Patient Billing Information

WakeMed Physician Practices realizes that the cost of health care is a concern for our patients. We offer the following information to help you understand our financial policy and aid you in planning for payment.

To help you when making decisions, our registration staff can provide you with an estimate of the charges associated with the treatment and services you are expected to receive.  Actual charges may vary, depending on the treatment your physician orders for you. You are encouraged to ask us any questions relating to the services you may receive.

For practices operated by WakeMed Faculty Physicians, you may receive two separate bills. One bill will be for the facility-based charges for any equipment, supplies, and services provided in the facility-based clinic. The other bill you will receive are for the services provided by your physician/provider. Any amount you owe will be based your specific insurance coverage. Please contact your insurance company for information regarding your particular plan benefit.

Patient Billing FAQs

Online Billing

Managed Care Plans

Financial Assistance & Charity Care Information

Financial Application Instructions

WakeMed Financial Assistance Application (Word Document)

Your Responsibilities

Before you arrive for your appointment:

• WakeMed participates with most insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid. Prior to your visit, check with your employer or insurance company to see if you have access to health care services at WakeMed, otherwise you may be responsible for all or a large portion of your bill.
• Bring your complete health insurance information when you register. This includes identification, all insurance cards, and authorization forms. We will ask you to sign forms, such as a release of information, and possibly additional forms depending on your visit.
• If you are a current patient, please inform us if your personal or insurance information has changed since your last visit. The lack of current information can cause payment delays or denials that may ultimately leave you responsible for payment.
• Co-payments for physician care and other balances you may owe are due on the day you receive services. If your insurance requires it, you will need to pay for estimated coinsurance or deductibles related to your care. If you have any questions regarding your co-payments or deductibles, please call your insurance company.
• For certain procedures not covered by insurance, you may be required to pay a deposit or pay for the service in full prior to your care.
• Most health plans require authorization, particularly for elective services and may require you to notify your primary care physician. If your insurance company decides your service was not medically necessary, is a pre-existing condition, or is not a covered service, you will be asked to pay at the time of service.
• If you are a Medicare patient, you will be asked a series of questions regarding your status including other insurance you may have; and your retirement. These questions are required by law and must be asked each time you visit us. If you are covered by Medicare, we will submit your claims to Medicare on your behalf.
• Medicare requires we provide only those services approved by Medicare as deemed medically necessary. In the event the service is not covered by Medicare, we may ask you to sign a notice that makes you financially responsible for the services provided. Additionally, we will bill you and/or your supplemental insurance carrier for services not covered by Medicare such as self-administered medications and routine health exams. However, if neither covers these services you will be responsible for payment for these services.
• If you anticipate problems paying your portion of your bill, please let us know. We can help you apply for other types of financial assistance or payment plans.

After your visit:

• Respond promptly to requests from your insurance company for additional information. These requests must be handled before payment can occur.
• Confidentiality is important. Our Patient Account Representatives may only speak with the patient or the person designated in writing by the patient to receive the bill(s) on behalf of the patient. This is required by both federal and state law.
• To help us answer your questions efficiently, have a copy of your statement, insurance card(s) and any additional information available
• To ensure that we credit your account properly, tear off the bottom or top portion of your bill and mail it in the envelope provided. If paying by check, write your account number(s) on your check.

What WakeMed Will Do For You

• WakeMed's commitment is to provide care to all patients with a high level of dignity, respect and skill.
• For services typically covered by insurance, we will bill your primary insurance company, and if applicable, your secondary insurance company as a courtesy, including Medicare and Medicaid. It is important to remember that health insurance coverage varies and some services may not be covered. If you have questions regarding your health insurance coverage, please call your insurance company to better understand how your policy works prior to receiving care at WakeMed faculty physicians and hospitals.
• If your insurance company does not pay the entire bill, we will send you a statement to notify you of any remaining unpaid balances. We will not send you a statement until your primary insurance company and secondary has fulfilled its financial responsibility. This statement will usually come within 45 days after your insurance company has paid their responsibility, unless there is a delay in your insurance's payment.
• For your convenience, we accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards for payment. Payment is due 15 days after you receive a statement.
• Please contact Customer Service if you have any questions regarding overpayments. If applicable, we will apply any overpayments to any of your other outstanding balances.
• If your account is a result of an automobile accident or other accident caused by another party, you can request itemized statements to be sent to any attorney involved in the account. However, you will remain responsible for making payment on the account until the dispute is settled. We will follow all regulations related to accident coverage for patients covered by Medicare or Medicaid.

Bills from Other Providers

Many physicians on the WakeMed Medical Staffs are independent practitioners/independent contractors/physicians in private practice and are not employed by WakeMed, including some of the doctors of WakeMed Physician Practices.

If you receive services from any of these providers, they will bill you separately for their professional fees. Their bills will be in addition to your bill from WakeMed Faculty Physicians or Wake Specialty Physicians and will be mailed separately.

The following physician groups have contracted with WakeMed Faculty Physicians to provide additional professional services to patients (the provider name is listed first, followed by the name and telephone number of the company handling their billing):

• Wake Emergency Physicians 1-800-868-4872
• Wake Radiology Consultants (Radiologist Services) 919-787-7411
• Raleigh Pathology Laboratory Associates (Pathologist Services) 919-350-8277
• WakeMed Faculty & WakeMed Specialty Physicians 919-350-8153