understanding your bill
Understanding Your Bill
Your billing process should be as stress-free as possible. Having a full understanding of your hospital bill helps. Check out the sample hospital bill below for a quick explanation of its important sections. For a full explanation, you can download Understanding Your Medical Center Bill (PDF).
A: Contact Information
Provides the web address where you can make a payment, as well as a telephone number you can use to pay by phone. Also includes an address for written correspondence.
B: Guarantor Name
Identifies the person financially responsible for charges.
C: Guarantor Number
Use this unique identifier when referencing your account online or with Cedars Sinai Patient Financial Services.
D: Guarantor Account Summary:
A snapshot of balance due.
E: Total Amount Due:
The amount indicated is your responsibility to pay. The total is based on actual charges minus any payments received from you or your insurance provider.
F: Customer Care
Contact information and hours of operation.
G: Bulletin
Important messages regarding your account or general billing changes.
H: Payment Coupon
Will be included only if a payment is due from you.
Not shown: Subsequent pages on your patient bill will provide a more detailed account of the services provided to you. There is also information about financial assistance and physician services, as well as a form to change your contact or insurance information.
How to Figure Out Your Charges
To budget for your healthcare expenses, it helps to know what to expect. There are three ways to estimate your charges and expenses.
- Contact Your Insurance Company. Your insurance company can let you know if a service is covered, how much you need to pay when you have an appointment, and if you have deductibles you will need to pay out of pocket before your insurance company contributes to your bill.
- Get an Estimate. For elective surgical and gastrointestinal (GI) procedures, you can call the Cash and Insurance Pricing Line, (213) 314-1492 , to get a billing estimate before you receive services. Contact your insurance company first. If you don't have insurance, call this number after you've visited your doctor and know what services you need.
- Review the Chargemaster. For a general overview of how your healthcare charges may be broken down, the Charge Description Master (CDM), or chargemaster, is a list of items that may be billed to a patient, insurance company or healthcare provider.
The Common Outpatient Procedures List includes charges to help you estimate future expenses.
You can also review this information in person, Monday through Friday from 10 am - 3 pm (excluding holidays) by visiting:
L.A. Downtown Medical Center
1711 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, California 90026
Help Paying Your Bill
We provide financial assistance to eligible patients. We also offer our patients a variety of options to meet their financial needs, even if they do not qualify for assistance.
More Help
For patients that need help paying a bill, there are free consumer advocacy organizations that will help patients understand the billing and payment process. Patients may call the Health Consumer Alliance at 888-804-3536 or go to healthconsumer.org for more information
If you have a disability and need an accessible alternative format for the above materials or if you speak another language than those listed, please contact Business Office and they can offer you an alternative format or connect you with our Interpreter Services department for further assistance.
Have Questions or Need Help?
By Phone
We’re here to help answer your questions Monday through Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm.
By E-Mail
Would you prefer talk to us by email? No worries – we’ve got you covered and we’ll respond within 3 business days.