How to Pay Your Avera Bill: Complete Guide to Payment Options

Are you staring at an Avera medical bill and wondering about the easiest way to pay it? You’re not alone! Paying medical bills can sometimes feel overwhelming, but Avera has actually made this process pretty straightforward with several convenient options.

I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you navigate all the ways you can pay your Avera bill. Whether you prefer paying online by phone or through mail, I’ve got you covered with step-by-step instructions.

Understanding Your Avera Bill

Before jumping into payment methods, it’s important to identify what type of Avera bill you’ve received. Avera has different payment portals depending on the service you received.

Types of Avera Bills

• Hospital or clinic bill (typically comes on a green statement)
• Avera Health Plans insurance premiums
• Avera Home Medical Equipment bills
• Avera Heart Hospital bills
• North Central Heart bills

The color of your statement matters! If your statement is green and looks like the example shown on their website you can use the main Avera patient portal. If it’s purple or orange you’ll need to use a different portal specific to your location.

Online Payment Options for Avera Bills

For Hospital and Clinic Bills (Green Statement)

If you received care at an Avera facility and got a green statement paying online is quick and simple

1. Visit the Avera Bill Payment portal
2. Click on “Pay My Bill”
3. Enter your account information
4. Follow the prompts to complete your payment

The online portal offers several helpful features:

• Text to Pay: Make fast, secure payments with just one tap
• Paperless Billing: Save time and trees by going digital
• Interest-Free Payment Plans: Set up and manage payment arrangements online

For Avera Health Plans Insurance Premiums

If you need to pay your Avera Health Plans insurance premium, the process is a bit different:

For Individual/Family & Medicare Supplement Plans:

1. Log in to your member portal at Avera Health Plans
2. Select “Premium Billing” under My Health Plan
3. Make a one-time payment using your bank account, debit or credit card

For Employer-Based Plans:

If you’re an employer paying for employee insurance:

1. Have your group ID, group name, and email ready
2. Click “PAY NOW” on the premium payment page
3. Fill in the required information to complete your payment

Setting Up Auto Pay

Forgetting to pay your bill on time can lead to late fees or even coverage issues. Setting up auto pay is the easiest way to ensure your premiums are always paid on time.

For Individual On-Exchange Coverage:

1. Log in to the member portal
2. Choose “Premium Billing” under My Health Plan
3. Select “SETUP AUTOPAY”

For Individual Off-Exchange, Medicare Supplement & Employer Plans:

You have two options:

1. Complete the Authorization Agreement for Automatic Payments Form and mail it
2. Email [email protected] to request completing the form electronically through DocuSign

When you set up auto pay, your premiums will be automatically withdrawn on specific dates:

• On-Exchange coverage: 26th of the month prior to coverage
• Off-Exchange coverage: Choose either the 15th or 26th of the month prior to coverage
• Medicare Supplement & Employer plans: 5th day of each month (or first business day after)

Phone Payment Options

Don’t wanna deal with online portals? No problem! You can pay by phone too:

For Avera Health Plans premiums:

• Call 888-322-2115
• Have your banking or card numbers ready
• Available Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM CT

For hospital and clinic bills:

• Call 888-370-6525
• Available 8 AM–5:30 PM Monday through Thursday
• Available 8 AM–4:30 PM on Friday

Mail Payment Options

If you prefer the traditional route of mailing a check or money order, here are the correct addresses:

For Individual On-Exchange Coverage:

Avera Health PlansP.O. Box 736472Chicago, IL, 60673

For Individual Off-Exchange, Medicare Supplement & Employer Plans:

Avera Health PlansP.O. Box 6005Brookings, SD 57006-6005

For Hospital/Clinic Bills:

Check your statement for the specific mailing address, as it may vary depending on where you received care.

In-Person Payment Options

If you’re old school like me and prefer paying in person, you can drop off your payment at:

Avera Health Plans5300 S. Broadband LaneSioux Falls, SD 57108

Common Questions About Avera Billing

When is my first insurance premium payment due?

Your first payment is due at the time of enrollment or as outlined in your initial invoice. You officially become a member after Avera receives your first month’s premium.

How do I know if my payment was processed?

The easiest way to confirm is to check your bank statement or contact your bank. Avera does not display payment confirmations on their website. Allow 3 business days for processing mailed payments.

Can I make partial payments?

For your first premium payment, you must pay the entire amount at once. For future payments, partial payments are accepted, but full payment must be made before the end of the grace period to avoid termination.

Why do I owe a balance on my medical bill?

Your balance may be due for several reasons:

• Your insurance deductible hasn’t been met
• A copayment is required by your insurance
• Coinsurance is required for a percent of the service
• The service received isn’t covered by your insurance plan

I received a bill for my physical. Why are there additional charges?

If you and your doctor discussed anything beyond standard wellness services during your annual appointment, you might be responsible for a copayment. Additional charges depend on your insurance plan’s coverage.

I already paid my hospital bill. Why did I get another bill?

You might receive separate bills from specialists like radiologists or emergency room physicians who provided services during your hospital stay.

Financial Assistance Options

Can’t pay your bill? Don’t worry! Avera offers several financial help options:

Interest-Free Payment Plans

Avera provides interest-free payment plans that allow you to pay your bill over time. You can self-enroll in these plans through the online portal.

Financial Assistance Programs

If you’re experiencing financial hardship, Avera has programs that might help reduce or eliminate your medical debt. Call 888-370-6525 to learn more about these programs.

Protecting Your Privacy

One important note: Always protect your account information! For security reasons, don’t share your account number, password, or personal information with others. Sharing this info could allow unauthorized access to your account.

Hospital Bill vs. Insurance Premium: Know the Difference

It’s super important to understand that hospital/clinic bills and insurance premiums are completely different things with separate payment systems:

Hospital/Clinic Bill:

• For services you’ve already received
• Pay through Avera.org/BillPay
• Look for the green statement

Insurance Premium:

• Monthly payment to maintain your health insurance coverage
• Pay through AveraHealthPlans.com

Sending your payment to the wrong place could result in processing delays or even service interruptions!

My Personal Experience with Avera Billing

Last year, I had a minor procedure at an Avera facility and was a bit confused when I received multiple bills. After calling their customer service (which was actually really helpful!), I learned that one bill was from the facility itself while the other was from the specialist who performed the procedure.

I ended up using the Text to Pay feature for one bill and setting up a 3-month payment plan for the other. The online system was pretty easy to navigate once I understood which portal to use!

Final Thoughts

Paying medical bills isn’t anyone’s favorite activity, but Avera has done a good job of providing multiple options to make it as painless as possible. Whether you’re tech-savvy and prefer online payments or like the traditional approach of mailing a check, there’s an option that will work for you.

Remember that if you’re struggling to pay your bill, reach out to Avera’s financial assistance team. They’re committed to helping patients find solutions regardless of their ability to pay.

Have you had experience paying Avera bills? What method worked best for you? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!