Pricing Information
We’re here to help you understand our services, charges, and what to expect before, during, and after your hospital visit.
Hospitals have a charge for each service provided: each test or medication ordered by your physician, time in surgery, each day spent in the hospital, etc. Although charges are often similar for patients with the same condition, the specific services needed — and the associated charges — are likely to differ.
Factors Influencing Your Total Charge
Some of the factors that determine your total charge for your service higher or lower than the average patient include:
- How long it takes you to recover in the hospital
- Whether the surgical procedure is more or less difficult than expected
- What kinds of medication you require
- Whether you encounter complications and require additional treatment
- Other conditions you may have in addition to what you are being treated for that may affect your treatment plan
While it is impossible to completely predict what the final charges for care will be, our hope is the provided information can help explain billing for medical care.
Understanding Your Bills
It is important to understand that you may receive a bill from the hospital and separate bills from physicians and other healthcare providers involved in your care. Be sure to talk with your physician and any other provider who will be treating you about their charges. The following is a partial list of other providers who may bill you separately:
- Your personal physician if he or she follows your care in the hospital
- The surgeon who performs your procedure
- The anesthesiologist who works with the surgeon
- The radiologist who reads your X-rays
- Other physician specialists who may be consulted by your physician during the course of your care, such as a cardiologist or pathologist
Types of Charges
The services you receive will depend on what your doctor orders. If you are admitted as a hospital patient, you can expect to see charges of the following types:
- Room and board: Charges vary by the level of care provided, such as intensive care versus general medical or surgical care, labor and delivery, etc.
- Operating room, recovery room, and anesthesia if surgery was performed
- Laboratory testing
- Radiology exams
- Medical supplies
- Pharmaceuticals
It is important to note that all medical services provided to you in the hospital must be ordered by your physician and will be recorded in your medical record.
Insurance and Payment
The amount you pay for your service also will depend upon which, if any, insurance plan is covering your care and how your benefits are structured. Insurer contracts with the hospital determine what price will be paid for your care. Additionally, you may have a deductible that must be met before your insurance covers the cost of care, and/or you may be liable for paying a flat dollar copayment or a percentage of the cost of any services provided (coinsurance).
It is also important to know whether your hospital and physician(s) are part of your insurance company’s healthcare network. If you seek care out of network, you will likely be liable for a greater share of the cost of your care. We recommend that you check with your health insurance plan to verify whether the providers involved in your care are in their network.
Consider other resources that may be available in making your healthcare decisions. Check with your employer and your health plan to see if there are other tools that can help you estimate the amount you will pay for care given different provider choices. These tools often incorporate current information on your financial obligations in terms of deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Also, some states have public resources such as websites that offer price estimates or average prices for common tests or procedures.
FAQs
What if I can’t afford hospital and/or physician charges?
White Rock Medical Center staff will help you find out if you qualify for free or reduced-fee care under our financial assistance program for services rendered in an emergency situation. There also are a number of public and private assistance programs available to help patients get healthcare services and meet financial obligations associated with obtaining healthcare services. We can walk you through how to apply for these various forms of aid.
How will I be billed?
Hospitals and physicians typically bill you separately for services provided to you in a hospital. White Rock Medical Center will bill you for hospital-specific charges, such as operating room time, room and board, surgical supplies, laboratory tests, X-rays, and pharmaceutical supplies. You also will receive separate bills from the different physicians who treat you, such as a cardiologist, surgeon, anesthesiologist, pathologist, hospitalist, radiologist or emergency room physician.
When will I be expected to pay?
For scheduled and walk-in services, you are expected to pay your estimated portion at the time of service. For additional or others costs that are billed, hospital bills are similar to most other bills, with payment expected within 30 days. We understand that medical services can be a large expense and would like to work with patients who cannot afford to pay right away. Payment installment plans are available, but must be set up for patients who need extra time. If you want more information about setting up a payment installment plan, please call 1-800-404-6627. Be sure also to talk with your physician and other providers about possible payment arrangements.
Who can I talk to for more information?
White Rock Medical Center staff are here to help you. We encourage you to call us so we can answer your questions about our charges and billing procedures.
Contact Information
Questions about your bill and submitting payments:
If you have questions about the charges on your bill or if you have a bill and want to discuss payment arrangements, please call 214-324-6850.
All other inquiries:
If you have further general questions, please call 214-324-6100.