As a parent, you want the best medical care for your child. Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City provides top-ranked pediatric care. This guide covers everything you need to know about receiving and paying your Children’s Mercy bill.
Overview of Children’s Mercy
Children’s Mercy is a leading pediatric hospital and Level I Trauma Center in the Midwest. It offers comprehensive care across more than 40 pediatric specialties serving over 400000 patients annually.
Key facts about Children’s Mercy:
- Nonprofit, independent children’s hospital founded in 1897
- Ranked among the top children’s hospitals nationally by U.S. News & World Report
- Magnet-designated hospital for nursing excellence
- Associated with the UMKC School of Medicine
- Main campus in downtown Kansas City, MO plus dozens of specialty clinics
- Affiliated with over 500 primary care pediatricians and specialists
- Serves children from birth through age 21 across a 150,000 square mile region
Children’s Mercy provides advanced medicine paired with family-centered care Their expert team diagnoses and treats a wide range of pediatric conditions
Getting Care at Children’s Mercy
There are a few ways to access medical services at Children’s Mercy:
Primary Care Clinic Visit – Schedule a well-child checkup or sick visit at one of Children’s Mercy’s primary care clinics. You’ll see your pediatrician for routine health maintenance and minor illnesses/injuries.
Specialty Clinic Visit – Get a referral to see a Children’s Mercy specialist for care of chronic conditions like asthma, cancer, heart defects, neurologic disorders, and more. There are dozens of specialty clinics.
Urgent Care Visit – Check in to an urgent care clinic for immediate care of injuries or illnesses like fever, vomiting, fractures, cuts, and sprains. No appointment needed.
Emergency Department Visit – For critical emergencies, go directly to the Children’s Mercy ER which provides 24/7 trauma and intensive care. Call 911 or take your child to the ER for severe symptoms like trouble breathing, head injuries, heavy bleeding, seizures, and more.
Children’s Mercy has facilities across the Kansas City metro area to provide convenient access to pediatric specialists.
Health Insurance Coverage
The Children’s Mercy financial counselors can assist you in understanding your health insurance coverage and benefits. Be sure to bring your insurance card to all appointments.
Children’s Mercy accepts most major insurance plans including:
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
- Humana
- Medicaid
- Tricare
- UnitedHealthcare
Notify the hospital of any changes to your insurance coverage so billing is accurate. You’ll need to pay any copays or deductibles at the time of your visit.
For uninsured families, Children’s Mercy can screen you for Medicaid eligibility or provide options like their Family Assistance Program. Discuss any financial concerns upfront so care is not delayed.
Receiving Your Children’s Mercy Bill
You’ll receive a separate bill from Children’s Mercy for any facility, provider, lab, or imaging services during your child’s visit or hospital stay.
- Bills are mailed monthly as services are provided
- Statements include detailed charges and insurance adjustments
- Online account access lets you view bills digitally
Expect multiple bills if you see various specialists or departments. Each bill should be paid separately based on the instructions provided.
Review your Children’s Mercy bills closely and contact their billing department with any discrepancies or questions. Provide updated insurance or demographic details if needed.
Online Account and Bill Pay
The easiest way to manage your Children’s Mercy bills is through an online patient account. Set up an account at MyChildren’sMercy to:
- View and download bills
- Make one-time payments
- Enroll in a payment plan
- Store insurance and payment information
- Update account details
- Send messages to the billing department
Online bill pay provides 24/7 access and convenience. After creating an account, you can check your balance and make payments online anytime.
Payment Plan Options
If you can’t pay your full Children’s Mercy bill at once, you can arrange an extended payment plan.
Payment plan options include:
- 3-month plan – Split balance evenly over 3 months
- 6-month plan – Split balance evenly over 6 months
- No-interest plans – Monthly payments over 6-24 months
To request a bill payment plan, call the Children’s Mercy billing department at 816-234-3000 or set it up through your online account. This allows you to pay over time while keeping your account in good standing.
Hospital Financial Assistance
Children’s Mercy offers financial assistance programs to help families struggling to pay medical bills:
Family Assistance Program – If you’re uninsured or underinsured, this provides discounted care based on your income level and family size.
Mercy Medicaid – Staff can screen you for MO or KS Medicaid at the hospital and help apply if you qualify based on income limits.
Charity Care Program – Full charity care may be offered in cases of catastrophic medical debt and very limited financial means.
Talk to a financial counselor about your options for financial assistance. They’ll help ease the medical financial burden for your family.
Avoiding Medical Bill Collections
It’s important to pay your Children’s Mercy bills on time to avoid collections actions:
- Bills are due within 30 days of the statement date
- A $20 late fee applies if unpaid after 30 days
- After 90 days, past-due accounts get referred to an outside collection agency
- Nonpayment can negatively impact your credit score
Payment plans and financial assistance can prevent past-due accounts. Keep your contact details current so you receive bills and calls about outstanding balances.
Questions about Your Children’s Mercy Bill
If you have any questions on your Children’s Mercy statement, call 816-234-3000 to speak with a billing representative. They can explain charges, insurance adjustments, due dates, late fees, and more.
You can also email questions to:
- Patient billing questions: [email protected]
- Hospital billing questions: [email protected]
The Children’s Mercy billing staff is available to provide billing guidance, resolve discrepancies, discuss payment issues, and set up payment arrangements. Contact them promptly with any statement concerns.
Additional Children’s Mercy Financial Resources
Children’s Mercy offers many resources to help you manage the financial aspects of your child’s medical care:
- Price transparency tool for cost estimates
- Directions for submitting insurance claims
- Explanation of billing and insurance terms
- Information on medical financial assistance
- Payment plan and financial counselor contact
Visit the Children’s Mercy website or call 816-234-3000 to learn more about your bill payment options.
At Children’s Mercy Hospital, pediatric care comes first. Their financial counselors work with families on payment solutions so money doesn’t stand in the way of your child getting quality medical treatment.
Viral respiratory illnesses are dropping in KC
Starting April 23, we can now allow more visitors in most inpatient units. Before your visit, please check out the latest departmental guidelines and ensure you are healthy. Thank you!
Thinking about the youth mental health crisis as a whole can be…a lot. One small step can make a big difference for you and your child.
Use our Mental Health Toolkit to decide if a text, phone call, conversation starter, assessment or visit may be right for you. We’re here when you need us – this first step and always.
Make a Difference May
You can make a difference this May! Join together with local businesses and the community to raise funds to support Childrens Mercy kids and families.
Tour Children’s Mercy Kansas City
FAQ
How do I call Children’s Mercy in Kansas City Missouri?
Does Kansas have a children’s hospital?
How many hospital beds does Children’s Mercy have?
Does children’s Mercy accept payment types?
Children’s Mercy is devoted to providing high quality health care and exceptional customer service for our patients and families. This commitment extends to the billing process and Patient Financial Services. Children’s Mercy accepts a variety of payment types.
What is the billing process like at children’s Mercy?
At Children’s Mercy, we understand that the billing process can be overwhelming, so we’ve created an outline of what to expect from our billing process. 1. Provide your insurance information at the time of scheduling. 2. Estimate your health care costs and confirm your insurance coverage. 3. Make payment toward your estimated patient balance. 4.
Does children’s Mercy pay for medical care?
Please note, even if you have an insurance plan accepted by Children’s Mercy, it does not mean they will always pay or cover your medical care costs. Most insurance companies require a referral or prior-authorization before paying for services.
Does children’s Mercy offer financial assistance?
Financial Counselors may be able to help families find programs to help cover the cost of medical services. Children’s Mercy gives financial help to those who meet the requirements of the financial assistance policy. We’re here to help you understand charges associated with care.