Patient Financial Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Scott & White accept my insurance?
We will submit a claim to your insurance company provided you have assigned payment of benefits to Scott & White. What needs to be determined is whether or not your insurance carrier will authorize and pay for care delivered by Scott & White. Please note, it is ultimately the patient’s responsibility to verify benefits and attain any required pre-certification or pre-authorization from their insurance carrier.

What is TRICARE For Life?
TRICARE for Life is a new, permanent, program offered to United States Armed Services retirees and their eligible dependents who are over age 65 and who are also eligible and participating in Medicare Part A and Part B.

Read more (pdf) about how Scott & White participates.

Why do I have a hospital charge when I was seen in the clinic only?
The main clinic facility located in Bell County became an outpatient department of Scott & White Hospital as part of our reorganization in the Fall of 2000. Scott & White Hospital is responsible for the administrative and facility costs of this practice. Therefore, the bill you receive for services rendered at this facility will include both a professional fee (to cover the costs of the services provided by the physician and other professional personnel) and a facility fee (to cover the costs of maintaining the facility, equipment, support staff, etc.).

What does it mean when an insurance company reimburses Scott & White their “reasonable and customary” rate?
Reasonable and customary (or Usual and customary) – Commonly charged fees for health services in a certain area. The use of fee screens to determine the lowest value of provider reimbursement based on:

1. The provider’s usual charge for a given procedure
2. The amount customarily charged for the service by other providers in the area
3. The reasonable cost of services for a given patient after medical review of the case

Most health plans provide reimbursement for reasonable and customary charges, although no universal formula has been established for these rates.

What are the Medicare Deductibles?
Information on Medicare deductibles and other Medicare beneficiary information, such as name changes, is available at www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-Medicare.

Why are personal payments sent to a Dallas, Texas address when Scott & White is located in Temple, Texas?
In order to optimize automated payment posting technology, Scott & White utilizes a payment processing center which is located in Dallas.

Why are today's healthcare prices so high?
Scott & White is a multi-specialty, teaching facility who strives to provide the very best medical care utilizing the latest technology. Our fee schedules reflect the cost of delivering the level of healthcare that our patients desire and deserve. Our prices are simply driven by the increasing costs associated with delivering this high quality healthcare.

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