Pricing FAQs
Allegiance Health is committed to helping answer your questions regarding insurance, billing and pricing. Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions that will assist in providing you with basic information. If you have specific questions that are not addressed here, please call: (517) 788-4920.
Insurance Questions
Questions about my bill
Other Questions
Answers
Is the amount I owe the same if I have health insurance?
The amount you owe depends on the benefit plan from your health insurance company. If you have health insurance, you should contact your insurance company directly to understand what your financial obligation will be. You may be asked to provide a procedure code (CPT), which can be obtained from your physician's office. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes are five-digit codes used by all hospitals, physicians and insurance companies to identify a specific type of service or procedure.
What amount do I owe if I do not have insurance?
We encourage uninsured patients to contact Patient Billing at (517) 788-4920 to see if they qualify for Medicaid, Medicare or any other type of financial assistance. Allegiance Health provides care to anyone who comes to us, regardless of their ability to pay. We have financial assistance programs that use the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines and State of Michigan Exempt Assets guidelines to see if patients can qualify for discounts. We encourage anyone with questions about the hospital bill to call our financial counselors in Patient Financial Services.
How much is my copay/coinsurance/deductible?
If you have health insurance and would like to know the amount of any copays, please contact your health insurance company directly.
Who will bill my insurance?
Allegiance Health will bill your insurance company if you have given them the correct insurance information.
What are "other" charges?
In addition to your hospital charges, you will receive other bills for physician's fees from your surgeon, anesthesiologist, pathologist or radiologist. Please contact those offices directly for charge information.
- Anesthesiology: Anesthesia Associates, PC - (800) 303-7639
- Radiology (test interpretation): Jackson Radiology Consultants, PC - (517) 783-2612
- Pathology (lab test interpretation): Jackson Pathology Associates, PC - (800) 678-1861
- Ambulance Service: Jackson County Ambulance (JCA) - (517) 787-4800
- Home Health and Hospice Billing: Lakeland - (616) 428-2355
- Physician Billing: Allegiance Health Employed Physicians -(517) 841-7490
- Surgery: Contact your surgeon's office. If you have not selected a surgeon or need a referral, visit our << Physician Finder >>
How are charges established for services at Allegiance Health?
Charges are subject to change during the year. To establish charges, we consider many factors including:
- the cost of providing staff, equipment, facilities, medications and other supplies
- the amount of time our facilities and staff are involved in providing services
- insurance company contracts
- information provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal agency that manages the Medicare and Medicaid program
Are charges for CT scan, PET scan, mammography, MRI, ultrasound and x-ray procedures also estimated?
Charges for these procedures are fixed rates and are revised annually. There may also be charges for dyes and supplies if a physician determines it is needed for your test. However, the charge provided does not include bills for physician's fees from your surgeon, anesthesiologist, pathologist or radiologist. They will bill you separately for their services. Please contact those offices directly for charge information. The amount you owe may be different if you have health insurance. You should contact your insurance company directly to understand which charges are covered.
- Anesthesiology: Anesthesia Associates, PC - (800) 303-7639
- Radiology (test interpretation): Jackson Radiology Consultants, PC - (517) 783-2612
- Pathology (lab test interpretation): Jackson Pathology Associates, PC - (800) 678-1861
- Ambulance Service: Jackson County Ambulance (JCA) - (517) 787-4800
- Home Health and Hospice Billing: Lakeland - (616) 428-2355
- Physician Billing: Allegiance Health Employed Physicians -(517) 788-4920
- Surgery: Contact your surgeon's office. If you have not selected a surgeon or need a referral, visit our << Physician Finder >>
Why are charges for services at outpatient locations less than charges for services at the hospital?
In some cases, tests or procedures can be performed in the hospital or at the Allegiance Surgery Center. It costs less and can be more convenient to provide services in an outpatient setting. For this reason, the charges usually are less when there is an outpatient option.
Where can I get answers to questions about my bills from Allegiance Health?
Please contact Patient Billing at (517) 788-4920
How much do I really owe?
After your insurance company has reviewed your hospital bill and paid or denied their portion (a process that can take several months), the hospital will bill you for your part of the bill. Your hospital bill will show charges for whatever your insurance does not pay. Most insurance plans require patients to pay part of their hospital bill. If you have questions about your insurance, please contact your insurance company.
What if I cannot pay my bill?
Hospitals have ways to help their patients. If you need help, please call the hospital billing office at (517) 788-4920. Among the ways hospitals can help are:
- Insurance Programs: Hospitals can help you apply for public insurance programs such as Medicaid and Basic Health. These programs may help you with your current bill and will help you pay for health needs in the future.
- Payment Plans: If you need to pay your bill over time, we can usually help you set up an appropriate payment plan.
- More about our Financial Assistance Program
Why did I receive a separate lab, doctor, or ambulance bill?
Many doctors, ambulance companies, and labs are separate businesses from Allegiance Health and have their own billing and account procedures.
Why did I receive a bill from a doctor I did not see?
Hospitals often consult with specialized doctors as part of caring for patients. Often these specialists are sent items such as lab tests or X-rays for their expert review. You will receive a bill directly from those doctors for their work.
How to get an itemized bill?
Call the Allegiance Health Business Office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (517) 788-4920.
Where can I get information on the quality of healthcare at Allegiance Health?
We believe better informed consumers make better informed decisions. Allegiance Health has a comprehensive quality program and reports clinical quality data on our Web site. Our quality report cards can assist you in making the best decisions about your health care. This information is updated and expanded on a regular basis.
How can I determine the overall value of services at Allegiance Health?
Healthcare value refers to a combination of quality and cost. Allegiance Health strives to continually provide high quality care that is efficient and cost-effective.
Why does hospital care cost so much?
The answer is complex. As with any business, hospitals must attempt to cover their expenses by charging for their services. But with hospitals the cost of providing services includes many necessary and costly items that do not readily come to mind when most of us think about our care. We take it for granted that the hospital is there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Likewise, we have come to expect that hospitals will have all of the latest technology that could possibly be needed for our care. And we expect that the people caring for us are highly trained, highly skilled professionals. Finally, although we seldom think about it, the health care world is unique in that those who can pay for the services they use are asked to help pay for the care of others who cannot or will not pay.