Billing & Insurance
Medical bills are confusing everywhere, and emergency bills are the most confusing of all. We would rather explain ours in advance than argue about it afterwards.
Two services, two different rates
FHMC operates an emergency room and a primary care clinic in one building. They bill differently, because they are different levels of care. Knowing which you used explains almost every question about a bill.
Emergency Room visit
Billed as emergency care- Billed at emergency-care rates — the same basis as any hospital emergency department, and higher than an office visit
- Charges reflect 24/7 provider staffing, on-site imaging, and laboratory capability
- Most plans apply your emergency copay or deductible rather than an office-visit copay
- Federal law requires most plans to cover emergency care at in-network levels
Medical Clinic visit
Billed as primary care- Billed at standard office-visit rates, like any primary care practice
- Usually your regular office copay applies
- Most preventive care — annual physicals, screenings, vaccinations — is covered in full by law
- The lower-cost route for anything that is not an emergency
Not sure which service you need next time? Our Emergency Room page explains it in one screen.
Paying your bill
Pay online
Use the statement number on your paper bill to pay securely through our billing portal.
Open the billing portal →Talk to a person
Our billing team is on (480) 339-4825 and will go through the charges line by line.
Call billing →Ask about payment plans
If a bill is more than you can manage at once, tell us. Payment arrangements are available.
Contact billing →Insurance we accept
We are in network with most major commercial plans and with Medicare. Because plan networks change and individual policies differ, the only reliable answer is a direct check — call us with your plan details and we will verify your coverage before your visit.
Editor note: Replace this paragraph with the current list of accepted plans from the billing office, and add the review date. Do not publish a plan list that has not been verified this quarter — an out-of-date list here causes exactly the billing disputes this page exists to prevent.
Your protections in an emergency
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We treat first, always
Emergency treatment is never delayed over insurance or ability to pay.
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The No Surprises Act
Federal law limits surprise balance billing for emergency services and gives you the right to a good-faith cost estimate if you are uninsured or self-paying.
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Say something early
If cost is worrying you, tell the staff during your visit or call our billing team on (480) 339-4825. That conversation is far easier before a balance is overdue than after.
If cost is what is stopping you
Instinctive HealthPass is a separate company that we work with, not a Fountain Hills programme and not something we own. It exists to bring down what care costs and how hard it is to get to — which, in our experience, is the thing that most often keeps someone at home when they should be seen.
It is worth looking at before you decide not to come in. It does not change anything on this page: our self-pay discounts, the hardship programme and financial assistance all apply either way, and you never need a membership of any kind to be treated in our Emergency Room.
Read about Instinctive HealthPassBilling questions
Why is my emergency room bill higher than a doctor’s visit?
An emergency room is staffed and equipped to handle life-threatening conditions at any hour — board-certified providers on site 24 hours a day, CT and X-ray imaging, and a full laboratory ready to run immediately. That readiness is what you are paying for, and it is billed on the same basis at every emergency department. For non-emergencies, our Medical Clinic bills at standard office rates instead.
Do you take my insurance?
We are in network with most major plans and with Medicare. Plan networks change often, so call us with your specific plan and member details and we will confirm your coverage rather than guess.
What if I do not have insurance?
You will still be treated. Tell our staff you are self-paying and ask for a good-faith estimate, which you are entitled to under federal law. We also offer payment arrangements.
I received more than one bill. Why?
Depending on the care you received, facility charges and certain professional services such as radiology interpretation may be billed separately. Call our billing team and we will map every statement you have received to the care it covers.
Can I set up a payment plan?
Yes. Call the office and ask for billing. Arranging a plan early is far better than letting a balance go unpaid.
Do you offer help if I cannot afford the balance?
Yes, and there is more than one route. We offer self-pay discounts, a High Deductible Hardship Discount Program for uninsured and under-insured patients, and a Financial Assistance Program. Which one fits depends on your circumstances, so call our billing team and ask — they will walk you through what you qualify for rather than leaving you to guess.
Was my injury at work? Do you handle Workers' Compensation?
Yes. We work with Workers' Compensation insurance providers so an injured employee is evaluated and treated without the claim being sorted out first, and we prepare the documentation your employer and their insurer need. Tell our staff at check-in that the injury happened at work, and bring your employer's details if you have them.
How can I pay?
Major credit and debit cards, HSA and FSA accounts, cheques, and cash. You can also pay online through the patient portal. For insured patients, a copay or deductible may be collected at check-in; self-pay patients can pay in part or in full at the time of service, depending on the treatment plan and which financial programme applies.
I think there is a mistake on my bill.
Tell us — billing errors happen and we want to correct them. Call our billing team with your statement number and we will review the charges with you and contact your insurer if needed. Our billing staff are employed by FHMC directly, not an outside collections agency, so the person you speak to can actually fix things.
When minutes matter, we’re minutes away.
9700 N. Saguaro Blvd, Suite 100, Fountain Hills — walk in any time, or call ahead and we’ll be ready for you.