Understanding your bill
Health care bills can be confusing. Here you'll find helpful information for families and patients who have had surgery at Cook Children's.
You may print this, ask your referring pediatrician for a surgery handbook or call for a copy at 682-885-4432. This guide includes the following information:
About your bills
If your child has been treated at Cook Children's Medical Center, you may receive several bills for medical care. Here is information to help explain bills and insurance. For more information, call the numbers listed.
If your child is admitted to the hospital for one day or many days, you may receive any or all of these bills:
Bills from doctors
- Pediatric specialists who treated your child in the medical center - pulmonologist, neurologist, cardiologist, hematologist, psychiatrist and others whose skills were needed.
- Pediatric specialists who treated your child in special departments - intensive care, rehabilitation and others.
- Pediatric specialists who work in X-ray or lab - radiologist, pathologist.
- Pediatric specialists who work in surgery - surgeon, anesthesiologist.
Not all bills will come from Cook Children's. Some bills will be mailed to you from doctors' offices and billing services. Read these bills carefully to find the phone number to call if you have a question about charges.
Bills from the medical center
- Hospital bill - room charges, medications, operating room fees, lab tests, medical supplies and equipment.
- Emergency Department physician and ER charges if you came to the ER.
This bill will come from Cook Children's. Read the bill carefully. Call 682-885-4432 if you have questions. Or, if calling from area codes other than 817 or 682, call toll free, 888-852-6635.
If your child is treated at Cook Children's Specialty Clinic, you will receive TWO bills for each visit. One bill will be from doctors in these specialties:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Endocrinology
- Surgery
- Hematology/Oncology
- Nephrology
- Pulmonology
- Radiology
Any payment you make will be applied to the doctor's bill. You may receive a bill for the balance due to your doctor. Contact your insurance company if you have questions about this bill.
If your child is treated at Cook Children's Specialty Clinic, you will receive TWO bills for each visit. One from doctors who cared for your child (listed above) and one for medical center outpatient services:
- Laboratory tests and procedures
- Supplies
- Equipment and medical center costs
- Clinical and other staff fees
This will be billed as OUTPATIENT HOSPITAL. Please read your benefits plan carefully. Call 682-885-4432 if you have questions. (Or, call 888-852-6635 outside area code 817 or 682.)
If your child has weekly or regular appointments at Cook Children's Medical Center, you will receive bills for one of these services:
- Infectious Disease Clinic
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Speech Therapy
- Psychiatric Services
This bill will come from Cook Children's and will include all charges for clinical and other staff, laboratory tests and procedures. Read the bill carefully, and call 682-885-4432 if you have questions. (Or, call 888-852-6635 outside area code 817 or 682.)
If your child has regular or weekly appointments at Cook Children's Medical Center, you may receive bills from these physicians:
- Pediatric specialists in infectious disease, rehabilitation, psychiatry.
Cook Children's sends bills directly to insurance companies. It is your responsibility to:
- Contact your insurance plan to learn how much you must pay for your child's care.
- Contact your insurance company to learn if your bill is being processed.
- Pay Cook Children's for all charges not paid by your insurance company.
- Accounts left unpaid may be referred to a collection agency.
Still have questions?
Read all bills carefully to find the phone number to call for assistance. Or call your employer's benefits office for explanations. Not all bills will come from Cook Children's. If you have questions about your Cook Children's Medical Center bill, please call 682-885-4432, or if calling from area codes other than 817 or 682, call toll free at 888-852-6635.
Cook Children's accepts Master Card, Visa, American Express and Discover cards.
