurance plan’s terms, they may not pay for all or part of your care.

Financial Disclosure

Port St. Lucie Hospital makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy of the pricing information provided herein. The pricing information provided by this website is strictly an estimate of prices, and Port St. Lucie Hospital cannot guarantee the accuracy of any estimates. All estimates are based on information provided by a prospective patient and do not include, among other things, any unforeseen complications, additional tests or procedures, and non-hospital related charges, any of which may increase the ultimate cost of the services provided. Any prospective patient should understand that a final bill for services rendered at Port St. Lucie Hospital may differ substantially from the information provided by this website, and Port St. Lucie Hospital shall not be liable for any inaccuracies.

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