Navigating Hospital Bills with Expert Support
At ShareWELL, we understand that large hospital bills can be overwhelming, especially when navigating the complexities of pricing and discounts on your own. That’s why we partner with a team of professionals who specialize in uncovering every possible way to reduce what our members owe on their medical expenses, particularly hospital bills.
Getting Started with Support
Once you have submitted a Sharing Request, ShareWELL Partners will provide you with a secure link to a registration portal. This portal allows both you and ShareWELL Partners to upload hospital bills to reduce your out-of-pocket burden.
The first step is completing a HIPAA authorization form. This gives us permission to work on your behalf and communicate directly with your medical providers, so you don’t have to.
Step-by-Step Assistance
- Portal Registration: You’ll receive an invitation from Empara Health to register in a secure portal. Once registered, you or ShareWELL Partners will upload the hospital bill. We want to ensure they have any available initial discounts applied by the hospital.
- Self-Pay Resource Screening: You’ll be asked to complete a short screening to help identify any available self-pay financial resources tailored to your household. This process ensures that all potential discounts and self-pay programs are explored thoroughly.
- Document Upload: As part of the screening, you may be asked to upload additional financial documents. Providing these quickly helps keep the process moving smoothly.
- Bill Audit: After the screening is complete, we will conduct a detailed bill audit. This includes reviewing itemized charges to ensure they align with standard pricing, checking for duplicate charges, and verifying that all applicable discounts and coding practices were properly applied.
- Attorney-Led Negotiations: If the audit reveals opportunities for further reductions, our team may initiate professional, attorney-led negotiations with your providers. These experts are experienced in working with hospitals and billing departments to seek fair and reduced payment terms for our members.
Ongoing Financial Support for ShareWELL Members
As a ShareWELL member, access to their Empara portal is a continuing financial resource. You may submit any medical bill over $800 for negotiation or review at any time, even if that bill does not qualify for sharing. This benefit helps ensure you’re supported in managing your healthcare expenses well beyond traditional sharing scenarios.
Creating Win-Win Solutions
This process helps reduce a member’s out-of-pocket costs. It creates a win-win scenario for the entire ShareWELL community. By identifying available discounts and negotiating more favorable terms, we can lower the amount needed for sharing while helping providers receive payment faster, sometimes even in advance, for planned procedures. It’s a practical, proactive approach supporting members, the community, and providers.
A Path to Reducing Your Unshared Amount
When members actively participate in this process and complete their steps in a timely manner, they may qualify for a reduction of their Unshared Amount, potentially up to the full amount. This is one of the many ways ShareWELL works to support members through real, measurable savings on large healthcare bills.
If you’ve recently had a hospital visit and need help navigating the billing process, don’t hesitate to reach out to ShareWELL Partners. We’re here to help guide you every step of the way.
Helpful Tips for a Smoother Experience
- Processing Times & Mail Notifications: If your screening requires additional documentation, the typical processing time is 30–45 days. You’ll receive a physical letter in the mail from your provider with any results or next steps.
- HIPAA Form Requirements: While ShareWELL provides a standard HIPAA form, some providers may require a version that includes their specific information or a wet signature. In some cases, multiple forms may be needed throughout the process.
- Using Provider Patient Portals: If your provider offers an online patient portal, take advantage of it. Portals are often the fastest way to access updated bills, medical notes, or approvals. Periodically checking and sending any updates to ShareWELL Partners can help move your case forward more efficiently.
- Turn on Notifications: Turn on notifications when registering on your Empara portal. This lets you see the bills move through in real time and any important updates.