How to Pay Your CHOP Bill: A Complete Guide for Parents

Say Goodbye to Bill Payment Headaches at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Let’s face it – nobody enjoys dealing with medical bills As a parent with a child who’s been treated at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), figuring out how to pay those bills shouldn’t add to your stress I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you navigate the various ways to pay your CHOP bill quickly and hassle-free.

When my son needed specialized care last year, I found myself confused about the different types of bills we received. Was this a hospital bill or physician bill? What’s my guarantor number? These questions probably sound familiar if you’re in the same boat.

Understanding Your CHOP Bill Types

Before diving into payment methods. it’s important to know that CHOP has three different types of bills

1. Hospital Bill – Covers facility charges and services provided by the hospital
2. Physician Bill – Covers the doctors’ professional services
3. Home Care Bill – Covers any home healthcare services provided

Each bill requires slightly different information for payment processing so keep those paper statements handy!

What You’ll Need Before Making a Payment

When preparing to pay your CHOP bill online, make sure you have:

• For Hospital or Physician Bills: Your child’s Guarantor Number (found on your paper bill)
• For Home Care Bills: Your child’s Medical Record Number (MRN#, also found on your paper bill)

Without these numbers, you won’t be able to look up your account balance online, so don’t toss those paper statements!

Online Payment Options at CHOP

CHOP has made it super convenient to pay bills online. Here’s a breakdown of your online payment options:

Hospital Bill Payment Options

• MyCHOP Users: Pay through your MyCHOP account
• MyCHOP Guests: Pay without creating an account

Physician Bill Payment Options

• MyCHOP Users: Access through your existing account
• MyCHOP Guests: One-time payment option

Home Care Bill

• One streamlined payment portal (no MyCHOP distinction)

The best part? There’s absolutely no fee for using the online payment service!

Step-by-Step Guide to Paying Your CHOP Bill Online

Let me walk you through how I paid my son’s recent hospital bill:

1. First, I gathered his paper statement which had the Guarantor Number
2. I visited the CHOP billing page (www.chop.edu/billing-and-insurance/online-bill-pay)
3. Selected “Pay Hospital bill” since we were billed for an inpatient stay
4. Chose “Hospital bill (MyCHOP guest)” since I don’t have a MyCHOP account
5. Entered the Guarantor Number when prompted
6. Reviewed the amount owed
7. Entered my payment information on the secure payment site
8. Received confirmation of payment

The whole process took less than 5 minutes! It’s a one-time payment process, so you don’t need to create an account if you don’t want to.

Phone Payment Options – When You Prefer to Talk to a Human

Some days, I just prefer speaking with an actual person. If you’re like me, CHOP offers convenient phone payment options for each bill type:

• Hospital Bill: Call 1-800-283-3055
• Physician Bill: Call 1-877-724-2467
• Home Care Bill: Call 1-855-288-1495

The customer service representatives are typically helpful and can answer any questions about your bill while processing your payment.

Using MyCHOP Portal for Bill Management

If you’re a parent who handles multiple appointments and bills, I highly recommend creating a MyCHOP account. With MyCHOP, you can:

• View all your child’s statements in one place
• Access billing information anytime
• Make payments directly through the portal
• Track payment history

This has been a game-changer for our family since we have regular follow-up appointments.

Getting Help With Your CHOP Bill

Sometimes you need more than just a way to pay – you need help understanding your bill or working out payment arrangements. CHOP offers several resources:

• Billing Questions: Call 1-800-283-3055
• Pre-visit Financial Counseling: Call 267-426-1467

The financial counseling team has been incredibly helpful for many families I’ve spoken with, especially when dealing with insurance issues or unexpected bills.

Requesting a “Good Faith Estimate”

Did you know you can request a cost estimate before receiving services? CHOP provides “Good Faith Estimates” to help families prepare financially for upcoming procedures or treatments.

To request an estimate:

1. Visit the CHOP website
2. Use their online form to request an estimate
3. The Patient Cost Estimate team will provide information about expected costs

This service has helped me budget accordingly for planned procedures.

Common Questions About Paying CHOP Bills

Can I set up a payment plan?

Yes! If you’re unable to pay your bill in full, contact the billing department at 1-800-283-3055 to discuss payment plan options.

Why did I receive separate hospital and physician bills?

This is standard practice at many hospitals. The hospital bill covers facility costs, while physician bills cover the professional services of doctors who treated your child.

Can I pay multiple bills at once?

Unfortunately, hospital, physician, and home care bills must be paid separately through their respective payment systems.

Is the online payment system secure?

Absolutely! CHOP uses a secure website outside of CHOP.edu for processing payments to protect your financial information.

Will I receive a receipt for my payment?

Yes, you’ll receive confirmation of payment that you can save for your records.

Tips for Managing Your CHOP Bills

After dealing with several CHOP bills myself, here are some tips that might help you:

• Keep all paper statements until bills are fully paid
• Take photos of statements as backups
• Check your insurance explanation of benefits against your bills
• Contact billing immediately if you notice discrepancies
• Save confirmation numbers when making payments
• Consider setting up a MyCHOP account for easier bill management

Payment Methods Accepted

CHOP accepts various payment methods including:

• Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express)
• Debit cards
• Electronic checks (using your bank routing and account numbers)

Unfortunately, they don’t accept PayPal or digital wallets like Apple Pay at this time.

Creating a MyCHOP Account

If you’ve decided a MyCHOP account might be helpful, here’s how to set one up:

1. Visit the CHOP website
2. Look for the MyCHOP Portal link
3. Select “Sign Up Now”
4. Follow the prompts to create your account
5. Link your child’s medical record using information from a recent visit

Once established, you’ll have easier access to bills, medical records, appointment scheduling, and more.

Final Thoughts on Managing Your CHOP Bills

Dealing with medical bills can be overwhelming, especially when you’re focused on your child’s health. The good news is that CHOP has worked to make the payment process as straightforward as possible.

By understanding your options and keeping your billing information organized, you can reduce the stress associated with medical bills and focus on what really matters – your child’s wellbeing.

Remember, if you ever feel confused or overwhelmed by a bill, don’t hesitate to call the billing department. They’re there to help you navigate the process and find solutions that work for your family.

Summary: Quick Ways to Pay Your CHOP Bill

Resources for Additional Help

• CHOP Billing and Insurance: www.chop.edu/billing-and-insurance
• MyCHOP Portal: mychoponline.chop.edu
• Pre-visit Financial Counseling: 267-426-1467
• Main CHOP Contact: 1-800-879-2467

Remember, taking care of the financial aspects of your child’s healthcare is important, but nothing is more important than their health. CHOP understands this and has resources available to help you manage both.