Billing FAQs
Who should I contact with questions regarding my bill?
To make a payment or set up a payment arrangement, please call Early Out Services, a payment center contracted by Howard County Medical Center, at (308) 754-4143 or toll free (855) 470-5244. Hours are Monday-Thursday 8am-8pm, Friday 8am-5pm and Saturday 8am-12pm.
If you have questions regarding how insurance processed your claim, please call the Patient Accounts Office at (308) 754-4421. Hours are Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:30pm.
When will I receive my first bill?
If you are insured, we will send a claim to your insurance company. Once your insurance has made a determination of benefits and has issued payment toward your claim, you will receive a statement showing the amount you owe. If you are private pay, you will receive a statement 10-14 days after services are provided.
When should I pay my co-pay?
At HCMC we collect a minimum of $20 per office visit at the time of appointment check in. We collect this amount on all non-Medicare patients, non-Medicaid patients, and non-wellness office visits. Most insurance plans require a deductible, a co-pay or a co-insurance amount on office visits. These amounts are the patients’ responsibility. Based upon your insurance companies past payment for an office visit, we will be collecting the appropriate dollar amount. For example, if historically, your insurance plan requires a $30 co-pay for an office visit, we will be collecting that amount. The amount we collect at the time of service will be applied toward your visit that day. Any remaining balance, above and beyond this amount, will be billed to you after the fact. We will accept cash, check or credit card for these payments. Please have one of these options available at the time of check in.
I have more than one bill. Why?
Depending on where you were seen or the type of care you received, you may receive more than one bill. These may include bills from the hospital where your tests were performed, bills from your clinic visit, bills from the doctor who provided care, or bills from doctors who reviewed tests or x-rays. Also, bills are based on dates of service. If you had services provided on multiple days, you will receive multiple bills.
Do I have to write a separate check for each account?
No. If you have several accounts with balances, please include the payment stubs on how you would like your payment applied.
I’m not sure if my insurance has paid. How will I know when I’m supposed to pay?
After your insurance company has paid their portion of your bill, we will send you a statement of account. This statement indicates the amount that has been paid and any balance you are required to pay.
May I pay my account with a credit card/debit card?
Yes, we are able to process your payment with a debit card, Visa, Discover or MasterCard. You may pay online, over the telephone or by enclosing your credit card information with your statement.
What if I cannot pay my account?
All patient balances—the amount your insurance company does not cover—must be paid within 30 days after you receive notification from Howard County Medical Center. If you cannot pay within that time period, please contact the Patient Account Office to make payment arrangements or consider completing a financial assistance application.
