Struggling to Pay Your Medical Bills? Here’s How to Pay Carolina Healthcare System Online

Medical bills can pile up fast leaving you stressed about how to pay them. If you’ve received care from Carolina Health System (now called Atrium Health) but are puzzled over how to pay your bill online this article will walk you through the process step-by-step.

I know first-hand how confusing medical billing can be. When my kid broke his arm last fall the bills from the hospital and surgeons started rolling in…and the amounts made my head spin! Thankfully, Carolina Health has an easy online payment system to handle bills for their facilities across North and South Carolina.

Who Owns Carolina Health System Hospitals and Facilities?

You may be wondering – who exactly owns and runs Carolina Healthcare System nowadays? Well, its a bit complicated:

• In 2016, Carolinas HealthCare System changed their name to Atrium Health. So Carolina Health System, Carolinas Healthcare System, Carolinas HealthCare System, and Atrium Health all refer to the same hospital network.

• They run a ton of hospitals and doctors offices across North Carolina and South Carolina. Some of their major hospitals includes Carolinas Medical Center, Levine Children’s Hospital, several Methodist Hospitals and more.

Basically if you received any medical care at an Atrium Health hospital or facility in the Carolinas, you can pay that bill online through their payment portal.

When to Expect a Bill from Carolina Health

Wondering when you’ll get that dreaded medical bill in the mail after a hospital visit? Here’s a general timeline:

• Same day as your visit: You’ll typically get a summary bill for your portion of costs before you leave the hospital. This isn’t the full bill though.

• 1-3 months after visit: The full detailed bill will arrive in your mailbox with all charges and adjustments. This is the actual bill you need to pay.

• Multiple bills: You may receive multiple bills if you saw multiple providers during your visit. For example, a separate bill from the hospital facility, as well as the ER doctor group and radiologist who reads your scans. Joy!

So don’t panic when you get that first summary bill. Wait for the full bill to know exactly what you owe.

When Do Medical Bills Become Delinquent?

If you just throw that medical bill on a pile on your kitchen counter and forget about it, when will it become delinquent? Here’s the late payment timeline:

• 30 days late: If unpaid 30 days after the initial bill is sent, it is technically late, although usually there are no late fees yet.

• 60 days late: At 60 days without payment, late fees start getting tacked on. The overdue account also gets reported to credit agencies, harming your credit score.

• 90-120 days late: At the 3-4 month mark without payment, the account gets flagged as severely delinquent and may get sent to a debt collection agency. This does even more damage to your credit score.

So in a nutshell – don’t ignore those medical bills! Take action to pay promptly, or call the billing office if you need to set up a payment plan.

How Do I Pay Atrium Health (Formerly Carolina Health) Online?

Ready to finally pay that medical bill? Here are the two ways to pay a Carolina Health or Atrium Health bill online in just a few minutes:

Option 1) Use the MyAtriumHealth Patient Portal

1. Go to the MyAtriumHealth patient portal website: https://my.atriumhealth.org/MyAtriumHealth/

2. Click on “Billing” in the top menu

3. Select “Guest Pay” then “Pay As Guest”

4. Enter details from your medical bill and choose a payment method to pay. Done!

This patient portal allows you to view all your bills from Atrium Health facilities in one place and pay them online.

Option 2) Use the Atrium Employer Bill Pay Site

Maybe your medical bills are associated with your employer’s health insurance plan, rather than your personal insurance. In that case, use this bill pay website:

https://employerbillpay.carolinashealthcare.org/

The process is almost identical:

1. Enter identifying info from your bill
2. Select a payment method
3. Submit payment

Easy as pie! No need to mail checks or sit on hold with the billing department.

Payment Plan Options from Carolina Healthcare

If you get that medical bill but don’t have hundreds or thousands of dollars to pay it all at once, don’t panic! Atrium Health offers interest-free payment plans to break it down into smaller monthly payments.

Here are some details on arranging a manageable payment plan:

• Call the number on your bill to speak with the billing department
• Discuss your financial situation and monthly budget honestly
• Payment plans can give you 6-24 months to pay the full balance
• Payments as low as $50-100/month may be accepted

As long as you pay each monthly payment on time, it won’t be sent to collections or impact your credit score. And no sneaky interest charges!

Financial Assistance for Unpaid Carolina Health Bills

If you simply can’t afford to pay off your full balance – even on a payment plan – Atrium Health does offer financial assistance programs to patients based on financial need.

Here are some options to explore:

• Charity care program – If eligible, some or all of your bill may be forgiven
• Uninsured patient discounts – Uninsured get 40% off their bill automatically
• Government program help – Counselors can assist with applying for Medicaid or other gov assistance programs for those who qualify

To determine if you’re eligible for these or other financial assistance programs, you’ll need to complete an application with details on your financial situation, assets, expenses, etc. The counselors can guide you through the process.

The bottomline is – don’t ignore unpaid medical bills – take action! Use the bill pay websites to pay online, set up a monthly payment plan, or apply for financial assistance. Your wallet and your credit score with thank you down the road. Reach out with any other medical billing questions in the comments section below!