Patient Charges and Costs
You’re more than just a label on a bill. Memorial Hospital is dedicated to providing you with the information you need to keep your health on point, including details regarding our charges, your costs and information about financial assistance that may be available to you. We want to deliver easier, more personal care to you and your family.
How Memorial Hospital Can Help You Understand Your Cost of Care
When you need our services, you may wonder how much your care will cost. Our pre-service specialists are available to provide individualized cost estimates based on the type of care you plan to receive and your insurance information.
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If you have health insurance, it is best to first contact your insurance provider.
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Why? Many insurance providers offer estimates for your out-of-pocket costs based on your plan’s specific benefits. Your insurance provider may also have information to help you compare price and quality measures for the healthcare providers available to you.
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Memorial Hospital also provides patients with out-of-pocket cost estimates based on your planned services and your insurance carrier/plan. To request a cost estimate, call (217) 357-8626.
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Why? We are committed to providing you with information about your estimated out-of-pocket cost as you make health care decisions. Memorial Hospital has agreements with many insurance companies that determine the amount we will be paid. Our team will verify your insurance coverage and benefits, including your plan’s required co-payments, deductible cost, co-insurance and maximum out-of-pocket cost specified in your plan. We can also discuss your payment options.
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If you are not insured or think you will need help paying your bill, please call (888) 781-7014
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Why? Memorial Hospital has financial assistance policies to assist patients who cannot reasonably pay for some or all the care they receive. Our patient jinancial services staff can also help determine if you are eligible for discounts on hospital services.
Now Available: Standard Current Charges
Beginning January 1, 2019, the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) require hospitals to be more transparent regarding the cost of care. This “Inpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rule” states that hospitals must provide a listing of their current standard charges, including a description for the item or service associated with each charge, for every item and service provided by the hospital.
Memorial Hospital supports the intent of these requirements and the need to educate patients on the cost of health care services. However, it is important to note that these numbers do not represent what patients will actually owe after a hospital stay or other service.
A hospital’s charges are based on its unique range of services, adoption of new medical technologies, government funding level, patient demographics, and other local and regional factors. There is also a difference between “charges” and “costs”:
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Charges are the full retail price for hospital or hospital outpatient services.
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The discount price is a lower rate that may be negotiated with payers (“contractual rate” or “allowable rate”) or with patients (“self-pay discounts”).
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The final patient cost is the individual patient’s financial responsibility (your cost for services based on your benefit coverage and the discounted price).
Charges shown on the lists below do not represent payments or any specific/individual patient responsibility. Your financial responsibility will vary depending on your health insurance plan. Also, fees for doctor services or anesthesia administration are not reflected in this list and will be billed separately by your doctor.
Note: this is a lengthy document. Please review the information prior to printing items of interest.
Hospital Charge Comparisons
You may access comparative hospital average charge information at state hospital association websites. Memorial Hospital will continue to provide this useful information for health care consumers.
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Illinois Hospital Report Card (Illinois Department of Public Health):
http://www.healthcarereportcard.illinois.gov/
Why Do Hospital Charges and Costs Vary?
Hospitals are prepared with doctors, nurses and high-tech equipment around the clock for illness or injury. The care you receive is always unique. The price you see on your hospital bill reflects the many people who care for you as well as the additional people and services that keep the hospital operating.
These include:
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Nurses and caregivers at your bedside
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Specialty care providers
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Pharmacists
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Lab technicians
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Food service staff
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Equipment, maintenance, housekeeping and security personnel
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Services provided for the patient’s unique care needs
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24/7/365 readiness to meet the community’s health care needs
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Financial assistance for people unable to pay
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Medicare and Medicaid payments (which are often less than what it costs the hospital to provide care)
Providing Timely Charge and Cost Information is Important to Us
Memorial Hospital will continue to improve how we share information regarding our charges and the cost of your care. As you plan for your current or near-future health care needs, be sure to use all the resources on this page and reach out to your insurance provider.
Contact Us:
If you have questions about your current bill, call: (888) 781-7014
For out-of-pocket cost estimates (based on your planned services and your insurance carrier/plan), call: (217) 357-8626
If you are not insured or think you will need help paying your bill, call: (888) 781-7014
