Billing frequently asked questions

Billing frequently asked questions

Clinic billing: Questions and answers

Coverage varies with each insurance company. Please refer to your insurance member handbook or call your insurance company with questions regarding benefits and covered services.

Clinic staff members do not know whether a service will be covered. Your insurance plan may not always cover medically necessary and appropriate services.

If your insurance card indicates copay is required, you will be asked to pay it when you check in for your appointment. Allina Health accepts cash, checks, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express and debit cards.

Payments can be made online, over the telephone or by mail. Allina accepts Visa, Discover, MasterCard, American Express credit cards. Below are the payment options offered by Allina Health:

  • Payment Plans: You may set up a monthly payment plan of up to 12 months as long as the minimum monthly payment is $30.00. There is no interest or fee applied to this option.
  • MedCredit Financial Services offers a financing option for your medical expenses at an 8% APR or .67% per month. Advantages of opening a MedCredit account include immediate financial approval, no credit application, no annual fees or dues, and convenient monthly payments. Applications are available in your clinic or by calling Patient Financial Services at 612-262-9000, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Partners Care was developed to ensure that everyone has access to health care services. This program is available to established Allina Health patients and their family members who meet certain financial guidelines. You may ask your clinic representative for a brochure and application or call 612-262-9000 or 1-800-859-5077.

Learn more about our financial assistance services.

If your insurance information was provided when you registered, you will not receive a bill until your insurance company has:

  • denied the claim
  • paid the claim and there is a co-insurance, deductible, or non-covered service for which you are responsible
  • not responded to the claim
  • determined your coverage is not valid or cannot be verified for the date the services were provided

Payment of your bill is ultimately your responsibility and due upon receipt of your first statement.

Each service a patient receives during an office visit has an American Medical Association code associated with it.

  • CPT (current procedural terminology) codes identify the services performed and the reason they were performed.
  • ICD-10 (international classification of diseases) codes specify the diagnosis associated with your visit.

The claim for your visit includes these codes. They inform your insurer of the services provided and why they were provided.

Federal law requires appropriate, accurate coding. Coding must reflect what happens during your medical visit and match what is recorded in your medical record.

When denied coverage, people sometimes are told that they would have been reimbursed for a specific procedure if another code had been used. But it's illegal to change codes just to obtain reimbursement. That's why it's important to understand your coverage so that you will not be surprised if a service is not covered.

Yes. To make sure we have the right billing information, we will ask to see your insurance card at every visit. We also will ask you to verify your name, address and employer.

If your claim is for a work-related injury or motor vehicle accident, you will need to provide all the necessary information to bill the liability insurer. If all insurance information is not available or not provided to us, the account will be billed directly to you.

Please remember that you are ultimately responsible for the charges on your account for treatment you received. Allina Health will not become involved in liability disputes.

Health maintenance and well-child exams

An adult health maintenance exam may involve some screening lab tests and X-rays or shots. These services are usually part of an annual physical:

  • review of your complete medical history, including allergies, drug reactions and immunizations
  • physical exam, including a pelvic exam for women
  • medicine review (Please bring all medicines and supplements you regularly take.)
  • weight, height, blood pressure and pulse

Your health care provider may ask about your tobacco and alcohol use. You may also discuss health topics like weight control and exercise.

Your health provider may recommend additional services based on your age and gender. An adult health maintenance exam may also involve lab tests, medical imaging and/or shots. Please check with your insurance provider about coverage for these extra services.

You may have other issues you want to discuss. These services may not be considered part of your physical and may require an additional charge:

  • new health concerns (upset stomach, cough, warts, moles)
  • current conditions that need further evaluation and/or new treatment (unstable high blood pressure, out-of-control diabetes)

Coverage for preventive services varies among insurers. To determine your coverage, check your health insurance policy and contact your insurance company with any questions.

Medicare may pay for certain cancer screening tests, as well as diabetes monitoring and self-management. For more details, visit the preventive services section of Medicare's website

We are concerned that you receive the care you need, regardless of insurance coverage. Because there are so many types of insurance plans, we usually cannot tell you what is or is not covered by your insurance plan. We encourage you to contact your insurance company with questions about your benefits.

If you are a Medicare patient, you may be asked to sign an advance beneficiary notice (ABN). By reading and signing this form, you agree to pay for the service if your insurance company denies coverage.

Because your health care is your doctor's primary concern, your doctor will be happy to address any additional concerns.

If the doctor needs to provide additional treatment or information about your additional concern, you may receive an additional charge. Here's why: Insurance carriers require accurate reporting from doctors when preventive care and additional problems are addressed during the same visit. So while you may be taking care of two health care concerns at one time, your insurer may see it as taking care of two office visits in one and assess your benefits accordingly.

Hospital billing: Questions and answers

There are so many different types of insurance plans; we cannot tell you whether you need prior approval or notification for your hospital stay. We encourage you to contact your insurance company or your employer with questions about what is or is not covered or if prior approval or notification is required by your insurance plan.

Yes. The hospital needs information on your insurance card to file a claim with your insurance company.

When you register, we will ask for information about your insurance coverage and have you sign a few forms. This process goes much faster when you bring your insurance information with you.

Yes.
Yes. As a courtesy we will bill your insurance company. It is your responsibility to provide insurance information requested (explanation of benefits, claim forms, accident information) in order to make this happen.
After your insurance company has paid its portion of your hospital bill, you will receive an explanation of benefits from your insurance company. Once Allina receives their copy of the explanation of benefits, 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.

When you call your insurance company about a claim, be sure to do the following:

  • Have available your insurance card, date of service, facility name, original billed amount, patient name and claim number if applicable.
  • If the bill has been paid, ask when and to whom. Note this information and whom you talked to at the insurance company
  • If the bill has not been paid, find out when the anticipated time frame of payment is, and ask if they need anything from you. (You may need to contact the clinic or the hospital's medical records department.
  • If the bill isn't paid in the stated time frame, call the insurance company again and, if necessary, ask to speak with a supervisor.
You will not receive a bill until after your health insurance company has paid or denied the claim related to your care. If you gave us insurance information when you registered, the first bill you will receive will indicate what your insurance has paid and what your balance is after all insurance payments.

Payments can be made online, over the telephone or by mail. Allina Health accepts Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards. Below are the payment options offered by Allina Health:

  • Payment Plans: You may set up a monthly payment plan of up to 12 months as long as the minimum monthly payment is $30.00. There is no interest or fee applied to this option.
  • MedCredit Financial Services offers a financing option for your medical expenses at an 8% APR or .67% per month. Advantages of opening a MedCredit account include immediate financial approval, no credit application, no annual fees or dues, and convenient monthly payments. Applications are available in your clinic or by calling Patient Financial Services at 612-262-9000 Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m .
  • Partners Care was developed to ensure that everyone has access to health care services. This program is available to established Allina Health patients and their family members who meet certain financial guidelines. You may ask your clinic representative for a brochure and application or call 612-262-9000 or 1-800-859-5077.

Extra bills are usually for services done at the hospital by different medical professionals. For example, if you received anesthesia during your hospital stay, you may receive a bill from the anesthesiologist.

If you have questions about a specific bill, please call the phone number listed on that bill.