The Lac Vieux Desert Health Center understands that billing can be a sensitive matter and is committed to offering affordable services and patient-focused billing and collection practices. Many patients may qualify for assistance with medical expenses or assistance with payment options and we want to minimize the financial barriers patients may face in paying for services. If you need help, we are here for you.

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Billing:

Accepted Methods of Payment

  • Cash
  • Check/Money Order
  • Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express

Bill Payment Online

(Coming soon)

Fees

Information about our fees is available upon request. Please call us at 906-358-4588 and ask for the Billing Department.

Same-day Self-pay Discount

Depending upon the type of products and services, a 15% same-day payment discount may be available if you intend to pay “out of pocket” on the day of service. This discount is available solely to patients who are not currently covered by insurance.

Balances and Collections

Lac Vieux Desert Health Center (LVDHC) bills patients for balances on their accounts as follows:

  • The Billing Department will send a statement to the patient noting balances owed, 30, 60 and 90 days out from the date of service.
  • If by 90 days there have not been any attempts at payment, outstanding balances will be transferred to an outside collection agency.

Payment Plans

Patients who are unable to pay for their full balances upon receiving an invoice from LVDHC are eligible to participate in a payment plan that allows them to structure payments for the balance of services as follows:

  • Recurring – Patients can make recurring payments on a regularly scheduled interval that enables him/her to pay for the entire balance of services.
  • Installments – Patients can choose to make payments over a certain number of installments to pay for the full balance of services.

*Note: Patients who have opted for a payment plan and whose circumstances change preventing him/her from submitting timely payments, should contact the Billing Department immediately via phone to discuss their options.

The contact information is as follows: 906-358-4588 and ask for the Billing Department.



Insurance:

Coverage

Lac Vieux Desert Health Center welcomes many different insurance plans. Please note that services covered can vary greatly by carrier, so we recommend that our patients check with their insurance carriers to verify if services provided would be processed "in network" and if any expected or recommended procedures are covered. It is the patient’s responsibility to be aware of any exclusions, benefits, co-payments, and deductibles outlined in their insurance plan.

Please be prepared to present or verify your latest health insurance information along with your identification card(s) upon admission.

Co-pays are due on the day of service. Pre-payment is required for services that are deemed to be not medically necessary by insurance plans and for uninsured patients.


Medicare Benefits

Medicare requires that all tests have supporting diagnoses to demonstrate the test is medically necessary. If your provider orders a procedure or service that Medicare deems to NOT meet medical necessity, you will be asked to sign an Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN). The ABN informs you in advance that Medicare is not likely to pay for the procedure or service, and that you will be responsible for payment. By signing the ABN, you are indicating that you understand and are willing to proceed with the procedure. You will then receive a hospital bill for payment of the service(s) provided.

You can agree to be financially responsible for the procedure by signing the ABN form, or you can refuse the tests or services. If you refuse the tests or services, you will be asked to sign a form indicating you have elected not to have the services.

Insurance Terms

  • Co-pays:
    If you have insurance, you may owe a copayment (co-pay). A co-pay is a fixed amount you pay for a certain service and may vary by type of service. Co-pays are determined by your insurance plan and are due at the time of your appointment. Not all insurance plans require a co-pay.
  • Deductibles:
    A deductible is the amount you pay for health care services before your health insurance covers costs. This is also determined by your insurance plan and is usually a different fee and amount than a co-pay. Not all insurance plans require patients to pay the full deductible before the insurance covers expenses.
  • Coinsurance:
    Some health insurance plans require members to pay a certain percentage of services. Often, you will need to pay a deductible amount first before insurance pays for its percentage of the services. You are responsible for the difference in costs that your insurance does not cover. Not all insurance plans include coinsurance.
  • In-network:
    This term refers to physicians and medical establishments that deliver patient services covered under the insurance plan. In-network providers are generally the cheapest option for policyholders. Insurance companies typically have negotiated lower rates with in-network providers.
  • Out-of-network:
    This term refers to physicians and medical establishments not covered under your insurance plan. Services from out-of-network providers are usually more expensive than those rendered by in-network providers. This is because out-of-network providers have not negotiated lower rates with your insurer.