Billing & Insurance

Take Charge of Your Payments

What a Hospital Bill Covers

The hospital bill covers the cost of your room, meals, 24-hour nursing care, laboratory work, tests, medication, therapy and the services of hospital employees. You will receive a separate bill from the hospitalists for their professional services during your hospital stay, as well as for any pathology, radiology, anesthesia or emergency room physician care.

The hospital is responsible for submitting your hospital bill to your insurance company and will do everything possible to expedite your claim. You should remember that your policy is a contract between you and your insurance company, and you have the final responsibility for payment of your hospital bill.

How to Avoid Surprise Medical Bills

Offering the most complete array of medical services requires Beaufort Memorial Hospital to contract with a variety of area physicians and services. Some of these services will be in-network or out-of-network based on your insurance plan.

Your insurance plan may not cover the providers listed below. You will receive a separate bill from them if they provide a service to you while you are in our facilities. Please contact them directly if you have questions or concerns.

• Beaufort Medical Imaging, Inc. (radiology physicians): 800-234-7944
• Charleston Pathology, P.A. and Pathology of Beaufort: 855-552-2505
• Lowcountry Anesthesia, P.A.: 888-537-8533
• Team HealthHealth/ACS Emergency Physicians of South Carolina (hospitalists and ER physicians): 877-248-4846

Estimate Your Out-of-Pocket Costs

Beaufort Memorial offers an online tool that provides an estimate of your health care costs:

BeaufortMemorial.org/Estimate

Coordination of Benefits (COB)

Coordination of benefits, referred to as COB, is a term used by insurance companies when you are covered under two or more insurance policies. This usually happens when spouses or partners are listed on each other’s insurance policies, when both parents carry their children on their individual policies or when there is eligibility under two federal programs. This also can occur when you are involved in a motor vehicle accident and have medical insurance and automobile insurance.

Most insurance companies have COB provisions that determine which is the primary payer when medical expenses are incurred. This prevents duplicate payments. COB priority must be identified at admission in order to comply with insurance guidelines. Your insurance may request a completed COB form before paying a claim, and every attempt will be made to notify you if this occurs. The hospital cannot provide this information to your insurance company. You must resolve this issue with your insurance carrier in order for the claim to be paid.

Self-Pay Statements

The Patient Financial Services Department will send statements for payment of balances due from the patient (either self-pay balances or amounts owed after insurance payments). You will receive five billing statements, and we will attempt to contact you by phone over a 130-day period to obtain a payment or to make payment arrangements. If payment is not made in full, or payment arrangements are not established during this period, the account will be placed with a collection agency. If you need an itemized statement, you can get one by calling our Patient Financial Services Department at 843-522-5150 or toll free at 855-852-0456.

Self-Pay Billing Discount Policy

All patients with no form of insurance who do not otherwise qualify for the above programs (self-pay patients) will be given a 40 percent discount on their total hospital bill.

Medicare

This hospital is an approved Medicare provider. All services billed to Medicare follow federal guidelines and procedures. Medicare has a COB clause. At the time of service, you will be asked to answer questions to help determine the primary insurance carrier paying for your visit. This is referred to as an MSP Questionnaire and is required by federal law. Your assistance in providing accurate information will allow us to bill the correct insurance company.

Self-administrable drugs (SADs) are excluded from Medicare coverage. Your secondary insurance may or may not pay for these noncovered SAD charges. Medicare deductibles and coinsurance are covered by your secondary insurance. If you do not have secondary insurance, or if your secondary insurance does not pay these amounts, you will be asked to pay or establish a payment plan. If you are unable to pay these amounts, we will help you determine if you qualify for a state-funded program or financial assistance.

S.C. Medicaid Members

South Carolina Medicaid coverage must be renewed every year. To maintain your coverage, make sure your contact information is correct and that you complete and return the annual review form when you receive it in the mail. Visit BeaufortMemorial.org/Medicaid for more information.

Commercial Insurance

As a service to you, our customer, we will forward a claim to your commercial insurance carrier based on the information you provide at the time of registration. It is very important for you to provide all related information, such as policy number, group number and the correct mailing address for your insurance company.

Let Us Help With Your Health Care Costs

We are committed to providing financial assistance for our patients who need help covering their bills. We will qualify patients who are eligible for the following programs:

• Medicaid
• Crime Victim’s Assistance
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Best Chance Network

BMH Financial Assistance Program

If you do not qualify for assistance but are either uninsured or underinsured, you may qualify for a discount on your balance after insurance has paid. If you think you might need financial assistance with your hospital bill, please contact our Patient Financial Services Department at 843-522-5150 or toll free at 855-852-0456. You may obtain a financial assistance application by mail or at BeaufortMemorial.org/FinancialAssistance. We are happy to work with you.

Uninsured?

If you are in need of assistance with your hospital bill, you can contact Hospital Financial Counseling at 843-522-5150 or toll free at 855-852-0456. 

MDsave

Lower out-of-pocket health expenses.

If you have a high-deductible health plan or are uninsured, you can purchase procedures, services and primary care visits online and save up to 60 percent on your care. Visit BeaufortMemorial.org/MDSave.