If you have a question that is not addressed here, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.
What is the difference between a hospital ER and a freestanding emergency center like Neighbors Emergency Center?
Hospitals and freestanding emergency rooms are both open 24/7 and provide the same level of care in an emergency. Freestanding ERs, like Neighbors Emergency Center, operate independently of a hospital and are typically closer to patients’ neighborhoods with much shorter wait times than traditional ERs. Neighbors Emergency Center also operates four hospital outpatient emergency departments, Baytown, Crosby, Kingwood, and Porter through an affiliation with Altus Baytown Hospital, and two hospital outpatient emergency departments, Pasadena and Pearland through an affiliation with Altus Houston Hospital.
When should I visit an urgent care?
If you need immediate medical attention, but not medical attention that prompts an ER visit, you should visit an urgent care or your physician. If your medical situation is deemed an emergency, you will be referred to a local ER, such as Neighbors Emergency Center.
What is the billing process like when you visit a Neighbors Emergency Center?
The billing process at Neighbors Emergency Center is the same as a traditional hospital ER. At the time of service, patients pay the emergency room copay. As with any visit to an emergency room, you may also be required to pay your remaining deductible or any co-insurance that has been determined your responsibility by your insurance provider. If you have any billing and/or insurance questions, please call your Neighbors patient advocate.
At Neighbors Emergency center we do not practice balanced billing. This means that we will not send you a bill for the outstanding balance not covered by your insurance carrier, other than the amounts associated with your copay, deductible, and co-insurance.
What is a Patient Advocate and how do I contact them?
At Neighbors Emergency Center, we provide you with a patient advocate. Your patient advocate is responsible for guiding you through the process of understanding your emergency center bill. You can contact them at 346.324.5100 ext. 5008.
What insurance do you recognize?
Our Baytown, Crosby, Kingwood, and Porter locations are now in-network with BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna, and Cigna, and accept Medicare through an affiliation with Altus Baytown Hospital. Our Pasadena and Pearland locations now accept Medicare through an affiliation with Altus Houston Hospital.
While our facilities are not a participating provider in any other in-network health benefit plans, we see patients with all types of insurance plans. State law requires your health insurance company to pay the amount it pays in-network providers, a payment based on the same methods your plan uses to pay other out-of-network services, or the amount Medicare would pay for the same medical services. Additionally, we are actively working to find ways to accept as many different provider plans and/or participate in in-network contracts. We will continue to update this page and our locations pages with more information about any in-network provider plans we participate in.
I received an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) after my emergency room visit. Is this my bill?
After your emergency room visit you will receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB). Your EOB is NOT your bill. Your EOB is a statement from your insurance company sent to both you and Neighbors Emergency Center explaining what medical services were covered and paid for.
What if I cannot pay my balance in full? What are my payment options?
Multiple payment options are available and all payment options can be set up through our billing department. For more information, please contact our billing department at 346.324.5100 Option 1.
