Plan Your Visit

What insurance does UAB accept?

You will be asked for your insurance information when you seek service at each UAB Medicine facility, including UAB Hospital, UAB Hospital-Highlands, University Emergency Department, and The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital. Specialists are available to guide you through any concerns about insurance and billing you may have.

It is important to remember that every insurance policy is different. Your medical coverage is a contract between you and your insurance company. If possible, please contact your insurance company in advance to gather details on the coverage your policy provides. It is important to: 

  • Identify whether your insurance carrier requires a referral, prior authorization, or precertification before receiving treatment
  • Determine whether UAB is classified as “in-network” or “out-of-network”, because out-of-pocket charges are often higher if services are considered to be outside your network

Billing and Insurance for UAB Hospital

If You Stay in the Hospital:

During the first 24 hours in the hospital, you can expect a visit from the admissions coordinator, who works with the Patient Financial Services Department. The admissions coordinator will answer your questions about your insurance and hospital bill when visiting you in the hospital.

Hospital Program Options:

There are many programs that may help you pay your hospital bill, if you qualify. To find if there is a program that is right for you, the admissions coordinator will talk with you about your income and needs.

Emergency Room Charges:

When you come to UAB Medicine Emergency Department, you will be sent to an area called “triage.” In triage, a nurse will talk to you and examine you to decide what medical care you may need. You will receive a bill for being seen in triage.

Next, you will sign in to be seen in the Emergency Department (ED). You will need to show two pieces of identification. You will be asked for information like your name, address, and insurance. A doctor will see you and decide whether you need to stay in the hospital or can be treated and sent home. If you stay in the hospital, all costs for your ED visit will be added to your hospital bill. If you are sent home, you will be sent a bill for ED services. A separate bill will be sent for the ED physician charges.

Billing and Insurance for The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital

The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital is an outpatient department of UAB Hospital. For more information on what this means for patients, please visit our provider-based page.

The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital accepts most forms of insurance; however, check with us to make sure that your particular coverage is approved. When you visit, please bring the proper insurance identification cards, so that we can submit your claims to your insurance company. If you are required to file personally for your company’s insurance, we will provide you with all necessary forms to file your own claim. When your visit is completed, you will be expected to pay any charges that will not be reimbursed by insurance (e.g. co-payments and deductibles), unless you have made prior arrangements with one of our financial counselors. Because your insurance coverage is a contract between you and your insurance company, it is your responsibility to obtain any physician referral precertification that your insurance company requires for your visit to be covered.

Keywords: insurance, billing

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