SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Several thousand Springfield Clinic patients insured through Illinois’ health plans will be asked to pay hundreds of dollars in co-payments, deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs the clinic hasn’t tried to collect for the past year and a half.
The State Journal-Register reports that the clinic usually waits to bill patients their share of the total cost after the State Employee Group Insurance Program pays for the majority of the cost.
But payment for certain plans are at a standstill during the ongoing state budget crisis. The clinic, which is owed $68 million, has decided to ask patients to pay their share of bills regardless of whether Illinois’ share has been paid.
The clinic’s payment requests will apply to future medical services and claims remained unpaid for the past 12 to 18 months.