Financial Services

Financial Assistance Questions

How do I apply for Cleveland Clinic’s financial assistance?

Patients can get help, apply for assistance or schedule a call back with a Patient Financial Advocate by visiting Cleveland Clinic's financial assistance page for more information. Patients can also call Customer Service at 866.621.6385 for additional assistance.

What are the requirements to be eligible for financial assistance?

You must be a self-pay legal resident of Ohio and your income must be at or below 400% of the Federal Income Poverty Guideline and you are strongly encouraged to cooperate with the Medicaid Eligibility Process.

Can financial assistance be used towards my deductible and out of pocket expenses with my insurance?

As of March 1, 2011, patients with insurance cannot use financial assistance towards deductibles or out of pocket expenses after insurance pays.

How do I know if my financial assistance application was processed and approved?

A letter will be mailed to patients who were approved for financial assistance. The letter will state the level of coverage that will be provided. You can also check the status of your financial assistance application by calling Customer Service at 866.621.6385 and following the automated phone prompts.

Why should I apply for Medicaid when I can receive free care through financial assistance?

Medicaid is federal health insurance. Most facilities accept Medicaid. Financial assistance only covers you at Cleveland Clinic. Medicaid also provides prescription coverage. Financial assistance does not cover the cost of prescriptions.

I am a self pay patient. Are there any discounts available?

A 35% discount will be extended to patients who can pay their balance in full prior to receiving services.

I keep receiving calls from Centauri. Are they part of Cleveland Clinic?

Centauri is a vendor utilized by Cleveland Clinic to help patients obtain Medicaid if they are eligible. Compliance with this vendor is important for qualifying for financial assistance if Medicaid is not approved.

I am self pay. How do I make an appointment at Cleveland Clinic without insurance?

When a patient calls Cleveland Clinic to make an appointment in a specific department, the Patient Service Representative at the front desk will direct you to a Patient Financial Advocate. At this time, the Patient Financial Advocate will go over the self pay policy for Cleveland Clinic.

How can I find out about other Financial Programs?

Based on your individual situation, you may want to consider a variety of financial resources. A social worker is available to help you identify organizations, government agencies and other resources that might offer assistance. For social work assistance, call 216.444.6554.

Breast Cancer Fund of Ohio (BCFO) is here to support patients that are experiencing financial hardship while receiving breast cancer care.

I am a patient coming to Cleveland Clinic from out of town. My insurance does not offer travel and lodging benefits. Is there somewhere we can stay for free or at a discounted rate?

Find information about discounted lodging, parking and transportation.

Insurance Coverage Questions

My Insurance requires a prior authorization / pre-certification for services. How do I obtain an authorization / certification?

If your insurance company is not contracted with Cleveland Clinic or does not approve care, you may be responsible for obtaining authorization or for full or partial payment if you decide to still receive services.

What steps do I need to take if my insurance carrier changes?

You can contact customer service at 216.445.6249 or 1.866.621.6385

How can I find out if my insurance is accepted by Cleveland Clinic?

We recommend patients contact their insurance carrier to ensure Cleveland Clinic is in their network.

I have a separate Cancer Insurance Policy. Who do I call to receive an itemized statement?

You can contact Customer Service at 216.445.6249 or 1.866.621.6385

I have an out of network insurance. Can I still be seen at Cleveland Clinic?

Patients with out of network insurance can come to Cleveland Clinic and our Patient Financial Advocates can assist you.

Unique Billing Statement Questions

Why are my chemotherapy and/or radiation billed from the 1st day of the month to the last day instead of the day I had my treatment?

Due to the frequency of visits, Cleveland Clinic historically required chemotherapy and radiation services to be billed on a monthly basis. Cleveland Clinic is looking into changing the statement to reflect actual service dates.

I see a "hospital charge" on my statement for an outpatient office visit. Why did I get charged this additional fee?

The "hospital charge" is a facility fee used to cover the costs of providing non-physician staff, equipment and supplies.

Why was my bill sent to a collection agency?

Cleveland Clinic employs third party collections agencies to help resolve unpaid guarantor balances. A patient will receive four monthly billing statements for a specific date of service that is deemed patient responsibility. If the patient does not pay after receiving the fourth and final statement, the unpaid balance will be put into collections.

Please note: If your situation is not being managed or resolved in a timely manner, please call Taussig's Reimbursement Manager at 216.444.1774.