What is a Balance Bill and What Should I do with it?

What is a Balance Bill and What Should I do with it?

Healthcare Sharing organizations have been around for over 25 years but it's important to learn the everchanging healthcare terminology that describes our solutions. Taking responsibility for your health includes understanding what your healthcare investment affects.

One confusing part of Healthcare Sharing is how the bills get paid. Some healthcare sharing organizations require their members to self-pay. This means they are responsible for negotiating their bill when they see a provider and for some, this works fine. For those that have a busy schedule and don’t do well when negotiating it’s probably smartest to join a Healthcare Sharing group that does the work for you, like Impact. You saw that coming, didn’t you? 

Let’s walk through the process from when you visit a provider’s office all the way to the end of when the bill is shared.

What happens when you go to a provider?

Impact Health Sharing members present their member ID cards to their service providers. The service provider then discounts the bill accordingly. The bill is then sent to us where we negotiate for further discounts. Here, we review the services provided to determine if the bill is eligible for sharing. After the PRA has been met and if the bill is eligible, it is then shared among the other members.

Always review your Explanation of Sharing (EOS) and compare it to the bill from your provider for your portion. If the amounts match, then you will be responsible for paying that portion. If the amounts do not match, please call Impact so that we can help.

Members will have access to their EOS documents in their Member Center.

What does Eligible for Sharing mean?

Eligible for Sharing refers to any testing, treatment, procedure, or service that meets the criteria for sharing as established in the Guidelines.

How do I submit a bill?

Watch this short video that explains what needs to be done step by step. You will also find links to the medical forms required.

What is a balance bill?

Balance billing occurs when providers bill a patient for the difference between the amount they charge and the amount Impact Health Sharing members shares.

What should you do if you receive a balance bill?

If you still have questions about your balance bill please reach out to a team member, we'd love to assist you and clear up any confusion.

If you recently lost your health plan, or even if you signed up for another plan, you can join Impact Health Sharing and make a change for the better! Impact Health Sharing Works Better, Feels Better than insurance. Just ask one of the millions of Americans who are members of a Healthcare Sharing Organization and have found that this approach really does offset the rising costs of healthcare.

Learn more about Impact Health Sharing membership.