Financial Policy

Our approach

Northtide Health is committed to providing high-quality care and to being clear about costs. This Financial Policy explains how billing works, what you are responsible for, and the options available to you. Please read it before your first visit. If anything is unclear, our team is happy to talk it through with you.

Insurance we accept

We currently accept the following health plans:

• CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
• Medicare
• Medicaid (Maryland Medicaid / HealthChoice)
• UnitedHealthcare
• Aetna

We also welcome self-pay patients. Plan participation can change, and not every product offered by these companies may be in network, so please confirm with us before your visit.

Your responsibilities with insurance

• Provide your current insurance card and photo ID before your first visit, and tell us right away if your insurance changes. If we cannot verify your coverage, you may be asked to reschedule or to pay as a self-pay patient.
• Know your benefits, including coverage for telehealth and behavioral health. Some plans manage behavioral health benefits through a separate company, which may affect coverage.
• Obtain any referrals or prior authorizations your plan requires. We will help where we can.
• We bill your health plan as a courtesy. Your plan's decisions about coverage do not change your responsibility for charges that the plan determines you owe.

What you are responsible for

• Copayments — a fixed amount set by your plan, due at the time of your visit.
• Deductibles and coinsurance — amounts your plan applies after processing your claim. We will bill you for these after your plan pays.
• Non-covered services — services your plan does not cover, or that it considers not medically necessary. When we know in advance that a service may not be covered, we will tell you before providing it.
• Out-of-network care — if you choose to see us under a plan we do not participate in, you may be responsible for the full cost.

When payment is due

• Copayments and self-pay fees are due at the time of your video visit. We may collect payment securely before your visit begins.
• Remaining balances after insurance are due within 30 days of the statement date.

Self-pay patients

• If you do not have insurance, or choose not to use it, our self-pay rate for a standard video visit is [self-pay rate]. Rates for other services are available on request.
• Self-pay fees are due at the time of service.
• Lab tests, prescriptions, and services from other providers are billed separately by those providers.
• You have the right to a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges before your visit. Learn more in our Terms of Use or ask us for an estimate.

Payment methods and card on file

• We accept major credit and debit cards and HSA/FSA cards. You can pay online, by phone, or through our patient portal.
• Card on file. We ask patients to keep a payment card on file. Your card details are stored securely by our payment processor, not by Northtide Health. We may charge this card for copayments and self-pay fees at the time of service, and for balances after your plan has paid, after we send you a statement showing the amount. You may contact us at any time to update or remove your card, but you will then need to pay balances by another method when due.
• A fee of $25 may be charged for any returned or declined payment, as permitted by Maryland law.

Cancellations, missed appointments, and late arrivals

When an appointment is missed, that time cannot be offered to another patient who needs care. We ask that you:

• Cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours in advance by calling (443) 399-3123, replying to your reminder, or using the patient portal.
• Join your video visit on time. If you join more than 15 minutes late, we may need to reschedule your visit.

Missed-appointment fee

• A missed appointment (no-show) or a cancellation with less than 24 hours' notice may result in a fee of $35. This fee is not billed to your health plan.
• We understand that emergencies happen. We waive the fee for the first occurrence and in documented emergencies.
• We do not charge missed-appointment fees to patients covered by Medicaid.
• If you miss three or more appointments within 12 months, we may require a conversation about scheduling, ask you to schedule same-day visits only, or, after written notice, end the provider–patient relationship. If that happens, we will give you reasonable notice, remain available for urgent needs during a transition period, and help you transfer your records.

Minors and family members

• The parent or legal guardian who consents to care for a patient under 18 is responsible for payment, including copays at the time of service.
• In cases of divorce or separation, the consenting parent is responsible for payment. We are not able to bill a different parent based on a custody or divorce agreement; please settle this between the parties.
• Confidential care for minors. When Maryland law allows a minor to consent to certain services on their own, please know that insurance statements (Explanations of Benefits) may be sent to the policyholder. Talk to us about billing options if confidentiality is a concern.
• Adults who are financially responsible for another adult patient (for example, a dependent with a disability) should tell us so we can bill correctly.

Statements, payment plans, and financial hardship

• We send statements by email or through the patient portal, and by mail on request.
• Payment plans are available for balances you cannot pay in full. Contact us to set one up before your balance is past due.
• Financial hardship. If you are having difficulty paying, please talk to us. We will work with you on options and can help you look into coverage programs such as Maryland Medicaid or a Maryland Health Connection marketplace plan.

Overdue accounts

• If a balance is unpaid 30 days after the statement date, we will send a reminder.
• If a balance remains unpaid after 90 days and you have not set up a payment plan, we will send a final notice. If it remains unpaid after that notice, your account may be referred to a collection agency.
• We follow federal and Maryland laws that protect patients in medical debt collection.
• Unresolved past-due balances may affect your ability to schedule non-urgent appointments until a payment plan is in place. We will never deny care in an emergency.

Forms, records, and other fees

• Medical records. Copies of your medical records are provided as described in our Notice of Privacy Practices, with any fees limited to those allowed by federal and Maryland law.
• Forms. Completing forms that are not part of routine care (for example, certain disability, insurance, or employment forms) may involve a fee, which we will tell you about in advance.

Overpayments and refunds

If you overpay — for example, if your plan pays more than expected after you have paid — we will notify you and either refund the overpayment or, with your permission, apply it to another balance. Refunds are issued to the original payment method.

Questions and disputes

If you have a question about a bill or believe there is an error, please contact us within 60 days of the statement date. We will review it, and we will pause collection activity on the disputed amount while we do. You may also contact your health plan about how a claim was processed.

By signing this Financial Policy during intake, you acknowledge that you have read and understand it, and you agree to be financially responsible for charges as described. We may update this policy from time to time and will post the current version on this page.