Patient Information Guide

Registration and Admission

We can begin to help you during your registration or admission to the hospital.

We will try to pre-register you if your hospital visit is planned. We will call you before your scheduled visit to obtain:

• Your home address, phone number and social security number
• Insurance company name, address and policy number
• Employer name and address

Always bring your current insurance card and photo ID with you for all health care services, even if you have been called for pre-registration.

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the terms of your insurance coverage.

Be prepared to pay a co-pay at the time of your service if your insurance requires a co-pay. Some plans may not pay for all the services you will receive or may require a co-payment amount for each visit to the Emergency Room, for example.

If your health care will result in you owing part of your bill, you may be requested to pay some or all of that amount on the day the service is provided. Elective cosmetic procedures not covered by your insurance require payment in full before the service will be provided.

What if I can’t afford treatment?

Penn Highlands Healthcare will treat all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Our Financial Representative will assist patients, in confidence, by identifying payment options for all levels of financial needs.

Patients may be directed to other programs they may qualify for such as SSI, Medicaid, Medicare or Veterans Services.

If you don’t have insurance

Penn Highlands Healthcare’s policy is to help you obtain needed health care service coverage from sources for which you may be eligible.

We can help you qualify for government assistance programs for which you may be eligible.

We will reduce your bill by 40 percent, the same discount most of our insured patients receive through their coverage.

We will determine if you qualify for our Financial Assistance program that gives discounts up to 100 percent of your charges.

Our Financial Representative is available to discuss any of these options with you and help you understand what you will be responsible for paying and what your options are.

If you have insurance

After your visit, we will bill your insurance carrier based on the information you gave us at registration.

After your insurance has paid its part of the bill, or if it does not pay, the amount left is your responsibility to pay. You will receive a BILLING STATEMENT that shows you what your insurance carrier has paid us, any discounts we have made and the balance that you must pay.

Payment Options/Plans

PHH will accept payment by cash, check, money order, or credit (or debit) card. We accept Visa, Master Card and Discover.

If your health care will result in a balance due from you, you may be requested to pay a portion of the amount on the date the service is provided.

We request that you pay your bill within 30 days of receipt of your statement.

Long Term Payment

If you need more time to pay your bill, you must contact us to set up a payment arrangement. Under this arrangement, we will allow you to pay your bill in monthly installments. You must contact us to establish this agreement, which will be documented in your account, with the payment time line based on the amount of your balance.

One of our financial representatives will be happy to assist you with the payment arrangement process.

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