Patient Financial Responsibility

Patients and their families have been taking on a bigger share of health care costs in recent years as insurers and employers raise premiums, deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs. The following tips can help you keep on top of these expenses, prevent unnecessary health costs or lower your total annual healthcare spend.

Tips for Managing Out-of-Pocket Costs

Understand your insurance plan benefits and out-of-pocket responsibilities prior to any visit. Find out if you will owe any deductibles, co-insurance or co-payment amounts.

Before making an appointment at the University of Chicago Medicine or Physicians Group, check to see if your health plan is contracted with us.

If you do not see your physician and/or hospital listed as contracted with your health plan contact the UChicago Medicine’s Office of Managed Care at managed.care@uchospitals.edu, or see our current list of insurers.
Please make sure that both your UChicago Medicine physician and hospital are listed as contracted providers by your insurance company. It is possible that only the physician or only the hospital is contracted with your insurance plan.
If our hospital and/or physicians are not in your insurance company's network, we are still happy to provide you with services. If your policy has out-of-network benefits, your insurance plan may still cover the services. However, you may be responsible for paying a higher amount out-of-pocket than if you'd received services from an in-network provider.

Double check whether a test or service is covered under your insurance.

If your insurance company requires a referral and/or prior authorization for a test or service, contact your primary care physician prior to seeing our specialists.

If your insurance company requires a referral and you do not have one, you will be responsible for full payment of your bill at the time of service, or you may not be seen for your scheduled appointment. If your specialist requires more visits or tests than your insurer approves or if the referral has expired, you must contact your primary care physician for another referral and/or prior authorization.

Outpatient visits

Understand your insurance plan

Tips for Managing Out-of-Pocket Costs

Understand your insurance plan benefits and out-of-pocket responsibilities prior to any visit. Find out if you will owe any deductibles, co-insurance or co-payment amounts.

Before making an appointment at the University of Chicago Medicine or Physicians Group, check to see if your health plan is contracted with us.

If you do not see your physician and/or hospital listed as contracted with your health plan contact the UChicago Medicine’s Office of Managed Care at managed.care@uchospitals.edu, or see our current list of insurers.
Please make sure that both your UChicago Medicine physician and hospital are listed as contracted providers by your insurance company. It is possible that only the physician or only the hospital is contracted with your insurance plan.
If our hospital and/or physicians are not in your insurance company's network, we are still happy to provide you with services. If your policy has out-of-network benefits, your insurance plan may still cover the services. However, you may be responsible for paying a higher amount out-of-pocket than if you'd received services from an in-network provider.

Double check whether a test or service is covered under your insurance.

If your insurance company requires a referral and/or prior authorization for a test or service, contact your primary care physician prior to seeing our specialists.

If your insurance company requires a referral and you do not have one, you will be responsible for full payment of your bill at the time of service, or you may not be seen for your scheduled appointment. If your specialist requires more visits or tests than your insurer approves or if the referral has expired, you must contact your primary care physician for another referral and/or prior authorization.

Patient Financial Responsibility

Tips for Managing Out-of-Pocket Costs

Understand your insurance plan benefits and out-of-pocket responsibilities prior to any visit. Find out if you will owe any deductibles, co-insurance or co-payment amounts.

Before making an appointment at the University of Chicago Medicine or Physicians Group, check to see if your health plan is contracted with us.

Double check whether a test or service is covered under your insurance.

If your insurance company requires a referral and/or prior authorization for a test or service, contact your primary care physician prior to seeing our specialists.

Outpatient visits

Understand your insurance plan

Tips for Managing Out-of-Pocket Costs

Understand your insurance plan benefits and out-of-pocket responsibilities prior to any visit. Find out if you will owe any deductibles, co-insurance or co-payment amounts.

Before making an appointment at the University of Chicago Medicine or Physicians Group, check to see if your health plan is contracted with us.

Double check whether a test or service is covered under your insurance.

If your insurance company requires a referral and/or prior authorization for a test or service, contact your primary care physician prior to seeing our specialists.

Outpatient visits

Understand your insurance plan

Financial Resources

Medical Insurance

Additional Resources