For Patients
Patient Financial Services
Thank you for choosing Community Hospital for your healthcare services. We would like for our patients to become informed about the billing process and communicate any concerns they have with our Patient Accounts staff. Becoming knowledgeable about your insurance coverage can be a key to avoiding unexpected bills from medical care received. For questions about billing, insurance, or payment information, call 308-344-8297 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m Monday through Friday.
Insurance Pre-certification/Prior-authorization
Many health insurance plans have pre-certification or prior authorization requirements for specific services. Information about these requirements is usually listed on the back of your health care insurance card. To avoid non-payment or reduction of payments, for which you would be responsible, please refer to your card, your benefits handbook or contact the customer service section of your health plan to inquire about your responsibility to complete these requirements. Emergency admissions generally allow at least a 24-hour grace period.
If your insurance card indicates pre-authorization or pre-certification is required, it is your responsibility to contact your insurance company for authorization before you are admitted to Community Hospital. Failure to obtain this authorization may result in reduced insurance benefits.
Billing
The Community Hospital Patient Accounts Department will submit a claim to any insurance company you authorize us to bill. This will be done shortly after discharge. After your insurance pays, you will begin receiving statements for the deductible and co-insurance amounts you owe and payment will be expected within 30 days. If these amounts are known, please pay them upon dismissal. If we fail to receive payment from your insurance, you will begin receiving bills for the full amount. Most insurance claims are sent electronically and can be resolved within 30-45 days. If you received bills which you believe should be covered by insurance, please call Patient Accounts at 308-344-8297 so they can review the status of the account with you.
Community Hospital currently has network agreements with the following insurance companies. We may be considered out-of-network with other companies which may cause your health benefits to be reduced for services received.
- Medicare
- Nebraska and Kansas Medicaid
- Blue Cross
- Tricare
- Midlands Choice
- Coventry Healthcare
- United Healthcare
- PPO Next/Beech Street
At Community Hospital, we believe the highest quality of healthcare should be accessible to everyone. We accept many types of insurance plans, including private insurance, PPO’s, Medicare and Medicaid, ChampVA, and Every Woman Matters. If you do not find your insurance plan listed, please contact Patient Accounts at 308-344-8297 to verify your insurance carrier.
Billing statements from Community Hospital cover services provided by the hospital and some professional services (Including ER physicians and Anesthesia). Some professional fees from surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, etc. will be billed separately.
If you do not have insurance, a bill will be sent shortly after discharge requesting payment of the balance due.
Payment Options
We would like to work together with you to make the resolution of your accounts here as pleasant as possible. You will receive monthly statements for services not payable by your insurance carrier. Community Hospital is a not-for-profit hospital and we depend on timely payment for services. This helps us continue to provide quality medical care at the lowest possible cost
Pay My Hospital Bill Online
To make a one-time payment or set up monthly automatic withdrawals from your checking account or credit card, go to Pay My Hospital Bill Online. We accept Discover/Novus, Visa, MasterCard or American Express.
Payment Plans
Contact one of our Patient Accounts representatives at 308-344-8297 or log on to our secure payment page.
Financial Assistance
As a non-profit hospital and as part of our mission, Community Hospital provides Financial Assistance to patients with limited financial means who have exhausted all other sources of payment or assistance. We provide this assistance through our Financial Assistance Program and we have provided a link to our Financial Assistance page and the application form.
Community Hospital does not deny or extend financial assistance on the basis of age, race, creed, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. If you are in need of assistance, please complete the form and return it to the address below. Our patient Financial Counselor can also be reached by phone or you can stop by the Financial Counselor office at the front entrance of the hospital.
Community Hospital
Laci Ingels, Financial Counselor
PO Box 1328
McCook, NE 69001
308-344-8322