Heading to the hospital can be stressful enough without worrying about how you’ll pay the bill. At Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts, we make paying your bill as simple and straightforward as possible. This guide will walk you through Mount Auburn’s various payment options, financial assistance programs, and billing resources so you can feel confident and in control when that hospital bill arrives.
An Overview of Mount Auburn Hospital Bill Pay
When it comes to paying your hospital bill, Mount Auburn gives you choices. You can easily pay your bill online through the hospital’s patient portal MyChart. Mail phone, and in-person payments are also accepted. Major credit cards are welcomed, in addition to checks and cash.
For patients without insurance, Mount Auburn provides financial assistance on a case-by-case basis to help cover medical costs. Uninsured patients may qualify for free or discounted care through the hospital’s financial assistance policy.
Mount Auburn Hospital believes in price transparency – letting patients know upfront what healthcare services will cost. That’s why detailed billing statements are provided to help patients understand the charges on their hospital bill.
Paying Your Bill Online Through MyChart
The simplest way to pay your Mount Auburn Hospital bill is through the MyChart online patient portal. After creating a secure MyChart account, you can log in anytime to view your current account balance and pay your bill electronically.
To pay online, just log into your MyChart account, access your eBill statement under the Billing tab, and enter your payment information. Accepted payment methods include debit cards, credit cards, HSA, or FSA cards. It’s a quick, secure process that takes the hassle out of bill pay.
MyChart also allows you to set up recurring payments on a schedule that works for your budget. You can pay a set amount weekly, monthly, or quarterly to gradually pay down your balance over time.
Mail, Phone, and In-Person Payment Options
If you prefer to pay your hospital bill offline, Mount Auburn Hospital accepts payments by mail, phone, and in-person at the Cashier’s Office located in the main hospital lobby.
To pay by mail, send a check or money order payable to Mount Auburn Hospital to:
Mount Auburn Hospital
PO Box 419534
Boston, MA 02241–9534
To pay over the phone, call the hospital’s billing department at 617-655-6849 Monday-Friday 8am-6pm. Major credit and debit cards are accepted.
For in-person payments, visit the Cashier’s Office with your payment. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted.
Financial Assistance for Uninsured Patients
Uninsured or underinsured patients who are unable to pay their medical bills may qualify for financial assistance at Mount Auburn Hospital. The hospital offers free or discounted care based on your family size, income, assets, and medical expenses.
To apply for financial assistance, fill out an application available on the hospital’s website or at the Financial Counseling Office. You’ll need to provide documents verifying income, assets, and Massachusetts residency.
If approved, you may receive fully or partially discounted hospital care. You can reapply if your financial situation changes. Mount Auburn Hospital will not deny emergency treatment based on ability to pay.
Understanding Your Hospital Bill
Even with insurance, hospital bills can be confusing. Mount Auburn Hospital provides billing statements designed to clearly explain the charges on your account.
The statement totals your balance due while itemizing costs for each service, medication, and supply from your hospital visit. Codes and abbreviations are explained in an understandable way.
If you have questions about your bill, call the hospital’s billing department for help. Representatives can explain the charges in detail and answer any other billing questions you may have.
You can also access billing resources on Mount Auburn’s website, including a sample bill and guide for understanding your statement. Knowledge is power when it comes to medical billing.
Take Control of Your Hospital Bill Pay Experience
A trip to the hospital doesn’t need to be followed by financial stress and confusion. By understanding Mount Auburn Hospital’s payment options and billing practices upfront, you can feel informed and empowered when that medical bill arrives.
From online bill pay to financial assistance programs, resources are available to make your hospital billing experience straightforward. Know you have choices when it comes to paying your Mount Auburn medical bills.
How Is Pricing Information Shared?
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires hospitals to provide clear, accessible pricing information about the items and services they provide in two ways:
- Provide information about the rates negotiated with insurance companies for all services and items offered by our hospitals. This information is not an estimate of the costs that you are responsible for paying. The CMS-required hospital charge data files might not be the best tool for patients and families who are comparison shopping between hospitals and health systems for shoppable services. You can find our CMS-required hospital charge data in the treatment cost calculator. Please note: Because of the size of the files, you may need special computer software/speed to open the files.
- Show shoppable services in a consumer-friendly way. CMS defines shoppable services as those that can be scheduled in advance. Hospitals are required to make available a minimum of 300 shoppable services, including a pre-set list of 72 procedures.
Beth Israel Lahey Health offers a consumer-friendly online calculator to estimate the cost of out-of-pocket expenses for common exams, procedures, and tests, including the 300 shoppable services. Patients, can access the estimates calculator here.
For more information about hospital costs, visit CompareCare, a website created by the Commonwealth for consumers to compare costs of medical procedures and quality metrics across Massachusetts.
How Is the CMS-Required Hospital Charge Data File Used?
As required by the federal government (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), we publish information (comprehensive machine-readable files) about the rates negotiated with insurance companies as well as individual gross charge amounts for all services and items offered by our hospitals. These amounts are almost never billed to you or received as payment by a hospital. The amounts are billed to an insurance company, Medicare, or MassHealth. These payers then apply their reimbursement terms or contracted rates to the services billed which is why these rates are also not generally reflective of your out-of-pocket expenses. If you owe a co-payment, co-insurance, or deductible, these too are most often not based on chargemaster amounts, but are based on the payment terms determined by your insurer or government program.
Tour Mount Auburn Hospital’s Bain Birthing Center
How do I view a sample bill from Mount Auburn Hospital?
To view a sample bill from Mount Auburn Hospital, visit our website and learn more about reading and understanding your statement. Mount Auburn Hospital offers secure online bill pay through the MyChart patient portal. Learn more about our billing statements and making online payments.
Does Mount Auburn Hospital pay a bill if I have insurance?
If you have insurance, Mount Auburn Hospital will submit a bill to your insurance plan for the care you received. Any co-payments, deductibles, or other outstanding balances not paid by your insurance company will be billed directly to you.
How do I contact Mount Auburn Hospital?
Visit our Patient Relations Page for additional information regarding patient related issues or concerns. Access contact information for Patient Relations, Media Relations, and other departments at Mount Auburn Hospital. Call the main line at 617-492-3500.
Who accredits Mount Auburn Hospital?
Mount Auburn Hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and a member of the American Hospital Association. Learn about our commitment to safe, high-quality patient experiences for you and your family. Our mission, vision and values are the driving force behind the work we do in our communities.