Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)


Notice of nondiscrimination by Southeast Colorado Hospital District and Long Term Care Center.
Southeast Colorado Hospital District and Long Term Care Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Jolene Overhauser 373 E. Tenth Ave Springfield, CO (719) 523-2172. For further information on notice of non-discrimination, or to get the address of the office of civil rights visit http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/OCR/contactus.cfm or call 1-800-421-3481.


Q: When is payment of my bill expected?
A: With the exception of co-payment amounts, the medical center expects full payment within 30 days of the billing date shown on your statement.

Q: What options do I have to pay my bill (check, cash, credit card)?
A: Southeast Colorado Hospital District accepts payments made by cash, check, money order, or credit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Payments may be made:
By Mail: Use the return envelope that came with your billing statement to make a payment by check, money order or credit card.
In Person: Stop by our Admissions / Registration Department or Business Office to make a payment in person.
By Phone: Credit card payments can be made by calling (719) 523-2105.

Q: If I am unable to make payment in full what options do I have to pay my bill?
A: Patients who find it difficult to pay their bill in full within 30 days should contact our Patient Account Representative at (719) 523-2105. We have several payment options available.

Q: What if I find I can't afford to pay the bill I receive, are there any options?
A: Financial assistance is available for those individuals who are uninsured or underinsured, who are experiencing financial hardship. Eligible patients would be those who have limited financial resources to pay for an individual insurance policy and who do not qualify for Colorado Medicaid. Your inability to pay for care should not prevent you from receiving medically necessary services. Contact Patient Account Representative at (719) 523-2105.

Q: Why am I being billed when I have insurance?
A: Many insurance companies have amounts which the patient must pay. The amount may be for a co-insurance payment, deductible or an out of pocket expense (an expense not covered by your insurance provider). If you have questions about why your insurance did not pay a portion of your claim, you should contact your insurance company directly. You may also receive a bill if your insurance company does not process our claims by their due date or if they deny coverage of your service. If you receive a statement that does not show insurance processing, you should contact your insurance company to determine the reason for delay or denial.

Q: When do I make the co-payment and or deductible payment my insurance requires? Can I wait to be billed by the medical center after my insurance processes the claim?
A: Co-payments are due at the time of service. If you are unsure of your co-payment responsibility please contact your insurance plan. Please be prepared to pay your co-payment when you check in.
Q: If my insurance company has pre-certification, prior approval or notification requirements for specific services, am I responsible for completing this task?
A: The specific requirements and responsibility for completing pre-certification or notification depends on several things:

Contract agreements between the medical center and your insurance company.
The requirements as defined by your insurance or employer group plan.
In many cases, the medical center can assist with these requirements.

However, if you have questions about your responsibility for completing these requirements, you should contact your insurance company directly. You may have to pay a higher deductible or coinsurance amount if these steps are not completed.

Q: How much of the total charges do I have to pay?
A: Regardless of a hospital's charges, the government determines how much the hospital is paid for a service for those enrolled in a federal and/or state program like Medicare or Medicaid, and local negotiations determine how much a hospital is paid by those enrolled in commercial health plans. For patients with no insurance, Southeast Colorado Hospital District offers a discount off of its charges so uninsured patients can take advantage of similar discounts much like those the hospital offers to health plans.

Q: What is an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) or Explanation of Payment (EOP)?
A: These are documents showing a detailed listing of how your insurance company processed your claim or bill. An EOB or EOP is mailed by your insurance company directly to you.

If you have any questions please contact our patient representative at (719) 523-2105.

Our Business Hours are: Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.