Commonly Asked Patient Questions
Please be advised that any discounts for medical services are rare and if offered are at the discretion of the provider. If you are seeking a discount, please check the patient payment policy of the healthcare provider. For instance, the medical practice or healthcare enterprise may offer discounts on upfront payment (versus staggered payment) of patient balances.
To request a refund, you must log a refund request with us. On receiving the request, we will check if all the claims are paid. If you are eligible for a refund, you will receive a cashier’s check from the doctor’s office within two weeks.
Please call 727-683-0428 with the practice name or provider’s name and we will be able to assist you with your bill details. Our contact details would also be mentioned in the statement you have received.
You can call, email, or fax your request for past and current billing records. At the time of request, our staff may verify a few details with you to ensure authenticity of request. The itemized statement will be sent to you are per the mode of request.
Please note that we can only assist you with statements. For any medical information or queries on the cost of service, we request you contact the office of your provider.
The insurance bill contains an EOB (an explanation of benefits) which shows the total charges for your visit. The EOB helps in understanding the extent of coverage provided by your health plan and lists the amount you’ll be responsible for when receiving a bill from your healthcare provider. Click to see a sample EOB.
It is important not to get your medical bill confused with the Explanation of Benefits (EOB). The doctor’s bill contains the date of service, the description of medical services and the cost of medical services and supplies. At the bottom, or at the top of the statement, there will be information on how you can pay the bill. Learn more about how to read your medical bill.
Please note that all patient information is confidential. Patient bill details can only be shared with a third person if that person has been (a) mentioned as a source of contact on the patient’s account, or (b) if we have explicit instructions from the patient to share the information as a one-off case.
However, if a friend or relative of the patient knows the bill amount and wants to make the payment, we can advise them on the procedure to do so.
Hope this helps!
We understand that you may not always be able to pay the entire bill. In such circumstances we request you to pay at least 25% of the statement balance every month. Please continue to pay at least this amount until the total balance is paid. We also advise you to speak to your provider’s office for information on any installment payment plan that they may offer.
The cost of medical service that is not covered by insurance becomes payable by the patient. This amount will appear in your bill (as explained in point 10 above) received from the doctor’s office.
Medicare is broken out into four parts:
- Medicare Part A – Hospital Coverage for inpatient services
- Medicare Part B – Medical Coverage for outpatient services
- Medicare Part C – Medicare Advantage for coverage of Medicare Part A & Part B
offered by private insurance companies. - Medicare Part D – Prescription drug coverage
Generally, you do not incur charges for Part A if you have contributed to Medicare taxes during your working years. Nevertheless, if eligibility for premium-free Part A is not met, it can be obtained by paying a monthly premium. This premium amount is subject to annual variations and is determined by the duration of your (or your spouse’s) employment and Medicare tax contributions.
Medicare Part B covers medical insurance that addresses expenses related to doctor appointments, tests, and various outpatient services. Additionally, it may cover:
- Involvement in clinical research studies
- Ambulance transportation, including certain nonemergency journeys.
- Durable medical equipment such as walkers or oxygen tanks.
- Mental health services.
- Specific prescription medications typically administered by a doctor or within a hospital
setting.
Under Part B, you are required to pay a premium, the amount of which may rise with your income. It has a deductible (see question 2 above) and generally you are required to pay 20% of the expenses for each medical service as coinsurance. The annual part B Medicare deductible for Year 2024 is $ 240.00.
Part A and Part B typically do not include coverage for most dental care, eye examinations, hearing aids or fittings, cosmetic surgery, acupuncture, or routine foot care. Additionally, these parts do not generally cover most prescription drugs.
To address prescription drug coverage, it is necessary to enroll in a Part D or Medicare Advantage plan.
If you have missed a payment due date, please call the billing department and the executive will guide on the payment. In the absence of payment, you will receive payments reminders in subsequent months. As advised above (in question 12) try to pay at least 25% of your statement amount each month.
If you have questions about your statement, our team is standing by to assist you. Please note these contact details:
- Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm
- Patient Inquiry Line: (727) 771-1300
- Email: claims@practiceforces.com
- You could also submit an online contact form: www.practiceforces.com/im-a-patient/
If you wish to meet someone in person, then we request you to visit your provider’s office. Thanks!
Sure, if there is anything we can do to assist, we will be glad to help. Please contact us through any of the modes mentioned above (in question 16).
Our team will recheck the available insurance and patient payment records to assess what is needed to solve the matter. For instance, we may need proof of transaction from you to reconcile a missing payment in your statement. In some cases, we may need to make a joint call with the healthcare plan (or provider) and the insured person to resolve the matter.
We accept all forms of payment (unless specified otherwise by your provider’s office). You can pay your medical bill by (a) credit cards, (b) checks, or (c) money orders. We process online payment through credit card on file. Checks can be sent to our billing office address: 2410 Northside Dr, Clearwater, FL 33761
Our apologies if a response from our customer service team has not been to your expectations. Please contact us at advice a suitable time when a PracticeForces supervisor can call you to take this further.
If the issue is about the response from the insurance company, we can try to clarify the matter with the information we have on record. Alternatively, we can advise you on how to raise the matter further with your insurance company.
Your payment will be reflected on your account within 3-5 working days.
The expense of telemedicine depends on your individual insurance coverage. Certain insurance plans may equate the cost of telemedicine visits with that of in-person visits in terms of co-pays and deductibles). Alternatively, some plans may provide telehealth visits at a reduced cost. We request you to consult with their insurance provider for precise details on this matter.