Frequently Asked Questions
1. What if I cannot afford to pay the balance on my hospital bill?
Under the The Brooklyn Hospital Center’s Charity Care/Financial Aid Policy, financial aid is available to eligible patients who are in need as defined by the Policy, reside in our primary service area, and receive non-emergent medically necessary services, or for residents of New York State who receive medically necessary emergency room services. Eligibility is based, among other factors, on family income and number of family members in the household. If you think you may be eligible for financial aid, you may request an application on the Patient Accounts Page or by calling 718.250.8080. Installment payment plans are also available for those who qualify. This policy does not apply to physicians services or services provided by other providers who bill independently.
2. I gave my insurance information at the hospital. Why am I receiving this statement?
If our billing offices have not received information that you supplied at registration, you will receive a statement. In some cases we may not have been able to process information that you have furnished prior to the mailing of a statement. We apologize if your account has not been updated with the relevant information prior to the statement being mailed and ask that you forward the information by updating the appropriate section of our Patient Online application.
3. Where should I send my payment?
Payment should be sent to the address in the remit to section of your statement. For your convenience, a return envelope has been enclosed or you may choose to pay online by logging in to your online account and pay using Visa, Mastercard or American Express.
4. Why didn't my insurance company pay in full?
Many insurance policies have a deductible, co-pay, or coinsurance amount. Sometimes certain charges are not covered under particular policies. This may be the case with your carrier. For certain policies, balance billing is prohibited; we will not bill you for the balance unless called for by your policy and permitted by law. To confirm your responsibility under your policy, if any, you can call your insurance company directly or call the telephone number listed at the bottom of your billing statement for further information.
5. What is the "NY State Surcharge" on my billing statement?
The surcharge is a kind of "tax" that hospitals in New York State are required to add to any co-payments your insurance carrier charges to you when it processes your claim. The surcharge is not charged to you on amounts considered to be insurance deductibles. The hospital does not keep this portion of your payment; the hospital is required to submit it to the New York State Department of Health.
6. What other bills can I expect to receive?
In addition to the hospital bill you have received, you may receive bills from one or more of these other providers who bill independently including but not limited to:
The physician(s) / doctor(s) who cared for you while you were a patient at the hospital.
The anesthesiologist if you had a procedure at the hospital.
The ambulance if you were brought to the hospital by ambulance.
Physicians who may have provided interpretation services for lab work, x-rays, and the like to your physicians, even if they did not see you.