If you have questions about your insurance coverage or how you intend to pay your bill, please call a Patient Financial Associate at 734.655.3077. We will help you understand the billing process and your financial options.

St. Mary Mercy offers a variety of payment options including cash, check, debit card, and VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express credit cards. We also have a short-term interest free loan program. If you require extended terms, we will assist you in setting up a longer-term loan with very favorable interest rates.

You may be eligible for financial assistance through government or private sources, depending on your illness, nature of your condition, or your financial status. Many sources of financial aid have strict time limits for eligibility, so please let us know as soon as possible if you think you may be eligible for financial aid by calling a customer service representative at 734.655.3077.

Self-pay patients may qualify for free or reduced cost services based on documented financial need. Self-pay patients without financial need may also qualify for discounted services. If you wish to be considered for these programs, please contact our Customer Service Associate Office at 734.655.3077.

For our insured patients, St. Mary Mercy Hospital will submit your bill directly to your insurance company for payment. Any remaining amount after the insurance payment will be billed to your secondary source of insurance coverage, or to you directly. This whole process normally takes about 60 - 90 days.

At any point in your stay, if questions arise about your non-government insurance coverage or eligibility, please call the personnel office at your place of employment. Remember that most contracts are between the subscriber, his/her employer, and the insurance company, however, you, the patient, are ultimately responsible for payment for hospital services. A St. Mary Mercy Hospital Customer Service Associate can be reached at 734.655.3077 to help resolve insurance problems.

Understanding Medicare guidelines and billing can be complicated. If you need assistance with a Medicare-related issue, you can contact the Senior Alliance at 734.722.2830. Trained counselors can answer your questions by telephone or schedule an appointment to meet with you in person. For questions about your Medicare benefits, you may contact the Medicare Beneficiary Inquiry Hotline, at 1.866.804.0686.

Hospital Charges

You hospital room charge includes professional nursing care, bedside meals, housekeeping, laundry, building maintenance, admitting and medical records. Other charges include: oxygen, drugs, operating room, laboratory, x-ray, and other diagnostic testing, therapy, and obstetrical and therapeutic services. Most physician services are not included in your hospital bill. Your physician's bill will be sent to your home or to your insurance company. You will receive a separate bill for radiology, anesthesia and some cardiovascular interpretation services.
If you, your family, or your physician request any services provided by an outside agency (patient sitter, aide, or private duty nurse), those personnel are not employees of the hospital. Financial arrangements for their services must be made separately and paid directly to their agency.

We want to assure you, at all times, the state of your health is our major concern. You will not be discharged until your doctor decides you are medically ready. If you are in need of further information about hospital and patient responsibilities under Medicare, please refer to the Medicare information sheet you received upon admission.

Medicare Counseling

Understanding Medicare guidelines and billing can be complicated. If you need assistance with a Medicare-related issue, you can contact the Senior Alliance at 734.722.2830. Trained counselors can answer your questions by telephone or schedule an appointment to meet with you in person.

At any point in your stay, if questions arise about your insurance coverage, please call the personnel office at your place of employment. For concerns about Medicare please call 1.800.365.5899. A St. Mary Mercy Hospital patient accounting representative can be reached at 734.655.1263 to help resolve additional insurance problems.

To protect yourself from unexpected hospital bills, St. Mary Mercy Hospital offers the following suggestions:

• Stay in the hospital only as long as your doctor thinks it is necessary.
• Talk with your physician about having any diagnostic tests you may need performed on an outpatient basis. This may save you out-of-pocket costs since not all diagnostic tests are automatically covered by medical insurance.
• Make plans in advance if you will need special care after you leave the hospital.
• Take the time to understand your medical coverage. Remember that your policy is a contract between you and your insurance company, and you have final responsibility for payment of your hospital bill.
• Keep everything you receive from St. Mary Mercy Hospital or your insurance provider for easy reference.

Most insurance plans send an "Explanation of Benefits" related to your visit. Do not throw it away. Many times this item alone will help to resolve a payment dispute.