A message regarding potential network disruption for patients with Aetna insurance.
Insurance Information
Thank you for choosing Baptist Health for your health care needs. We are pleased to provide our patients with this projected estimate option which will help plan for health services at Baptist Health. Below are some common questions about the projected estimate for service feature.
Baptist Health is proud to provide services for those covered in a wide array of health plans including those underwritten or supported by:
Commercial
- Aetna (please click here for important information regarding coverage)
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (including Arkansas FirstSource PPO)
- Arkansas Municipal League (Municipal Health Benefit Fund)
- CIGNA
- Employers Health Network (EHN) (includes Baptist Health Employee Plan administered by WebTPA)
- Health Advantage
- HealthChoice of Oklahoma
- Healthlink of Arkansas
- Multiplan
- QualChoice
- UnitedHealthcare (includes HealthScope)
- Vantos Health Plan
- Zelis
ARHome (formerly AR Works)/Federal Exchange Insurance Plans
- Blue Cross Blue Shield – Exchange
- Ambetter – Exchange
Medicare Advantage
- Aetna – Medicare Advantage (please click here for important information regarding coverage)
- Arkansas Integrated Providers (includes Tribute MA Plans)
- Blue Cross Blue Shield – Medicare Advantage
- Essence – Medicare Advantage
- Humana – Medicare Advantage
- UnitedHealthcare – Medicare Advantage
- Wellcare – Medicare Advantage
Arkansas PASSE Program
- Arkansas Total Care
- CareSource PASSE
- Empower Healthcare Solutions
- Summit Community Care
TriCare / VA
- TriCare (TriWest)
- VA CCN (Optum)
Always check with your plan provider to see if you would be in-network before making a choice for hospital services.
During your pre-registration process, a Baptist Health associate will verify your insurance policy information to determine what your plan covers, how much deductible remains to be paid under your plan, and how much co-pay or co-insurance you are responsible for. This information is then applied to the anticipated cost of your scheduled procedure to calculate an estimated amount that you will owe the hospital.
The estimated charges are based on average hospital charges for patients admitted with similar diagnoses and are for the actual cost of your hospitalization, including room charges, medication, nursing care, meals and other fees directly related to your care. This does not include other statements you may receive from other members of your healthcare team who may participate in your care. These other charges may include your own physician or other physicians such as an anesthesiologist, cardiologist, surgeon, radiologist or pathologist. Any questions about these bills should be directed to those physicians’ offices. If you are uninsured, your obligation will reflect the estimated charges, 74% is off of Hospital charges only.
During your pre-registration or admission process you will be required to pay the difference, if any, between the amount of charges covered by your verified insurance benefits and the estimated charges for your stay. The estimated charges are based on average hospital charges for patients admitted with similar diagnoses and are for the actual cost of your hospitalization, including room charges, medication, nursing care, meals and other fees directly related to your care. This does not include other statements you may receive from other members of your healthcare team who may participate in your care. These other charges may include your own physician or other physicians such as an anesthesiologist, cardiologist, surgeon, radiologist or pathologist. Any questions about these bills should be directed to those physicians’ offices.
If you have insurance, your obligation may include deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance amounts, and services not covered under your policy. If you are uninsured, your obligation will reflect the estimated charges, 74% is off of Hospital charges only.
Your actual final charges may be more or less than the estimate. If they are more, you will receive a bill reflecting those additional charges. If they are less you will promptly be issued a refund. Additionally, if you have outstanding balances from prior visits to a Baptist Health facility, you will also be asked to pay these balances.
If you don’t have health insurance coverage, you will be required to pay a deposit prior to services being rendered. You can contact the admissions department for the hospital you’re going to and they will be able to tell you what the deposit requirement will be, and how you can pay. Baptist Health will accept a number of different payment methods, including cash, checks, money orders, credit and debit cards (including American Express, MasterCard, Visa and Discover), and in some instances, credit card installment plans.
*Note: We will never delay or deny service due to an inability to pay in life-threatening (emergency) situations.
Since 1920, Baptist Health has provided patient-centered services with Christian compassion and personal concern. Consistent with our mission, Baptist Health offers financial assistance to eligible patients. Baptist Health will provide emergency or medically necessary care to individuals regardless of their ability to pay.
Patients without insurance (who do not qualify for any third party or government health benefits) will receive an automatic discount of 74% off their Hospital billed charges only.
This discount will be taken before a patient’s billing statement is sent. Questions about the uninsured discount should be directed to Patient Financial Services at (501) 202-3900.
For insured or non-insured, additional financial assistance discounts are available on a sliding scale based upon income levels of the current Federal Income Poverty Guidelines. Up to 100% of billed charges may be provided based on completion and evaluation of an Application for Financial Assistance, with required supporting documentation. Financial need does not consider age, gender, race, social or immigrant status, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Baptist Health will perform an assessment of medical necessity and financial ability, and based on the assessment results, may provide free or discounted care to patients who qualify for financial assistance under this policy. Standard procedures will be followed in determining eligibility.
To be eligible for financial assistance, the following steps must be completed:
- Answer all questions completely
- Sign and date the Application for Financial Assistance
- Attach a copy of all required documentation (see below)
- Return the Application for Financial Assistance with required documentation
Application should be returned to:
Baptist Health Customer Service
11001 Executive Center Drive,
Suite 100 Little Rock, 72211
For questions, please call 501-202-3900.
Required Documentation (as applicable):
- Signed Application for Financial Assistance;
- If applicable: Complete copy of most recent Tax Return with attachments;
- If patient does not file taxes: proof of earnings (check stub, payroll record, or letter from employer);
- If applicable: Proof of disability (Social Security Administration Benefits letter)
- In some cases, additional documentation may be required to determine eligibility
Patients who do not provide the requested information may not be eligible for financial assistance. In addition, patients seeking financial assistance are expected to cooperate with any efforts to secure other healthcare coverage prior to financial assistance determination. Applicants of all ages are eligible for financial assistance.
This policy applies to all emergency and medically necessary care provided by the hospital, including, all such care provided in the hospital facility by a substantially related entity. The policy does not apply to physicians, Radiology Consultants, Pathology Labs of Arkansas, or any other outside services.
If you believe you may be eligible for financial assistance, please ask your Admissions Representative for an application. The application can also be requested:
By phone: Patient Financial Services at (501) 202-3900
In writing: Patient Financial Aid Office
11001 Executive Center Drive,
Suite 100 Little Rock, 72211
Your insurance company may require prior-authorization or pre-certification for treatment. Please discuss this in advance with your physician and contact your insurance company to ensure treatment coverage. Your physician may provide this service for you. In some cases, insurance plans will not pay for hospital costs if patients do not pre-certify before coming to the hospital. In this case, you could be liable for that entire expense. Be sure to follow the terms of your plan. Contact your employer or insurance company with any specific questions about what is or is not covered by your insurance plan. Our filing of claims with your insurance company does not guarantee coverage or payment.
Medicaid requires most services to be authorized by the patient’s Primary Care Physician. Therefore, in addition to the pre-certification, Medicaid requires a referral from your Primary Care Physician before the hospital is reimbursed for services it provides you.
Besides anything your physician has asked you to bring in, please have your insurance card(s) and any other documents that will be useful for the registration and billing process. We will need to copy them so they can be part of the billing record for your stay in the hospital. Please also bring in a photo ID such as a driver’s license and ensure the name on your photo ID matches the name on your insurance card. Additionally, if you did not pay your deposit during your pre-registration process, please make sure you have cash, a check or credit/debit card to pay the amount discussed with you during your pre-registration process.
If you have additional questions regarding the registration process, please contact the admissions department of the facility where you will be having your services. The Admissions department phone numbers are as follows:
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock: (501) 202-6769
- Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock: (501) 202-6769
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia: (870) 245-1210
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway: (501) 585-2020
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Heber Springs: (501) 887-3252
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart: (870) 673-3511
- Baptist Health Extended Care Hospital: (501) 202-1090
- Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute: (501) 202-7011
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Spring County: (501) 332-7024
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Fort Smith: (479) 441-5367
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Van Buren: (479) 471-4314
If you have additional questions regarding the registration process, please contact the admissions department of the facility where you will be having your services. The Admissions department phone numbers are as follows:
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock: (501) 202-6769
- Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock: (501) 202-6769
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia: (870) 245-1210
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway: (501) 585-2020
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Heber Springs: (501) 887-3252
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart: (870) 673-3511
- Baptist Health Extended Care Hospital: (501) 202-1090
- Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute: (501) 202-7011
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Spring County: (501) 332-7024
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Fort Smith: (479) 441-5367
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Van Buren: (479) 471-4314
Patient Financial Services handles the patient accounts for the following Baptist Health Hospitals:
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock
- Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Heber Springs
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Spring County
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Fort Smith
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Van Buren
- Baptist Health Extended Care Hospital
- Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute
- Baptist Health Therapy Centers
- Baptist Health Breast Centers
- Baptist Health Geriatric Psychiatry-Little Rock
- Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock Rehabilitation Unit
- Parkway Health Center-A Baptist Health Community
Our physician billing services include:
- Baptist Health’s After Hours Pediatric Care
- Physicians
- Any EKG Interpretation Billing for Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock, Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock and the Baptist Health Transplant Office.
Patient Financial Services does not handle billing for:
- Baptist Health Imaging Centers
- Baptist Health Home Health Network
- Baptist Health Home Infusion
- Radiology Consultants
- Medical Labs of Arkansas
- Surgical Pavilion
- Springhill Surgery Center
You can call our Patient Financial Services group at (501) 202-3900. Our office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Be prepared to provide your patient account number found on your bill.
Yes, online bill pay is available. Click here for online bill pay.
Yes, you may pay any of your current hospital bills at any Baptist Health facility.
As a courtesy to you, we will file all hospital-related medical claims with your insurance. Because benefits vary with each insurance plan, we automatically bill the claim for the full amount of the service. In addition, we will be sending you periodic billing statements with messages advising you of the status of your account. If a statement advises you that your insurance has not paid, please assist us in expediting the payment process by calling your insurance company for a claim status. Continual open communications between you and our department will result in quicker claims resolution.
During your visit to the hospital, you may experience a variety of tests, procedures and services. Many of these services are performed by healthcare providers who work in the hospital but bill separately for their services. After your visit, you may receive bills from several different healthcare providers, such as an anesthesiologist, radiologist, pathologist, ER physician, ambulance, CRNA or your physician. Any questions about these other bills should be directed to those physicians’ offices.
Hospitals often consult with specialized doctors as part of their efforts to provide the best care for their patients. Sometimes these specialists are sent items like lab tests or X-rays to help provide their expert review. You will receive a bill directly from those doctors for their work.
We make several attempts to contact you during the normal course of our billing process to let you know what portion of your bill you are personally responsible for. This amount is calculated after we have received payment or denial from your insurance company. Therefore, you may receive letters or calls from a collection agency if, after several attempts to contact you, we have had no response.
