Home » For Patients » Billing & Insurance

Billing & Insurance

If you do not have health insurance or worry that you may not be able to pay in full for your care, we can help. Catholic Health hospitals provide financial aid to patients based on their income, assets, and needs.

We also may be able to help you with information on free or low-cost health insurance, or work with you to arrange a manageable payment plan.

If you have any questions about your bill, please call (716) 601-3600.

Hospital Billing Procedures

It is important that you let us know if you will have trouble paying your bill.

Federal and State laws require all hospitals to seek full payment for what they bill patients. This means we may have to turn unpaid or ignored bills over to a collection agency. We want to work with you to make sure this does not happen.

Your daily charges include your room accommodations, nursing care, bedside meals, special diets, linen service, housekeeping, and other hospital-related services. 

Please check with your insurance company directly if you have any questions concerning coverage. They make the final decisions on payments.

Insurance

Your Blue Cross, Medicare, Medicaid, HMO, or private insurance must be validated at the time of admission. The hospital may require patients to sign promissory notes to ensure payment for portions of their bills not covered by insurance.

Patients admitted without insurance coverage are personally responsible for their entire bill, and arrangements for payment will be required prior to an elective admission.

Insurance Coverage

As a courtesy, we file all health care insurance claims for you.

Hospital insurance plans do not always provide full coverage of your hospital bill; your hospital insurance coverage is a contract between you and your insurance company. Although the hospital will assist in processing and expediting your claim, you are ultimately responsible for your account with Mercy Hospital. Unless other payment arrangements are made prior to treatment, you will be expected to pay in full the difference for all charges not covered by insurance. We will attempt to secure payment from your insurance carrier.

Physicians Participating in Your Plan

While you are a patient at a Catholic Health hospital, you will be cared for in a variety of patient settings. Your treatment may involve the services of many different health care professionals. Depending on the tests or procedures ordered by your doctor, there may be several physicians involved in your care and each may bill separately for their services.

Not all of these physicians participate in all plans. It is your responsibility to check with your insurance carrier to see which physicians are participating members and choose your doctors accordingly or make any necessary arrangements with your health insurance carrier if a physician you select does not participate in your plan.

You must submit a claim form to your physician, in addition to the one you submit for hospital charges, before your insurance company will process the hospital bill.

Financial Aid

The Heathcare Assistance Program allows persons to receive medically necessary services at no charge or reduced charge, if they are eligible, at Catholic Health facilities.

Insurance

There are many programs available that provide free or low-cost insurance to eligibile individuals. Click here to learn about your options.