| Q. |
Does Maryland General Hospital accept my insurance? |
| A. |
Insurance acceptance varies from plan to plan; please contact our Admitting Department at 410-225-8221 to find out if your plan is accepted. Also, you may contact your insurance company to find out if Maryland General participates with your insurance. |
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| Q. |
Do I need to let my insurance company know that I'm going to be in the hospital? |
| A. |
We encourage you to check with your insurance company or your employer about this. Because there are so many types of insurance plans, it is difficult for us to tell you whether or not you need prior approval or notification for your hospital stay. |
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| Q. |
How do I know if my insurance company will cover my visit or certain services? |
| A. |
Coverage varies with each insurance company. Medically necessary and appropriate services may not always be covered by your insurance contract. Contact your insurance company or your employer with specific questions about what is or is not covered by your insurance plan. |
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| Q. |
Should I bring my insurance card with me to the hospital? |
| A. |
Yes, the information on your insurance card is needed for the hospital to file a claim with your insurance company or companies. When you register we will ask for information about your insurance coverage and have you sign a few forms. This registration process goes much faster when you bring your insurance information with you. Also please also bring a picture ID, preferably your driver's license or anything with your name and address on it. |
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| Q. |
How do I know if my insurance company will cover services provided by all professionals (i.e. anesthesiologists, radiologists and pathologists) involved with my treatment? |
| A. |
We encourage you to check with your insurance company or your employer about this. Each medical professional needs to contract individually with insurance companies and the hospital does not know if each professional is contracted with your insurance company. |
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| Q. |
Will you bill my insurance company for me? |
| A. |
Yes. If you provide us with all your necessary insurance information, we will bill your insurance company. However, it is your responsibility to provide any requested information to your insurance company (accident information, claim forms, etc.). |
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| Q. |
How will I know if my insurance company has paid my bill? |
| A. |
If there is a balance due from you after the insurance company has paid its portion, we will send you a statement. This statement indicates the amount that has been paid and any balance you are required to pay. This is your bill. |
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| Q. |
How do I follow up with my insurance company? |
| A. |
Before you call, have available your insurance card, date of service, facility name, original billed amount, patient name and claim number if applicable. If paid, ask when and to whom. Note this information and with whom you spoke to at the insurance company. If the bill has not been paid, find out when the anticipated payment date is and ask if they need anything from you. If the bill is not paid in the stated time frame, follow-up with the insurance company again and, if necessary, request to speak to a supervisor. |
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| Q. |
What do I do if I disagree with how much my insurance company has paid on my bill? |
| A. |
If you disagree with the insurance company's payment amount, contact the insurance company and ask them to review how the claim was processed. If the insurance company finds that an error was made, make note of the errors and the name of the insurance company representative. Request an anticipated payment date and ask if they need anything from you. If the insurance company feels the bill was paid correctly and you still disagree, ask the insurance company what you need to do to file an "appeal" with them. Filing an appeal will not guarantee that the insurance company will pay more on your bill, but the claim will be reviewed for reconsideration. |
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| Q. |
Will I be required to pay anything when I arrive at the hospital? |
| A. |
Upon admission, you will be required to pay the difference, if any, between your verified insurance benefits and the estimated charges for your stay. This amount is based on the average of actual daily hospital charges for patients admitted with similar diagnoses, multiplied by the number of days you are expected to be in the hospital. Your actual charges may be more or less than the estimate. If they are less, you will receive a refund. The deposit does not include your physician's charges or those of other consulting physicians. Those costs will be billed to you directly, once you have returned home. |
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| Q. |
Does Maryland General Hospital provide free care for patients without insurance? |
| A. |
Maryland General Hospital does provide an assistance program for those who qualify. For specific information, please contact the Patient Accounting Department at 410-225-8895. |
