Billing Processes
We want to focus on your eye care!
Due to the many changes in health care, North Idaho Eye Institute, North Idaho Cataract & Laser Center, and North Idaho Optical are finding that a large amount of our staff time and clinic resources are being spent on collecting fees instead of on patient focused tasks needed to provide you with total quality eye care. The intent of our payment policy is to help us dedicate more time to you and keep the costs of medical services to a minimum by reducing the cost of billing.
Questions?
If you have any questions about a recent bill, or you would like to pay your bill, please contact our billing office.
Business Office
Phone
+1 208-667-5540
billing@northidahoeye.com
Address
North Idaho Eye Institute
8378 N Government Way
Hayden, ID 83835
Medicare Patients
North Idaho Eye Institute, and North Idaho Cataract & Laser Center accept assignment. If you do not have a supplement insurance that covers the deductible and/or co insurance, you will be expected to pay those amounts at the time of service. North Idaho Optical does not accept Medicare assignment.
No Insurance
If you have no insurance, payment is expected at the time of service. In these situations, we do offer a 15% discount on all charges for payment with cash.
Insurance
If you have insurance, please have your insurance card available for the front desk. North Idaho Eye Institute, and North Idaho Cataract & Laser Center are contracted with a large number of insurance companies. If your insurance coverage is through a company that we are not contracted with we will be happy to assist you in submitting your medical claim. North Idaho Optical is only contracted with Vision Service Plan.
If we are contracted with your insurance company, payment is expected for any co-payment, deductible and/or non-covered services at the time of service. If we are not contracted with your insurance company, payment for your exam will be expected at the time of service. Payments can be made with a credit card (Visa and Mastercard), traveler’s check, cashier’s check and personal checks and cash.
Please note: This list is not exhaustive and may change at any time. Acceptance of insurance plans does not guarantee coverage. Patients are responsible for verifying directly with their insurance company that our physicians are in-network with their specific plan.
North Idaho Eye Institute and North Idaho Cataract and Laser Center contracts with many insurance carriers and accepts a wide range of insurance plans. Below is a list of commonly accepted insurance providers:
Important Information About Insurance Coverage
- Insurance companies often have multiple plans under their umbrella. Acceptance of one plan does not guarantee coverage for all plans associated with that insurer.
- Some insurance companies offer HMO policies with strict coverage guidelines. If you have an HMO plan, you must contact your insurance company directly to confirm coverage and in-network status.
- While our billing staff can provide guidance, we cannot guarantee the most accurate information due to the wide variety of plan types and coverage rules. We highly recommend that you verify with your insurance company whether our physicians are in-network for your specific plan.
- If your insurance requires a referral, it is your responsibility to obtain the referral prior to your visit.
If you have additional questions regarding insurance or billing, please contact our billing department at (208) 667-5540 or billing@northidahoeye.com.
Insurance FAQ
What insurance plans do you accept?
We accept many major insurance plans, including those listed above.
Does being listed here mean my plan is covered?
Not necessarily. Insurance companies often have multiple plan types under the same name. Some plans may not be in-network with our providers. Always check directly with your insurance company to confirm coverage.
What if I have an HMO plan?
HMO plans often have strict rules about coverage. Please contact your insurance company to verify if you are covered and whether you need authorization before being seen.
Can your billing staff tell me if I’m covered?
Our billing team can help with general guidance, but because of the wide variety of insurance policies, we may not always have the most accurate information. The best way to confirm coverage is to contact your insurance company directly.
Do I need a referral?
If your plan requires a referral, you are responsible for obtaining it before your visit.
Still have questions?
Contact our billing department at (208) 667-5540 or billing@northidahoeye.com for assistance.
Referrals
It is your responsibility to ensure that our office receives the referral your insurance company requires before your visit. If our office does not receive a referral, you have the choice of rescheduling your appointment or being responsible for full payment of our eye exam charges. A Waiver Of Liability will be required for all patients who are covered by a HMO or PPO or VSP.
Service Charge
A service charge to cover the cost of postage and billing services of $5.00 per month may be charged to overdue accounts and late co-payments. In addition, interest at the rate of 12% APR may be applied to overdue accounts.
Payment Plans
If you have a need to establish a payment plan, please contact the business office at 208-667-5540 or billing@northidahoeye.com.
At North Idaho Eye Institute and North Idaho Cataract and Laser, we understand that some patients may not have active insurance coverage. We offer flexible self-pay options and discounts to make your care more affordable.
Self-Pay Patients
Patients without current insurance, or who are unable to provide insurance information at the time of service, are considered self-pay. A minimum deposit of $100 is due at the time of your visit if payment cannot be made in full. We offer two discount options:
- Prompt Pay Discount: Receive a 50% discount when full payment is made at the time of service.
- Delayed Payment Discount: Receive a 20% discount when a $100 minimum payment is made at the time of service, and the remaining balance is paid later.
We accept cash, check, credit card, and CareCredit.
If insurance information is provided after your visit, our billing team can assist with submitting claims and issuing any applicable refunds.
For questions or to set up a payment arrangement, please contact our billing office at 208-667-5540 or billing@northidahoeye.com.
Notice of Patient Rights Under the No Surprises Act
Effective January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act (NSA) provides important protections to patients to help prevent unexpected medical bills. North Idaho Eye Institute is committed to compliance with these requirements and ensuring transparency in the cost of care.
Key Protections:
- Emergency Services: Patients cannot be billed more than the in-network cost-sharing amount for emergency services, regardless of where the services are provided or by whom.
- Non-Emergency Services at In-Network Facilities: Patients cannot be balance billed for certain services when received at an in-network facility, even if those services are provided by an out-of-network clinician.
- Good Faith Estimates (GFE): Patients who are uninsured or who choose not to use their insurance coverage have the right to receive a written Good Faith Estimate of expected charges for non-emergency medical services.
Good Faith Estimate Requirements:
- Patients may request a Good Faith Estimate at any time prior to scheduling.
- A Good Faith Estimate will include expected charges for the primary service and any related services that are reasonably expected to be provided together.
- If the actual billed charges exceed the Good Faith Estimate by $400 or more, patients have the right to initiate the patient-provider dispute resolution process.
Additional Information:
For detailed information regarding your rights under the No Surprises Act, please visit the federal website at: https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises.