Stillwater Medical Center Offers Financial Assistance
Contents
- Applying for financial assistance
- What to do if you’re denied financial assistance
- How to appeal a financial assistance decision
- When to expect to hear back about your financial assistance application
- How much financial assistance you can expect to receive
- What financial assistance covers
- What to do if you can’t afford your medical bills
- How to negotiate a lower medical bill
- Medical billing mistakes to look out for
- Tips for preventing medical debt
Stillwater Medical Center is committed to providing quality care for all, regardless of ability to pay. We offer a variety of financial assistance programs to help those who need it.
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Applying for financial assistance
Stillwater Medical Center offers a variety of options to help patients with their medical bills Patients can apply for financial assistance through the hospital’s financial counselors.
According to the stillwater medical center website, “Financial assistance is available to patients who, after completing the application process, demonstrate that they are unable to pay their bill in full. Assistance is provided in the form of a discount to the patient’s account balance and is based on the patient’s household income and size.”
To learn more about how to apply for financial assistance, patients can visit the Stillwater Medical Center website or speak to a financial counselor by calling (405) 372-1420.
What to do if you’re denied financial assistance
If you are denied financial assistance from Stillwater Medical Center, you may appeal the decision by writing a letter to the hospital’s financial assistance committee. The letter should explain why you believe you deserve financial assistance and provide supporting documentation. If you have any questions about the appeals process, you can contact the hospital’s financial assistance office for more information.
How to appeal a financial assistance decision
If you do not agree with the financial assistance decision made by Stillwater Medical Center, you have the right to appeal that decision. You must submit your appeal in writing within 30 days of the date on the notice of the decision. You may use the Financial Assistance Appeal form, or you may submit a letter that includes all of the following information:
-Your name, address and telephone number
-Your patient account number
-The date of the notice of the decision you are appealing
-The specific reason(s) for disagreeing with the decision
You may request a personal meeting to discuss your appeal; however, you are not required to do so.
To submit your appeal, mail or deliver it to:
Stillwater Medical Center
Attn: Appeals Committee
PO Box 948
Stillwater, OK 74076
When to expect to hear back about your financial assistance application
After you have applied for financial assistance and submitted all required documentation, the hospital will take approximately 10-14 business days to process your application. You will be notified by mail of the hospital’s decision. If you have questions about your account or the status of your application, please call the financial assistance office at 123-456-7890.
How much financial assistance you can expect to receive
When you receive medical care at Stillwater Medical Center, our goal is to provide you with the best possible outcome and experience. Part of that is making sure you understand your medical costs and billing process.
We also understand that medical bills can be overwhelming, and we want to help. That’s why we offer a variety of financial assistance options to help make your care more affordable.
Here’s what you need to know about how much financial assistance you can expect to receive from Stillwater Medical Center.
What financial assistance covers
Stillwater Medical Center is committed to providing you with the best possible care. We understand that medical bills can be a financial burden, and we want to help.
We offer several options for financial assistance, including:
-A sliding fee scale based on your income and family size
-Free or discounted care for those who qualify
-Payment plans
-Assistance with applications for government programs like Medicaid
What to do if you can’t afford your medical bills
Stillwater Medical Center is committed to helping patients receive the care they need, regardless of their ability to pay. We offer a number of financial assistance options to help make care more affordable.
If you need help paying your bill, please contact our Customer Service Representatives at 405-742-8400. They will be happy to answer any questions you have about our financial assistance policies or help you apply for assistance.
We also offer a number of discounts for patients who are unable to pay their entire bill at once. These include:
-A 10% discount for patients who pay their bill in full within 30 days of receiving their first statement
-A 5% discount for patients who set up a payment plan with our offices
-A 25% discount for patients who are considered low income or meet other qualifications for financial assistance
If you have any questions about our financial assistance policy or how to apply, please contact our Customer Service Representatives at 405-742-8400.
How to negotiate a lower medical bill
If you are struggling to pay a medical bill, you may be able to negotiate a lower amount with the help of a medical billing advocate.
There are a few ways to approach this. First, you can try to negotiate with the hospital or doctor’s office directly. This can be difficult, as they may be less likely to budge on the bill if they know you have insurance.
If you have insurance, your next step should be to contact your insurance company and ask them to help you appeal the bill. They may be able to lower the amount you owe or even get the bill dropped entirely.
You can also hire a medical billing advocate, who will negotiate on your behalf and may be able to get a lower amount than you could on your own.
Whatever route you choose, it’s important to act quickly – the sooner you start working on a solution, the more likely you are to find success.
Medical billing mistakes to look out for
If you have EverCare or UHC Community Plan insurance, please be aware that some errors have been found in the way that SMC’s billing company, Alliant, has been processing claims. If you have received a bill for services rendered on or after October 1st, 2018, please check it carefully. If you have any questions or believe that you were incorrectly billed, please contact our customer service department at 405-742-2800.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and we are working diligently to correct the issue. In the meantime, we want to ensure that our patients are not disadvantaged financially because of our mistake. If you are unable to pay your bill in full at this time, please contact our customer service department to make payment arrangements. We understand that mistakes happen and we are committed to making things right.
Tips for preventing medical debt
There are a number of ways to prevent medical debt, and Stillwater Medical Center is committed to helping our patients achieve financial stability. We offer a variety of payment options, including financial assistance for those who qualify. Here are a few tips for preventing medical debt:
-Know your coverage. Review your insurance policy before you receive treatment to make sure you understand your benefits and coverage limits. This will help you budget for out-of-pocket costs.
-Communicate with your provider. Ask questions about fees and costs upfront so there are no surprises later. Stillwater Medical Center accepts a variety of insurance plans, and we will work with you to find a payment option that fits your budget.
-Make a budget. Develop a plan for how you will pay your medical bills, including any out-of-pocket costs. Be sure to factor in regular payments, such as premiums and deductibles, as well as unexpected expenses.
-Explore financial assistance options. If you are struggling to pay your medical bills, Stillwater Medical Center offers financial assistance for those who qualify. We also offer flexible payment plans to help make medical care more affordable.
For more information about payment options at Stillwater Medical Center, please call our Business Office at 405-742-3571.