Billing
Understanding and Paying your Bill
As a patient of Monterey County Clinic Services, we will submit a claim to your health insurance company, including Medicare and Medi-Cal (Central California Alliance for Health), before we bill you. If you owe a balance that was not covered by your insurance, or if you are a self-pay patient, you will receive a monthly statement from Monterey County Clinic Services by mail.
Monterey County Clinic Services provides patients a statement that includes fees for both clinic and professional services. Clinic services include room and board, fees for services such as diagnostic tests ( x-rays, electrocardiograms [EKG], or laboratory tests) and medications. Professional services are those from the physicians who provided you care during your clinic visit (primary care physician).
If you have a question regarding your statement, please call Patient Financial Services at (831) 796-1359. A sample statement is available here to help you better understand the look and content of your bill.
Statement Questions
Do you have questions about your bill? We can help you understand your hospital and physician bills from Monterey County Clinic Services. For answers to some of the most common questions, review our Billing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below.
If You Do Not Have Health Insurance
If you do not have health insurance and are in need financial assistance, Clinic Services offers a Sliding Fee Scale Discount Program in accordance with federal guidelines. An application for the program should be submitted within 60 days from your date of service. Clinic Services also offers payment plans if you cannot pay account balance in full by the due dates. Payments can be made at the clinics or at our office at: 1441 Schilling Place, South Building-1st Floor, Salinas CA 93901. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm. The billing office accepts cash, check or credit card payments.
All patients are encouraged to contact or visit the Billing office (831) 796-1359.
Billing Frequently Asked Questions
What are my financial responsibilities as a patient?As a patient, you should know and understand your insurance plan benefits and your responsibility for any deductibles, co-insurance, or co-payment amounts prior to any visit. Not all services are covered in all insurance contracts. If your insurance plan does not cover a service or procedure, you may be billed for full payment of the bill.
To find out what your insurance plan covers and what your financial obligation may be, call the Customer Service or Member Services Department of your insurance company (the phone numbers are on your insurance card).
You should check that your insurance company lists both your doctor and hospital as being in your network. If you go to an out-of-network provider, you may have a greater financial responsibility for the care you receive. Your insurance company can help you find an in-network provider to limit the amount of money you will have to pay for care.
You will receive a monthly statement from Clinic Services by mail if you are a self-pay patient and/or if you owe a balance that was not paid by your insurance. Your insurance provider will send you an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) letter that details the amount that was paid, any non-covered or denied amounts and the remaining balance that you are responsible for paying. Review your EOB carefully, compare it to your statement and call your insurance provider or a Clinic Service Patient Account Representative right away if you have questions or concerns.
The most common insurance denials received on claims are:
- Your insurance carrier needs additional information from you
- You were not covered by your insurance plan on the date of service
- No authorization/referral is on file for services
- The service you received was not covered under your plan
- The insurance information recorded at the time of service was inaccurate, incomplete or missing.
If you do not have health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, we will send you a monthly statement for any remaining balance not paid at the time services are received. Please pay the bill, or call us to make a payment plan as soon as you receive it.
We ask that payments be made at the time of your visit so you won’t be inconvenienced with a Balance Due statement sent to your home after your visit.
Payments can be made:
- By mail:
- By calling a Customer Service Representative at (831) 796-1359, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- In person:
If you prefer to discuss your bill in person, you are welcome to meet with our customer service staff from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Patient Financial Services is located at 1615 Bunker Hill, Suite 100, Salinas CA.
Please contact one of our Customer Service Representatives at (831) 796-1359. Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. We can discuss options for payment plans or financial assistance with you.