Thank you for choosing Abbeville Area Medical Center for your healthcare needs! Our Business Office Staff is available from 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday to answer your questions and concerns. For your convenience, payments can be taken by any registrar located in front lobby of the main hospital. If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to call. If you would like a copy of your bill, we’ll be happy to send you one. We will return phone messages within 24 hours.
Billing Inquiry Phone Number:
(864) 366-2070
Please send billing payments & inquires to:
Abbeville Area Medical Center
Post Office 887
Abbeville, SC 29620
Billing
It’s always a good idea to make sure that you know the terms of your insurance coverage. This will help you understand the hospital’s billing procedures and charges. If we have a question about your insurance coverage, a Financial Counselor will contact you or a member of your family while you are here if information is needed to process your claims.
If You Have Health Insurance…
We will need a copy of your identification card. We may also need the insurance forms, which are supplied by your employer or the insurance company. You will be asked to assign benefits from the insurance company directly to the hospital.
Your plan may have special requirements, such as a second surgical opinion or pre-certification for certain tests or procedures. It is your responsibility to make sure the requirements of your plan have been met. If your plan’s requirements are not followed, you may be financially responsible for all or part of the services rendered in the hospital. Some physician specialists may not participate in your healthcare plan and their services may not be covered.
Our staff will file a claim with your insurance company as soon as possible following your discharge. Follow-up will begin 30-days after the claim is submitted. We will give all necessary information to your insurance company so that they can decide whether or not they will pay for your claim. You will be expected to make full payment of the account balance if insurance fails to pay timely or denies payment, and of your self-pay portion.
If You Are Covered by Medicare…
We will need a copy of your Medicare card to verify eligibility and process your Medicare claim. You should be aware that the Medicare program specifically will not pay for certain items and services, such as cosmetic surgery, routine services, and personal comfort items. Certain outpatient diagnostic tests are only covered by Medicare when the ordering physician reason for the test meets Medicare’s definition of medical necessity. Deductibles and co-payments also are the responsibility of the patient.
If You Are Covered by Medicaid…
We will need a copy of your Medicaid card. Medicaid also will not pay for certain services. Please contact your case manager for specifics about the services for which Medicaid will and will not pay.
If you have applied for Medicaid, you will need to sign a “promissory note” or a “patient financial information” letter that states you will pay your bill should your card not be approved. Please inform the hospital of the date you applied for Medicaid.
Your Hospital Bill
The hospital will submit bills to your insurance company and will do everything possible to speed the processing of your claim. However, you should remember that your policy is a contract between you and your insurance company and you have the final responsibility for payment of your bill. We have several payment options available to assist you in paying your bill.
Your bill reflects all of the services you receive during any hospital stay or for any outpatient services. You may have certain tests or treatments in the hospital and may receive a bill from physicians you did not see in person. These bills are for the professional services these doctors performed while you were a patient—i.e.: diagnosis of your problem and interpretation of your test results.
If You Have No Insurance...
If you do not have insurance, you will be expected to make a payment or payment arrangements through the Business Office prior to registration unless the treatment is an emergency. You will need to sign a “promissory note” and/or a “patient financial information” letter that states you will pay your bill should your card not be approved. Otherwise, your registration may be postponed in cooperation with your physician.
At Abbeville Area Medical Center, a financial counselor is on staff to confidentially discuss payment arrangements with you or a member of your family. We will assist you in applying for other health insurance options such as Affordable Care, Medicaid and Charity. We accept cash, check, or credit card including Mastercard, Visa, Discover, or American Express.
Workers Compensation/Auto Accidents…
Claims made for auto accidents or accidents at work can be accepted and billed only if the company or
the insurance carrier guarantees payment. If a lawsuit is pending, the patient must assume the financial
responsibility and make payment to the hospital prior to the settlement of the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an EOB?
It’s an Explanation of Benefits. It shows how your insurance company processed your claim. It contains information such as co-pays, deductibles or non-covered services. EOBs should be kept for future reference.
Which insurance plans are accepted by Abbeville Area Medical Center
Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross, Blue Cross State, Humana Tricare (Retirees), Aetna and various other insurances are accepted at AAMC. We will bill any insurance, regardless of participation. However, if your insurance isn’t normally accepted at AAMC, your co-payments and deductibles may be larger than at a participating facility. Note: There may be differences in insurance participation between your doctor and the hospital.
Why didn't insurance pay?
It could be that your medical situation didn’t meet your insurance company’s definition of “medical necessity.” The reason could also be that the medical care you received wasn’t a benefit of your insurance plan. Often the insurance company will use a “non-emergent condition” as a reason for not paying. Your EOB should provide more specific answers to this question.
Why does it take so long to get a statement showing what I owe?
A statement is not generated until all of your insurance companies have responded or made payments. In extreme cases, it may take up to a year for their response.
Why do I get questionnaires from my insurance companies?
Insurance companies may need to gather additional information from policy holders before processing payments. Therefore, these questionnaires should be filled out and returned promptly to your insurance company.
If I owe the hospital money, what assistance is available?
AAMC offers several payment options based on patient need. Please call our Financial Counselor at (864) 366-5011 for information.
Why doesn’t Medicare pay for some drugs for my outpatient service?
This is a congressionally mandated law. (See your Medicare handbook for details.)
When I am getting services at AAMC why am I getting bills from other providers?
In order to provide our patients with excellent healthcare, certain services (such as lab work and x-rays, for example) may need interpretations and/or assistance from outside providers.
How do I know if my services require prior authorization?
Some procedures will not be paid by your insurance company if you do not receive permission to have them in advance. Please refer to your insurance handbook to learn how your company handles this type of situation, or call the number listed on the back of your insurance card.
Financial Policy
Charity Care/Financial Assistance Requirements
Abbeville Area Medical Center will provide services at a reduced rate to patients who meet the financial requirements. No one will be denied access to services due to inability to pay; and there is a discounted/sliding fee schedule available based on family size and income only. No other factors are used to assess eligibility. Click here to see a copy of our Charity Care Policy. The sliding fee scale follows the federal poverty guidelines. Click here to see the most current federal poverty income guidelines. It is important that you provide us with as much detail as possible about each member of your household, including their income and any additional information that affects your ability to pay. Abbeville Area Medical Center reserves the right to verify any of the information you provide. Click here for a copy of our Financial Assistance Application.
Listed below are the requirements for the financial assistance application:
Proof of Income for You And Everyone In Your Household
This may be provided by pay stubs, a federal income tax return, or declaration letters of disability or social security income. Listed below are examples of types of income. If you do not receive any income, you will be asked to sign a non-income declaration form describing your current living conditions. Click here for a copy of the non-income declaration form.
- Wages from employment, including commissions, tips, bonuses, fees, etc.
- Income from operation of a business
- Payments from Social Security, annuities, insurance policies, retirement funds, pensions, or death benefits
- Disability payments
- Unemployment payments
- Rental income from real or personal property
- Periodic allowances such as alimony, child support, or gifts received from persons not living in the household
- Sales from self-employed resources (any services such as contracting, lawn maintenance, or direct sales companies)
- Any other source of income not named above except for noncash benefits, such as food stamps or housing subsidies. These are not counted as income.
Failure to provide all the required information may cause your application to be delayed and/or denied. If you have any questions regarding how to complete the application, please contact our Patient Advisor to determine eligibility at 864-366-7842.