Hey there fellow parents! If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a medical bill from Children’s Hospital Colorado wondering what all those charges mean or how to actually pay it, you’re definitely not alone As a parent who’s been through the healthcare system many times with my kiddos, I know firsthand how confusing medical billing can be Today, I’m breaking down everything you need to know about childrenscolorado.org bill pay options to make your life just a tiny bit easier during what’s probably already a stressful time.
The Basics: Understanding Your Children’s Hospital Colorado Bills
First things first – when you visit Children’s Hospital Colorado, you’ll actually get TWO separate bills:
- Your Children’s Hospital Colorado bill: This covers hospital charges and facility fees – basically everything except the doctor’s time.
- Your CU Medicine bill: This is for the doctor’s services (most doctors at Children’s Colorado are employed by CU Medicine).
This two-bill system often confuses parents I remember the first time I received both bills, I thought it was a mistake or duplicate! But nope, that’s just how the system works
3 Easy Ways to Pay Your Children’s Hospital Colorado Bill
Let’s get to the main point – how do you actually pay these bills? Children’s Hospital Colorado offers three convenient payment methods
1. Pay Online (Quickest Option)
There are two ways to pay online:
- Through MyChart (recommended)
- Log in to your existing MyChart account
- Navigate to “Billing Summary” in the menu
- View and pay your bills
- Plus, you can set up payment plans and access account details
- As a Guest
- No MyChart account needed
- Use the details from your billing statement
- Visit the “Pay as a guest” option on their website
2. Pay by Phone
Call Patient Financial Services at 720-777-6422 during their office hours:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Wednesday: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
The team can take your payment over the phone, answer questions, and even help you set up payment plans if needed.
3. Pay by Mail
If you prefer the old-school approach (I still write checks sometimes!), you can send a check or money order:
- Make it payable to: Children’s Hospital Colorado
- Include your guarantor number from the billing statement
- Mail to:
Children's Hospital ColoradoPO Box 209191Dallas, TX 75320-9191
What’s Actually IN Those Facility Fees? Breaking Down Your Bill
One thing that always confused me was seeing “facility fees” on my bill. What the heck am I paying for? Well, turns out quite a lot! Those facility fees cover:
- Nurses and nursing assistants
- Behavioral health therapists
- Social workers
- Child life specialists (those amazing people who make hospital visits less scary!)
- Care managers
- Dietitians
- Medical interpreters
- Lab technicians and phlebotomists
- Pharmacists
- Housekeeping teams
- Front desk staff
- Drugs and supplies
- Medical equipment
- Building maintenance and utilities
Basically, everything except the doctor’s time is wrapped up in those facility fees.
Why Your Bill Might Not Match Your Estimate
Here’s something that threw me off the first time – why was my final bill different from the estimate? This happens for a few reasons:
- Your child needed different or additional services than originally expected
- Treatment for multiple conditions
- Changes in the final diagnosis
- Complications during treatment
- Additional tests or imaging that became necessary
The estimate is just that – an estimate based on typical care for your planned visit. Your child’s actual needs determine the final bill.
Got Insurance? Here’s What You Need to Know
Insurance details are super important to understand. Here’s a quick primer on the basics:
Insurance Billing
Children’s Colorado will file your claim using the insurance info you provide during registration. They’ll even bill both primary AND secondary insurance if you provide both!
Understanding Common Insurance Terms
These terms always confused me, so let’s break them down:
- Copays: The fixed amount you pay at each visit (like $25 per specialist visit)
- Deductibles: The amount you must pay before insurance starts covering costs (like the first $1,500 of medical expenses each year)
- Coinsurance: How you and your insurance split costs after meeting your deductible (like you pay 20%, they pay 80%)
When You Can’t Pay All at Once
Life happens, and sometimes a big medical bill just isn’t in the budget. Children’s Hospital Colorado offers several options:
Payment Plans
You can set up monthly payments through MyChart or by calling 720-777-6422. I’ve used this option before when we had a particularly expensive hospital stay – it was super easy to set up.
Financial Assistance
If you’re really struggling, don’t ignore the bill! Call their financial counselors at 720-777-7001. They can help you apply for various financial assistance programs. Children’s Colorado is committed to providing healthcare regardless of family income.
Confusing Bill Situations Explained
“Why does my urgent care visit say ’emergency room general’?”
This confused me too! Apparently, urgent care is categorized under emergency care in their billing system. If you want to double-check, request an itemized statement by calling 720-777-6422.
“I paid my bill but got another statement!”
This usually happens when your statement was generated before your payment was processed. Just call 720-777-6422 to confirm your payment was received.
“Why am I getting a bill from the hospital when my child wasn’t seen there?”
Children’s Colorado provides services for independent clinics and doctors. For example, if your pediatrician sends lab work to Children’s for testing, you’ll get a bill from Children’s even though you didn’t visit the hospital.
Paperless Billing: The Convenient Option
By default, all patients and families over 18 years old are automatically enrolled in paperless billing. You’ll get notifications through the MyChart app and email when new bills are ready. If you prefer paper bills, you can opt out through MyChart.
Need Help Understanding Your Bill?
Don’t feel bad if you’re confused – medical bills are notoriously complicated! If you need help, you’ve got options:
- Call Patient Financial Services: 720-777-6422
- Email: [email protected]
- Request an itemized statement for more details
- Look at sample bills on their website to understand the format
When Your Account Goes to Collections
Children’s Colorado will send 5 billing statements and attempt to call you before sending your account to collections. If you receive a collection notice, you’ll need to work directly with the collection agency to resolve the balance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bill Pay
Q: Can I set up a payment plan before my visit?
A: Unfortunately, no. Your visit must be completed before a bill and payment plan can be generated. However, you can make prepayments through MyChart or at check-in kiosks.
Q: How will my payments be applied if I have multiple bills?
A: Payments are applied to the oldest bill first, then move to the next oldest once that’s paid off.
Q: What’s the refund policy if I overpaid?
A: Refunds are issued either to your original credit/debit card or by mailed check. Allow 10-14 days for processing.
Q: Do I have to pay before my child’s visit?
A: Most visits don’t require prepayment. Exceptions include international patients, self-pay dental patients, some plastic surgery patients, and learning services patients.
Quick Reference: Important Contact Information
For quick reference, here are the key contact numbers you might need:
- Children’s Colorado Billing Questions: 720-777-6422
- CU Medicine Billing Questions: 303-493-7700
- Financial Assistance: 720-777-7001
Final Thoughts
Navigating medical bills is never fun, but understanding the process makes it less stressful. Remember, the staff at Children’s Hospital Colorado are there to help! Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions – they really do want to make this process as smooth as possible for families.
Have you had experiences with the Children’s Hospital Colorado billing system? Any tips or tricks I missed? Drop em in the comments below – we’re all in this parenting journey together!
Stay well,
[Your Friendly Parent Blogger]
Call Patient Financial Services or visit these quick links:
Children’s Colorado participates with most major health insurance plans and national transplant networks. Learn how we work with your health insurance company from preauthorization through billing.
Questions about your billing statement? We can help with that. Our team can also assist you with setting up a payment plan to spread the amount you owe over time.
Children’s Colorado is committed to price transparency. This means we will help you understand common charges and what you can expect to pay when you visit one of our locations. If you need financial assistance, we can help with that, too.
