Financial Information

We appreciate your choosing The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center for your cancer care needs. We know well that this is a difficult time for you and your family, and that finances may be an additional concern. We are committed to supporting you by providing the following information to understand our charges, billing and payment process.

Your Financial Specialist Team

Whether you are covered by international insurance, sponsored by an embassy or corporation, or paying for your own care, we will work with you to help ensure that the billing and payment process is as smooth as possible. Your team of financial specialists includes the following members.

The International Patient Assistants will be your primary contacts prior to arriving at MD Anderson. They will provide you with the details of your initial appointment and deposit, or work with your embassy to secure a letter of guarantee.

Patient Access Services Representatives will review your information to be sure our records are accurate.  They require a photo identification at registration, so please bring your passport. The Patient Access Services staff will verify your insurance information and confirm eligibility.

The Financial Clearance Center staff will secure any needed authorizations. If you are paying for your own expenses, a staff member will give you charge estimates once a treatment plan has been established. He or she will also answer any financial questions you may have.

The Patient Business Services staff is responsible for filing insurance claims, producing patient statements, processing refunds and posting payments. You may communicate with customer service representatives to resolve billing issues and obtain itemized statements of services provided.

Type of Charges

MD Anderson’s patient statements contain two separate billing components. Hospital charges are for the use of hospital facilities and the services provided by the nurses and other members of your care team who are not physicians. Physician charges are for the specialized services that your physicians will provide.

Initial Deposit for Evaluation

If you are paying for your own expenses, you will be asked to pay an initial deposit to be evaluated at MD Anderson. The care center will determine the deposit amount based on the type of cancer for which you are being seen. The deposit amount represents the average charge for your physician to perform an evaluation, as well as the diagnostic tests that are normally performed to make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. The deposit is an estimate only. Actual charges may be adjusted based on your specific needs.

MD Anderson deposit amounts include charges for both hospital and physician services. Other hospitals may charge only hospital charges, so if you are comparing charges at other institutions, you will want to ask for physician charges as well. Please speak to your International Patient Assistant if you need clarification. Our intent is to make sure you are aware of what the total estimated cost of your evaluation may be in advance.

Patients sponsored by embassies or corporations must have a letter of guarantee prior to receiving services. Your embassy will receive a fee statement for direct payment. Some services may require prior authorization by the embassy in order to be covered.

Charge Estimate for Treatment

Once you receive your initial evaluation by an MD Anderson physician and agree to a treatment plan, Financial Clearance Center staff members will provide you with a charge estimate for continued treatment. The charge estimate is based on the treatment plan that your physician recommends for you. Your actual charges may be higher or lower than the estimated amount. You may request a charge estimate for services prior to or during your visit. We understand that the cost for cancer treatment may become a concern for your family, so please feel free to consult us with your financial questions.

Statements

You will receive a statement showing all hospital and physician charges approximately three to four weeks after your appointment.

If your total charges are more than the estimate you paid, your statement will include the balance due. If your actual charges are less than the amount you paid, you can request a refund.  If you wish to have a family member to help you go through the necessary process, you will need to complete an Authorization for Disclosure of Financial Information so that we will be able to release your financial information to that person.

Payment

If you are sponsored by an embassy or have insurance, MD Anderson will bill your embassy or insurance company. Contact your insurance carrier for specific information that may affect your financial responsibility. For services not covered by an embassy or your insurance, or if you do not have insurance, you should pay in full prior to receiving treatment.

Payment in full is applied to hospital charges and physician charges as indicated on your statement. If you pay less than the full balance, your payment will be applied to the oldest service dates and split between hospital and physician charges. To ensure timely and accurate payment posting, please also attach the remittance coupon to your statement.

MD Anderson's accepted forms of payment are cash, checks (if the bank has a branch in the United States) and credit cards. MD Anderson accepts the following credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Payments may be made at either your care center or one of the cashier locations in the Mays Clinic (near Tree Sculpture) or in the Main Building (near Café Anderson).

If you wish to make a wire transfer prior to your appointment, please use the following routing instructions.

Name: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Address: 707 Travis; Houston, Texas 77002-5860
Phone: 1-713-216-4865
S.W.I.F.T. CHASUS33  (used for international wires)
ABA Routing Number: 021000021  (used for domestic wires)
Account Number: 1586838979
Account Name: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Patient’s Name:
Medical Record Number:

Please allow five to seven business days for an international wire to arrive. It is important that you send a copy of the wire receipt to your care center or to your International Patient Assistant prior to your next appointment in order to verify a wire is in process.

Please note that if deposits exceed the actual charges the surplus amount will be returned to the originating bank and will not be applied to your account.

Refunds

If your actual charges are less than the amount you paid in advance, and you don’t anticipate receiving future treatment at MD Anderson, you may request a refund. Refunds take approximately two to three weeks to process, pending posting of all charges.  If you paid by credit card, a refund will be made to your credit card account. Otherwise, your refund will be by check or wire transfer.

Refunds for deposits made due to pending insurance authorizations will not be processed until the insurance company pays on your invoices, which may take up to three months for non-contracted insurances.

Contact Patient Business Service or your International Patient Assistant for assistance.

Clinical Trials

MD Anderson sponsors many clinical trials that seek breakthrough treatments for cancer. If you are participating in a clinical trial, the trial sponsor, embassy or your insurance company may cover some of the charges. Items paid by the clinical trial will be listed in your Charge Estimate Letter, in a section titled 'Charges Paid by Clinical Trial.' You or your insurance company will be responsible for the charges not covered by the trial. These are listed in the section titled 'Charges Not Paid by Clinical Trial.' The Financial Clearance Center staff is available to help answer any questions you may have.

Account Review

During your stay, when your care center needs to obtain additional information from you, your account may be placed in "review" status to notify your care center. It also gives the care center an opportunity to inform you of your upcoming services by providing you with a charge estimate or balance information. Our goal is to resolve any questions regarding your account, and we appreciate your cooperation in doing so. Communication with your Financial Clearance Center staff is important, especially if there are changes in your information.

Discounts for Uninsured Patients

If you are paying for your own care, you may receive a self-pay prompt pay discount. In order for a discount to be considered, your charge estimates must be paid in advance and any billed amounts must be paid timely.  Accounts that are in collections are not eligible for a discount. Your Patient Business Services customer services staff is available to review your account and advise you about any potential discounts.

MyChart

MyChart is a secure online tool that allows you to communicate with us and find information about your care. You can view your schedules, medical records and statements, pay your bill, and correspond via secure messages to the International Center, your care center, or Patient Business Services customer service or to the Financial Clearance Center. Embassies also have access to MyChart.

Using MyChart is beneficial because you can send a message or check information online at your convenience. We will respond to your messages in a timely manner. Talk to a staff member to sign up for or request help with MyChart.