What Are We Talking About?
You may have heard that as of January 1, 2019, hospitals have price information online. Here is important information to help you understand what you are looking at.
About the “Charge Master”
- A charge master is a list of medical codes and prices for everything a hospital provides to patients.
- Each hospital has its own charge master list that is used for billing purposes.
- The charge master list is not the negotiated price between hospitals and insurers, and it is not the price that most patients would pay for care.
- The charge master list is not the best tool for patients to figure out the cost of their health care services.
- The prices on the charge master list are not the actual payment rates that hospitals receive.
- Charge master prices are almost never the actual amount a patient is responsible for.
How Much Will I Pay?
The best way to understand what you will pay out-of-pocket is to work with your hospital and your insurer. In general:
- Individuals with insurance will pay any copayments, coinsurance, or deductible due.
- Individuals without insurance might be eligible for financial assistance or charity care, or may be able to receive a reduced price from the hospital.
Getting Help from Your Hospital
Hospitals offer financial counseling and help for both people who have insurance and those who do not. Contact your hospital’s financial office or patient advocates for help.