Billing / Patient Accounts

Frequently Asked Questions about Billing 

Q: What if I cannot afford to pay the balance on my hospital bill or what if I do not have health insurance?
A: Our Financial Counseling office will screen you for insurance through the state.  Eligibility is based, among other factors, upon family income and number of family members in the household. If you think you may be eligible for financial aid, you may request an application in the Financial Counseling Department or by calling 1-978-922-3000 ext 2045. Installment payment plans are also available for those who qualify. This policy does not apply to physicians services or services provided by other providers who bill independently. Learn more about Zero Percent Financing.

Q: I gave my insurance information at the hospital. Why am I receiving this statement?
A: If our billing offices have not received information that you supplied at registration, you will receive a statement. In some cases we may not have been able to process information that you have furnished prior to the mailing of a statement. We apologize if your account has not been updated with the relevant information prior to the statement being mailed and ask that you forward the information by updating the appropriate section of our Patient Online application.

Q: Where should I send my payment?
A: Payment should be sent to the address in the remit to section of your statement. For your convenience, a return envelope has been enclosed or you may choose to pay online by logging in to your online account and pay using Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.

Q: Why didn't my insurance company pay in full?
A: Many insurance policies have a deductible, co-pay, or coinsurance amount. Sometimes certain charges are not covered under particular policies. This may be the case with your carrier. To confirm your responsibility under your policy, if any, you can call your insurance company directly or call the telephone number listed at the bottom of your billing statement for further information.

Q: What other bills can I expect to receive?
A: In addition to the hospital bill you have received, you may receive bills from one or more of these other providers who bill independently including but not limited to:

• The physician(s) / doctor(s) who cared for you while you were a patient at the hospital.
• The anesthesiologist if you had a procedure at the hospital.
• The ambulance if you were brought to the hospital by ambulance.
• Physicians who may have provided interpretation services for lab work, x-rays, and the like to your physicians, even if they did not see you.

Q: What is the difference between co-pay and a deductible?
A: Deductibles are usually a one-time amount (per year or benefit period), where the insured must pay a designated amount of the service. Co-pay is a specific amount that will need to be paid each time the insured has certain services, such as physician office visits, emergency room services and certain therapy services.

Click here to return to Billing / Patient Accounts or if you prefer, go directly to our inquiry form to send your question to us.