Paying for Care

We accept many insurance plans. Please be sure to check that your doctor is an in-network provider. You may have to pay additional costs for out-of-network services.

Some health insurance plans require you to get a referral from your primary care doctor or authorization from your plan before you see a specialist. Watch the video below to learn how the process works.

Copays

A copay is a monetary charge that your health insurance plan may require you to the pay in order to receive a specific medical service or supply. Copays vary by policy and can change depending on the type of visit.

For example: Let's say Gary goes to a Children’s Colorado specialist with a case of mono. His specialist reviews his insurance and sees that he has a $25 co-pay based on his insurance benefits. His copay is collected, and his insurance company will reimburse the specialist for the difference between the copay and the cost of treatment.

Here's another example: Say your plan’s deductible is $2,500, your plan covers 70% of services and your out-of-pocket max is $7,350. Setting aside copays, here’s what your year looks like:

Deductibles

Your deductible is the amount of your medical costs that you have to pay before your health insurance will pay benefits consistent with the benefit plan.

Example: Gary has a health plan with a $1,500 deductible. If Gary only has minor health expenses during the year that cost less than $1,500 total, he's going to pay the full amount to treat them. However, if Gary has a serious illness that requires a lot of medical care, he'll pay his $1,500 deductible and then his health insurance will pay benefits consistent with the benefit plan.

Coinsurance

Coinsurance is the way you and your health insurance company share the costs of your care. For example, if Gary is injured and he’s met his deductible for the year, his health plan will pay 80% of the cost of his bills, leaving him responsible for the remaining 20%.

So, in summary:

• You pay copays when you see the doctor.
• Deductibles are the portion you must pay before your insurance pays.
• Coinsurance is how you and your insurance company split up the cost of your care.

Coverage can change every year depending on your health insurance plan. This determines whether or not a patient’s bill is covered by insurance. Hospital coverage often has patient responsibilities including deductible, copayment or coinsurance. Since each plan can be different, we encourage families to carefully review their benefits with their insurance company.

When your child sees a doctor or specialist at Children’s Colorado, you’ll get 2 bills:  

Your Children's Colorado bill covers services we provide directly, such as facility fees, nursing care, imaging and labs. This is called hospital billing.

Your CU Medicine bill covers the services provided by the doctor you see at our hospital. This is because they are employed by CU Medicine, not Children’s Colorado. This is called physician billing.

You can set up automatic monthly payment arrangements in MyChart or by contacting our customer service team at 720-777-6422 or PFS@childrenscolorado.org.

We are committed to providing healthcare to children regardless of family income. Many of our patient-families are surprised to learn that their child qualifies for assistance. If you need help paying for your medical bill(s), please call one of our financial counselors at 720-777-7001 to discuss financial assistance options. Our financial counselors can help you apply for a variety of financial assistance programs.