Payment for medical services is requested at the time services are rendered. Phoebe provides many alternatives for patients to pay their outstanding balances for medical services provided. These include, but are not limited to cash, personal check, money order, credit card, and long and short-term payment plans. Phoebe Financial Counselors can assist patients in identifying the most appropriate payment option for them. Phoebe accepts American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Insured patients are expected to obtain authorization prior to receiving services, and they may be asked to pay their copayments and deductibles at the time of service. Phoebe will process claims with insurance carriers for our patients.
Financial Assistance Quick Links:
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Surprise Billing
Private or Self Pay Patients
Uninsured patients are patients who have no health insurance or third-party payer source to assist with the payment of their hospital bill. Patients who do not have insurance are requested to pay in full at the time of service for inpatient and outpatient treatments. Those who are unable to pay will be referred to a Phoebe Financial Counselor who can help in making financial arrangements for the balance of charges. These patients may be eligible for prompt pay discounts, other discounts or free/charity care.
Free and Charity Care
Phoebe is a not-for-profit healthcare organization that treats patients who come to us for medically necessary care, regardless of ability to pay. We offer free or discounted care and catastrophic discounts to eligible patients who are unable to pay their bills regardless of insurance status.
Phoebe Financial Assistance – Patients can apply for free or reduced-cost care before medically necessary services are rendered. Patients can apply at the hospital or by making an appointment with a representative at 229-312-4220 or toll free 1-866-514-0015.
- Free care is available to qualified patients whose family income is at or below 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
- Charity or discounted fees are available to qualified patients whose family income is between 126 and 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
- Catastrophic discount is available to qualified patients whose bill exceeds 25 percent of their gross annual income. The amount of the discount varies between 25 and 100 percent of the patient’s portion of the bill.
Requesting Financial Assistance
To be considered for financial assistance, the patient (or their family representative) must complete an application and provide information that supports their financial need.
When Phoebe reviews the application, we consider:
- Whether all means of payment – such as private insurance coverage, or coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, or other government programs – have been exhausted.
- The patient's family income.
- Other circumstances or resources that may affect the patient's ability to pay for care.
- Whether the patient lives in a community served by Phoebe, and if the necessary care is not available in the patient’s community.
Payment Plans Patient account balances are due upon receipt. Patients may elect to make payment arrangements for their hospital bill. The payment plan must be agreed upon before the Phoebe Business Office can accept payment arrangements that allow patients to pay their hospital bills over time. These arrangements are interest-free for patients who meet their monthly responsibilities.
Collections Accounts are considered delinquent after 120 days of inactivity on the part of the patient to remit payment or to contact a Financial Counselor or the Business Office to make payment arrangements or apply for assistance.
Phoebe Facilities Included in Financial Assistant Policy:
- Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Main Campus
- Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, North Campus
- Phoebe Sumter Medical Center
- Phoebe Worth Medical Center
- Phoebe Physicians – Emergency Medicine
- Phoebe Physicians – Hematology/Oncology
- Phoebe Home Health
For Emergent, Medically Necessary Services Including:
- Behavioral Health
- Cancer Care
- Diagnostics
- Emergency Care
- Gastroenterology
- Heart and Vascular
- Inpatient Care
- Orthopaedics
- Stroke Treatment
- Surgery
- Urgent Care
- Women’s and Children’s
- Wound Care
Amount Generally Billed
Amounts Generally Billed (AGB) means the amounts generally billed for emergency or other medically necessary care to individuals who have insurance covering such care, determined in accordance with §1.501(r)-5(b). AGB is determined by dividing the sum of claims paid the previous fiscal year by Medicare fee-for-service and all private health insurance, including payments received from beneficiaries and insured patients, by the sum of the associated gross charges for those claims. In addition, you will never be required to make advanced payment or other payment arrangements in order to receive emergency services.
Patients who need assistance should call the Phoebe Financial Counseling Department at 229-312-4220 or toll free 1-866-514-0015. You can also view the Financial Assistance Policy here and for more information.