Billing & Insurance

Patient Billing

This page concerns billing at Albany Medical Center, Albany Medical College, and EmUrgentCare. 

Find out more about billing at Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital, or Saratoga Hospital.

Albany Medical Center

We're dedicated to providing customers with accurate and helpful information regarding their bill. Information on financial assistance programs, insurance questions and other matters related to payment is also available using the links and resources below.

Update Your Information

You can update your insurance and billing information through your MyChart account.

Online Bill Pay or Pay by Phone

  • Bills for services provided by Albany Medical Center, including by one of our EmUrgentCare locations, issued on or after March 2, 2024, can be paid in MyChart.
  • Pay as a guest.
  • For bills made payable to Albany Medical Center Hospital issued prior to March 2, 2024, pay online here.
  • For bills made payable to Albany Med EmUrgentCare issued prior to March 2, 2024, pay online here.
  • To pay by phone, call 877-522-5645 and enter the unique pay by phone code listed in your statement.

Customers can apply for financial aid here.

If you need assistance with MyChart, call our dedicated MyChart support line anytime at 833-670-9095.

More information is available in the drop-downs below.

Contact Us & Directions
For questions related to bills issued prior to March 2, 2024:
Billing inquiries: 518-262-2800
Toll Free: 866-262-7476

For questions related to bills issued after March 2, 2024:
Billing Inquiries: 518-264-7729
Toll Free: 833-264-7729

Charity Care Inquiries: 518-262-1981
Translation services are available.

Address
Patient Billing Services
1275 Broadway
Albany, NY 12204

Address for Mailing Payment

Albany Med Health System
PO Box 981006
Boston, MA 02298-1006

Hours
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

If you are uninsured or have limited income, you may qualify for one of the following New York State programs:

  • Adult Medicaid: Ages 19-64; can go back three months to pay medical bills, only if the patient was Medicaid eligible in the month the bill was incurred.
  • Family Health Plus: Ages 19-64, cannot go back to pay old bills. This is a product of Medicaid.
  • Child Health Plus A: Children's Medicaid for 0-18 year olds. Can go back three months to pay medical bills with eligibility criteria met.
  • Child Health Plus B: Ages 0-18. Cannot go back to pay old medical bills. Coverage starts on the first of the month with eligibility criteria met.
  • NY State of Health: The Official Health Plan Marketplace where you can find affordable and comprehensive health insurance options.
    Phone: 1-855-355-5777

To find out more about these programs, please visit the NYS website. If you do not qualify for these state programs, you may be eligible for Financial Aid. More information can be found by calling 518-262-3632.


Albany Med Health System Financial Assistance Program

The Albany Med Health System understands that receiving medical care sometimes includes unexpected expenses. Assistance may be available through the Albany Med Health System Financial Assistance Program.

The program applies to all areas of the Albany Med Health System: Albany Medical Center, Albany Medical College, Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital and Saratoga Hospital. This includes professional services from employed providers of these facilities.

Eligibility is based on the federal income poverty guidelines and family size using a sliding scale.

Customers can apply for financial aid here.

If your account has been sent to collection or you have Albany Medical Center Hospital debt that appears on your credit report please contact the appropriate collection agency from which you have received correspondence.

Please verify with the collection agency that you have an outstanding debt with Albany Medical Center Hospital.

CBCS National: 800-649-0690
Medical Data Systems (MDS): 866-631-4680
Overton, Russell and Doerr (ORD): 518-383-4876

Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

When you get emergency care or are treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from balance billing. In these cases, you shouldn’t be charged more than your plan’s copayments, coinsurance and/or deductible.

What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?

When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs,  like a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible. You may have additional costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.

“Out-of-network” means providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health  plan to provide services. Out-of-network providers may be allowed to bill you for the difference  between what your plan pays and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your plan’s deductible or annual out-of-pocket limit.

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in- network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider. Surprise medical bills could cost thousands of dollars depending on the procedure or service.


You’re protected from balance billing for:

Emergency services

If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or hospital, the most they can bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in a stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these  post-stabilization services.  If your insurance ID card says “fully insured coverage,” you can’t give written consent and give up your protections not to be balance billed for post-stabilization services.

Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center

When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers can bill you is       your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, and intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections     not to be balance billed.

If you get other types of services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t
balance bill you, unless you give written consent and give up your protections. If your insurance ID card says “fully insured coverage,” you can’t give up your protections for these other services if they are a surprise bill. Surprise bills are when you’re at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical facility and a participating doctor was not available, a non-participating doctor provided services without your knowledge, or unforeseen medical services were provided.

Services referred by your in-network doctor  

If your insurance ID card says “fully insured coverage,” surprise bills include when your in-network doctor refers you to an out-of-network provider without your consent (including lab and pathology services). These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections       not to be balance billed. You may need to sign a form (available on the Department of Financial Services’ website) for the full balance billing protection to apply.

You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get out-of-network care. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.


When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have these protections:

  • You’re only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance,   and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay any additional costs to out-of-network providers and facilities directly.
  • Generally, your health plan must:
    • Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (also known as “prior authorization”).
    • Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
    • Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an     in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
    • Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services   toward your in-network deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

 

If you think you’ve been wrongly billed and your coverage is subject to New York law (“fully insured coverage”), contact the New York State Department of Financial Services at 800-342-3736 or [email protected]. Visit the Department of Financial Services for information about your rights under state law.

Contact CMS at 1-800-985-3059 for self-funded coverage or coverage bought outside New York. Visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for information about your rights under federal law.

If you have any additional questions, concerns, or if you think you have received a bill in error after January 1, 2022, please contact Albany Medical Center customer service at 1-866-262-7476 or 1-888-775-5277.

HOSPITAL DISCLOSURE

Important Information about Paying for Your Care at Albany Medical Center

Albany Medical Center is a participating provider in many health plan networks. You can find a list of the plans in which we participate on this site. Some health plans use smaller networks for certain products they offer so it is important to check whether we participate in the specific plan you are covered by. Our list will tell you if we do not participate in all of the health plan’s products. You should always contact your health plan to verify coverage.

It is also important for you to know that the physician services you receive in the hospital are separate and are not included in the hospital’s charges. Even if a physician is employed by Albany Medical Center, their services will be billed separately. Additionally, physicians who provide services at the hospital may be independent voluntary physicians or may not participate in the same health plans as the hospital. You should check with the physician arranging your hospital services to determine which plans that physician participates in. Plan participation information for physicians employed by Albany Medical Center can be found on this website. Albany Medical Center contracts with a number of physicians groups who are not employed by the hospital. You should contact these groups directly to find out which health plans they participate in if your physician has identified them as being involved in your treatment. A list of the physicians’ groups that commonly provide services at our hospital is provided below, however this list may not be all-inclusive. Additional contact information, including mailing addresses, for such physicians’ groups may be found by going to the particular physician groups’ website listed below.

You should also check with the physician arranging for your hospital services to determine whether the services of any other physicians will be required for your care. Your physician can provide you with the name, practice name, mailing address and telephone number of any physicians whose services may be needed. Your physician will also be able to tell you whether the services of any physicians employed or contracted by Albany Medical Center are likely to be needed, such as anesthesiologists, radiologists and pathologists. You should contact these groups directly to find out which health plans they participate in.

Hospitals are required by law to make available information about their standard charges for the items and services they provide. Pricing transparency is available on this site you may call 518-262-4989.

If you do not have health insurance, you may be eligible for assistance in paying your hospital bills. Information about financial assistance is available on this site or you may contact our Patient Financial Assistance Office at 518-262-4989.

Independent physicians’ groups affiliated with Albany Medical Center:

Children's Medical Eye Consultants: 518-533-6502

Cornea Consultants of Albany: 518-475-1515

Glaucoma Consultants of the Capital Region: 518-475-7300

Glaucoma Practice of New York, PLLC: 518-533-6565

Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery: 518-533-6540

Capital Cardiology Associates: 518-292-6000

Capital District Pediatric Cardiology Associates: 518-489-3292

Capital Region Orthopedic Associates: 518-489-2666

Community Care Physicians - Family Practice: 518-782-3700

Community Care Physicians - Radiology & VIR: 518-262-5149

New York Oncology and Hematology: 518-612-4108

Some highly sensitive surgical procedures require remote physician monitoring to enhance safety:

Other helpful contact information for patients:

Albany Stratton VA Medical Center: 888-823-9656

Center for Disability Services: 518-437-5700

Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics: 518-435-0840

BioTel: 866-426-4401

Superior Orthopaedic: 518-622-8108

Visiting Nurse Association of Albany: 518-489-2681

Capital Orthotic Prosthetic Associates: 518-489-2681

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your health care will cost

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have certain types of health care coverage or who are not using certain types of health care coverage an estimate of their bill for health care items and services before those items or services are provided.

  • You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any health care items or services upon request or when scheduling such items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
  • If you schedule a health care item or service at least 3 business days in advance, make sure your health care provider or facility gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 1 business day after scheduling. If you schedule a health care item or service at least 10 business days in advance, make sure your health care provider or facility gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 3 business days after scheduling. You can also ask any health care provider or facility for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. If you do, make sure the health care provider or facility gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 3 business days after you ask.
  • If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more for any provider or facility than your Good Faith Estimate from that provider or facility, you can dispute the bill.
  • Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate and the bill.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, email [email protected], or call 1-800-985-3059.

You can sign up to receive appointment and prescription refill reminders, updates related to your care, and statements and bill-pay options on your phone. Top opt in, text "start" to:

  • 97989 for billing information
  • 68723 for all other reminders

Text messages related to your relationship with the Albany Med Health System, including updates related to your visits, MyChart account, one-time passcode, billing notifications, prescription reminders, and care management will be sent to your phone number once you opt in. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. For help text “help” and text “stop” to either short code listed above to opt out of notifications. Please review terms and conditions.

Terms of Use
Consumer Web Privacy Statement

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on the confidential nature of our business we may respond to you by mail.

Q. How can I get an estimate for services I wish to have performed at Albany Medical Center?

A. Please call us at 518-262-4989.

Q. How do I contact a patient financial counselor?

A. You can reach one of our financial counselors in the Patient Assistance Unit by calling 518-262-4989.

Q. How can I determine if Albany Medical Center participates in my plan?

A. Please see the drop-down "Accepted Insurance" on this page.

Q. How do I know my insurance was billed?

A. If your statement does not show insurance payment or insurance denial then please go to the forms page to update your insurance information.

Q. I have never been to Albany Medical Center, why am I receiving a bill?

A. Refer to your bill under box 20. If the description is NPLAB (non-patient lab), this charge is for a lab sample, which was sent to us by your physician. If the description is anything other than NPLAB, please call us or contact us via email and we will investigate your question.

Q. Why has my account been sent to collection or is on my credit report?

A. See the "Collection Accounts" drop-down on this page for phone numbers and questions related to collections.

Q. I would like to set up payment arrangements.

A. If you would like to make payment arrangements please call customer service at 518-262-2800 or 1-866-262-7476.

Q. Why am I receiving multiple bills for the same date of service?

A. Albany Medical Center charges for the hospital services and technical services rendered. Albany Medical College physicians bill for charges for the professional or physician portion of the service. You may receive a bill from the physician and the hospital for the same date of service.

Q. How do I get an itemized bill?

A. Submit a request via the Questions form on the forms page.

Q. What do I do when I receive an explanation of benefits from my insurance?

A. Your insurance is telling you how your claim was processed. The explanation of benefits may state:

  • Denial - non covered - contact insurance
  • Denial - wrong ID# - we need corrected information. Go to the forms page to update your insurance information.
  • Request for more information ? contact your insurance

When the explanation of benefits indicates "your responsibility" payment is due to Albany Medical Center. Please send payment to: PO Box 1189, Albany, NY 12201

Q. I have already paid the bill.

A. If your check was made out to Albany Medical Center, please send us a copy of your receipt and a copy of the front and back of your canceled check to the following address: Customer Service Unit - 1275 Broadway, Menands, NY 12204.

Q. Does Albany Medical Center have a Financial Aid program?

A. Please review Albany Med's Health System Financial Assistance Policy or call one of these phone numbers to request an application: Patient Billing Services Customer Service 518-262-8200 or 1-866-262-7476, Financial Aid Specialist 518-262-1981.

Q. Will financial aid cover my balance if my insurer applies an out of network cost share?

A. If you complete an application and are determined eligible based on your income and family size - yes. Your discount will be based on the criteria established under the policy guidelines.

Q. Can I get help completing my application?

A. Yes, please contact our Financial Aid Specialists at 518-262-1981.

Q. Are translator services available?

A. Yes. To request translator assistance call the Financial Aid Specialists at 518-262-1981.

If more information is needed, please contact:

Albany Medical Center Financial Aid
518-262-1981