Pricing Transparency
Contact Us
Contact us any time at (319) 369-4520, email patientestimates@mercycare.org or complete this form to find out your out-of-pocket costs, based upon your current insurance coverage benefits. We are happy to assist you.
If you are uninsured or need financial assistance, please visit our Financial Assistance page to learn more. Please do not postpone or forgo treatment due to financial concerns. We are here to help you and are happy to discuss options with you via our financial advisors.
Please review the information below to understand your hospital bill, payment and options available to you.
Hospital Billing Policies
We want to make sure that you receive the full benefits of your insurance coverage as well as consideration under our financial assistance programs, if applicable. Before we bill you, we bill your insurance provider, including Medicare and Medicaid, and any secondary insurance providers. We do not charge interest on any balance due after insurance payments are received. We will send an easy-to-understand billing statement showing the most current balance owed by your insurance provider as well as any balance due from you. If you are not able to pay the amount you owe in full, you may contact us regarding applying for Financial Assistance or being set up on a payment plan. Emergency service will never be delayed or withheld on the basis of a patient’s ability to pay.
Mercy is committed to sharing information that will help people make informed decisions about their healthcare services. We make pricing information available in multiple ways:
- Patient Estimates is an easy to use tool to estimate out-of-pocket costs for our most commonly shopped procedures, including lab and imaging services. For the most accurate estimate, have your health plan details available to fully utilize this tool.
- Since 2007, Mercy has voluntarily made available hospital charge information via the Iowa Hospital Association website. Remember, “charges” does not represent what you might pay when insurance coverage and other factors are included.
- Gross Charge lists are downloadable files containing charge information for all hospital items and services as required by CMS (the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). Remember, “gross charges” do not represent what you might pay when insurance coverage and other factors are included.
When Searching Price
What’s most important for patients is that they understand what their cost will be, which is different than what the provider charges. With that, it is important to keep the following in mind.
What to Consider When Researching Healthcare Costs:
Cost to the patient is determined by many factors.
The cost to you as a patient will be determined by many factors, most of which is your insurance provider. A patient’s out-of-pocket costs are not a simple flat fee. They are largely based on the patient’s insurance plan and what selections they made within that plan, including the deductible, co-payment and coinsurance. You’ll find in researching that Mercy is competitive in its pricing for services.
We encourage you to contact your insurance provider to understand your out-of-pocket costs.
See examples of how insurance can influence the direct cost to the patient.
While cost is important, look for the safest and highest-quality hospital.
Hospitals regularly report and share quality information around patient outcomes, complications and other safety-related information. You can see, often via websites like mercycare.org/quality, how they stack up compared to other organizations. The result of your care is the most important thing to get you healthy again – know how well your hospital does at making sure that happens. If an organization does not provide or report this information, it is worth questioning to be clear on the level of quality provided.
You may incur other potential costs based on your needs.
Healthcare is complex. Just like people, every visit is different.
As a local, non-profit hospital, Mercy works hard to manage costs for our patients. When you choose Mercy, you’ll have access to the latest technology and compassionate caregivers, such as:
- Doctors and nurses
- Physical, occupational and speech therapists
- Pharmacists
- Social workers
- Imaging technicians
- Medical laboratory professionals
- Food and nutrition, including dietitians
- Housekeepers, linen and other environmental services specialists
- Chaplains
- Security
The charges you incur from your stay at Mercy will depend upon a variety of factors, including (but not limited to):
- Length of stay
- Level of care required
- Specialists needed for your specific care
- Technology, equipment and supplies used for your condition
Please note that Mercy’s charges are the same for all patients, but your specific financial responsibility may vary depending upon your health insurance plan.
Pricing Transparency Policy
In an era of increasing healthcare costs and consumer-driven financing alternatives, the need for pricing transparency in healthcare services has taken on increasing importance for Iowa's citizens. Mercy is committed to sharing information that will help people make informed decisions about their healthcare services.
Goal of Pricing Transparency
The goal of pricing transparency is to provide consumers with useful information about hospital and other healthcare prices on a comparative basis across the various services provided.
