Paying Your Bill at American Family Care Clinics: An In-Depth Guide

Welcome to my in-depth guide on paying your medical bill at American Family Care clinics! As someone who has visited these convenient care clinics numerous times, I want to share everything you need to know to easily and affordably take care of your bill. Grab a coffee and let’s get started!

Overview of American Family Care

For those who aren’t familiar American Family Care (AFC) is a national network of urgent care and primary care clinics found in over 200 locations across 25 states. They provide walk-in treatment for illnesses, injuries and more. Most visits range from $59 to $179, which makes them an affordable option compared to the ER.

One thing that makes AFC unique is that they focus on billing and collecting payments from patients. They aim to eliminate surprises through price transparency and flexible payment options. These goals are similar to what I’ve done in the past, so I’m excited to learn how AFC bill payment works.

Checking In For Your Appointment

When you arrive for your appointment, you’ll first check in at the front desk Here, the staff will ask for your insurance card and photo ID

If it’s your first time visiting that AFC location, you’ll fill out a short medical history form. This helps the provider understand your health background.

Once you provide this info, the check-in process is complete. You’ll then wait until a staff member calls your name to be seen.

Receiving Care From the Provider

When the doctor calls you back, they will talk about your symptoms, do an exam, and decide what treatment is best for you.

Any on-site testing or procedures will also be conducted during your visit. For example, you may receive an X-ray, breathing treatment, laceration repair, and more.

Once the provider has all the information they need, they will finalize their diagnosis and treatment plan. The checkout process happens next.

Checking Out and Getting Your Bill

After your appointment, a staff member will take you to the checkout desk. Here, they can provide you with a printed itemized bill for your visit.

This statement will list all the services rendered and associated charges. It will also show any estimated insurance coverage amounts.

If you have questions about the bill at checkout, you can ask the staff before leaving. They aim to provide complete transparency upfront.

Paying Your Bill

Now let’s get to the payment portion – arguably the most important part of the process!

AFC offers several payment options to make this easy. The checkout staff will explain which options work for your situation. Here are some of the most common:

Pay the Full Amount

If you can pay the full bill on the day of service, AFC accepts:

• Cash
• Check
• Credit/debit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express)

Pay a Copay

If you have insurance, you may only owe a copay at your visit. This is a set fee you pay upfront for healthcare services, often $10-$50.

Pay Later

For qualified patients, you may be able to pay your bill at a later date. Options include:

• Mailing in a check
• Calling AFC’s billing department to pay over the phone
• Paying online through your AFC account
• Enrolling in a payment plan to split your balance into multiple smaller payments over time

They make it as easy as possible to pay on your own schedule.

Use Insurance

Most AFC clinics accept a wide range of private insurance plans, Medicare, and Medicaid. Be sure to bring your insurance card to every visit.

Depending on your plan, insurance will cover some or all of your treatment costs. However, you will need to pay any applicable deductibles, copays, and coinsurance amounts.

Financial Assistance Programs

AFC offers financial hardship options if you’re unable to afford your bill. These include:

1. Discounts for Uninsured Patients

If you don’t have insurance, you may qualify for a 30% discount off the total charges.

2. Payment Plans

Their flexible monthly payment plans spread your balance over an extended period. You can enroll at checkout or through the billing department.

3. Charity Care

If your income falls under 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, you may qualify for reduced-cost or even free care through their charity care program.

Discuss these options with the billing staff if you anticipate difficulties paying your full balance.

Accessing Your Bill

Wondering how to view your bill after your appointment? There are a couple ways:

• Check your AFC patient portal online
• Call or visit any AFC location and ask for a billing statement
• Wait for a paper statement in the mail

I prefer the portal for quick 24/7 access, but any method works!

Paying Your AFC Bill Online

Let’s discuss how to pay online in more detail, since it’s my go-to payment method.

Step 1: Create an Online Account

First, you’ll need to set up a patient portal account at www.americanfamilycare.com. This only takes a few minutes.

You’ll provide some basic information and create unique login credentials. Write these down for future access!

Step 2: Log In to Your Account

Visit the AFC website and enter your username and password at the patient portal login page.

Once logged in, you’ll be brought to your private, secure dashboard.

Step 3: Click “Make a Payment”

On the left side of your dashboard, click the link for “Make a Payment.” This takes you to the payment page.

Step 4: Enter Payment Details

On the payment page, enter your credit/debit card details or bank account info. Then specify the amount you’d like to pay towards your balance.

Double check that all information entered is correct before submitting!

Step 5: Get a Receipt

After clicking submit, you’ll receive an on-screen payment confirmation with a receipt that can be printed or saved.

And that’s it – you’ve now paid your bill online with AFC! The process is very quick and user-friendly.

Questions About Your Medical Bill?

For billing questions, the AFC staff encourages you to call 1-800-717-0695.

Their dedicated billing team can explain charges, verify insurance coverage, set up payment plans, check payment status, and more.

You can also stop by the clinic checkout desk or email questions to [email protected]. The friendly staff is happy to assist!

Avoiding Bill Surprises

To recap, AFC’s bill paying process aims to provide transparency and eliminate surprises. But you can also take measures to better understand costs:

• Call ahead about pricing for common services
• Check with your insurance to confirm coverage
• Review your bill closely before leaving the clinic
• Speak up immediately if you spot any errors or have questions

This will give you confidence when paying your bill!

Closing Thoughts

Plus, their financial assistance programs ensure access to care for all – regardless of insurance coverage or economic status.

So next time you need convenient, quality care at one of their clinics, you can feel at ease knowing AFC will clearly communicate what you owe and provide plenty of payment options. Thanks for reading – now go forth and take care of that bill!