We understand how overwhelming it can be to deal with billing concerns on top of health issues. We also understand that medical bills and insurance details can be confusing. Our goal is to make this process as easy and stress-free as possible for you. Here is some information to help:
Understanding your hospital bill
Your hospital bill is based on the charges you incur while you are a patient. These include your room, nursing care and hospital services such as laboratory, pharmacy or radiology — plus any outstanding balance from pre-admission testing performed here.
- We will first file a claim with your insurance company. If there is a balance due after your insurance company has processed your claim, or if you do not have insurance, we will mail a bill to you.
- The amount you owe may include insurance deductibles, non-covered services or items, co-payments, or coinsurance balances due after insurance has paid on a charge.
- Information on Amounts Generally Billed
Physicians’ fees
Your physicians’ fees are not included in your hospital bill. You will receive separate bills from the physicians and/or surgeons who participated in your diagnosis and treatment, which could include:
- Your personal physician
- Anesthesiologist
- Radiologist
- Pathologist
- Emergency Department physician
Co-payments for hospital-based procedures
If you undergo an elective inpatient or outpatient procedure and/or tests, Emerson collects co-payments and co-insurance prior to the date these services are provided, or on the date of service. Just as with hospitalization, you will receive a bill from the hospital and a separate bill from the physician providing your treatment.
Paying your bill
Account balances are payable within 27 days from the date on your statement. If you are unable to pay in full by that date, please contact an Emerson patient account representative to make payment arrangements. We are willing to set up a payment plan to fit your budget. The contact information can be found on your billing statement.
To pay your bill online
Simply go to Pay Your Bill.
Financial assistance
If you are unable to pay for all or part of the bill you receive from Emerson Hospital, we encourage you to contact our Financial Counseling office at 978-287-3432 to speak confidentially with a financial counselor. There are various financial assistance options that may be available to you. Learn more about financial assistance for health care.
Your rights and protections against surprise medical bills
When you receive emergency care or are treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing. Click here to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What if I can not afford to pay the balance on my hospital bill?
Financial aid is available to eligible patients who are residents of Massachusetts and receiving medically necessary services (learn more in the Emerson Hospital Financial Aid Policy). Eligibility is based upon family income. Read more about your eligibility for financial assistance or contact our Financial Counseling office at 978-287-3432.
We are also pleased to offer an easy and affordable interest-free monthly installment plan that allows you to pay off your hospital bill each month. Simply contact our Billing Office at 866-460-8457. Please note that this policy does not apply to physicians’ services or other providers who bill independently from the hospital.
I provided my insurance information at the hospital. Why am I receiving a statement?
Sometimes, we may not have been able to process information that you provided prior to the scheduled mailing of a statement. We apologize if your account was not updated before the statement was mailed, and ask that you contact us with the information at 866-460-8457.
The insurance information on my statement is incorrect. How do I change it?
Simply go to Pay Your Bill, click on “My Account” and make the appropriate changes to your account information. If you have not created an online account, you can create one on that page, too.
Or you can call our Billing office at 866-460-8457. Your updates will be reflected in our billing system within 3 days of receiving the information.
Where should I send my payment?
You can mail your payment to the address in the remit section of your statement. For your convenience, a return envelope is included with your statement. Or you can pay online, via credit card, by logging in to your online account. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
Why Did my insurance company not pay my bill in full?
Many insurance plans have a deductible, co-pay or coinsurance amount. If you have questions about your financial responsibility under the terms of your policy, you can call your insurance company directly, or call us at 866-460-8457.
What other bills can I expect to receive?
In addition to your hospital bill, you may receive bills from the providers involved in your care who bill independently from Emerson. This may include anesthesia, the emergency department and radiology.
What is the difference between creating an online account and paying without enrolling?
By creating an online account, you can view, download and print past bills. You can also view your online payment history and save your account information. If you choose to pay without enrolling, you will have to enter your account information for every payment, and you will not have access to past bills or payments.
When I pay online, is my payment information secure?
Yes. We take seriously our commitment to protect your information. Please review our privacy policy for more details.
Why do I receive a different account number every time I come in for services?
Due to insurance requirements, we must assign a different account number to each service you receive. They are all contained under one medical record number, however.
