|
Pay Your Bill
Lakeland is here to meet your healthcare needs and assist you in making payment arrangements for our services. Please read this information carefully and feel free to ask any questions, we’re here to help. Lakeland is a not-for-profit system of care that provides emergency care for patients regardless of their ability to pay. For all non-emergent and elective treatments, tests and procedures, we request that you make arrangement for payment before or at the time of service.
Billing Philosophy
As a not-for-profit community hospital, Lakeland HealthCare strives to keep its charges as low as possible. It seeks to collect a sufficient amount of money to maintain stable medical services in the community. To that end, Lakeland HealthCare has established reasonable guidelines for payment which are designed to be as fair as possible.
Billing Policy
It is important that you contact your insurance company to determine and initiate any precertification requirements.
We will file your insurance claim with your primary and secondary insurance companies or managed care organizations if we are provided with all the required information and authorization. We will also assist you by sending requested information to your insurer. However, the responsibility remains yours to ensure that Lakeland Hospital's are paid for services rendered to you. You are ultimately responsible for any unpaid balances.
If your insurance company or managed care organization does not remit payment within 30 days, we may request that you contact your insurer to determine why payment has been made. If an error has been made in identifying your insurance carrier, please notify us immediately.
Payment Policy
Payment in full is required at the time of service for all uninsured patients and those with co-pays, coinsurance, or that have not met their annual deductible on elective admissions and non-emergency outpatients services. Balances not paid by insurance are your responsibility.
In meeting your financial obligations for the care provided at Lakeland HealthCare, we ask that you work with us on any bills you are having difficulty paying. You will find our staff understanding and eager to help you.
If you are unable to pay account balances in full, we are offering the MedAssist Advantage Plan (MAP) as a payment plan option. It is a credit card program and is only for Lakeland Hospital bills. MAP will allow you to make smaller monthly payments and extend those payments over a longer period of time than previously possible. It will also allow you to consolidate bills for all family members into one monthly payment.. There is no credit scoring required to enroll in MAP. In fact, enrolling in MAP can help rebuild a bad credit rating.
If you don't have medical insurance
We request payment at the time of service or satisfactory payment arrangements made prior to service. If you are unable to pay for non-emergent services and do not have insurance, the service or treatment may be deferred until acceptable payment arrangements can be made.
Medicaid Eligibility
Lakeland has contracted with CareAssist, an Eligibility Service company, to help our patients who qualify for Medicaid coverage. This assistance is provided at no charge to the patient.
If you don’t have medical insurance
We request payment at the time of service or that you make payment arrangements with us prior to your surgery. If you are unable to pay for non-emergent services and do not have insurance, the service or treatment may be deferred until acceptable payment arrangements can be made. If you have any questions about your account balance, Please call our patient accounts customer service department between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1-800-420-1472.
Charity/Free Care
Financial assistance is available, on a limited per account basis, to patients who are unable to pay their hospital bill. Assistance is based on income and assets utilizing the federal poverty guidelines to determine eligibility. An application must be completed and returned to Lakeland’s Patient Accounts department along with proof of income, assets, and expenses. If you qualify, 25 to 100 percent of your bill could be covered by charity.
If you have any questions about your account balance, please call Patient Accounts Customer Service between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m, Monday through Friday at 1-800-420-1472.
Physician Bills
You may also receive separate bills from one or more physician’s offices. These bills may cover such expenses as physician services and/or professional interpretation of tests and X-rays. Questions concerning such bills should be directed to the office of the physician who sent the bill.
Click here to get a copy of the new Single Billing Statement brochure
Payment Options
-
Payment in Full
-
In person at any facility cashier (cash, personal check, credit card, travelers check, or money order)
-
By telephone at 800-420-1472 (credit card, electronic check)
-
By mail to: P.O. Box 410, St. Joseph, MI 49085 (personal check, credit card, travelers check, or money order)
-
Online (credit card, online check)
-
MedAssist Advantage Plan (MAP)
Lakeland Hospitals are In-Network for the following:
Government Programs
-
Medicaid
-
Medicaid HMOs
-
Medicare
Provider Networks
-
Community Health Alliance (CHA)
-
Elkhart Medical Organization (EMO)
-
Indiana Health Network (IHN)
-
Lakealnd Care
-
Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
Insurance Plans
Participation is subject to change. Please verify with your insurance.
Our financial counselors are available to discuss other payment resources that may be available or to help you apply for medical assistance. For more information, call the financial counselors at the location you will be having surgery.
-
Lakeland Hospital, Niles - 269-687-1417
-
Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center - 269-471-3271
-
Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph or Lakeland Center for Outpatient Services
Patients whose last names begin with A-K (269) 983-8320
Patients whose last names begin with L-Z (269) 985-4589
Payment Address
Lakeland Hospital
P.O. Box 410
St. Joseph, MI 49085
|
