Financial Counseling and Billing

North Shore Medical Center (NSMC) makes financial counseling services available to all patients, including information about federal, state, and private programs that may assist patients with paying their medical bills. NSMC also assists patients in applying for Mass Health and Free Care (these are available only to Massachusetts residents who meet the eligibility requirements). Patients are responsible for contacting NSMC in order to work with our counselors to complete the application for these coverage options.

Financial Counseling at NSMC Salem Hospital and NSMC Union Hospital

  • Emergency Department, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Weekend Emergency Department, 8 – 6 p.m.
  • Across from the Cashier’s Office on Axelrod 6,  8 – 4:30 p.m.
  • Davenport 4, near Patient Registration; this counselor speaks Spanish.

Bill Payment

NSMC sends bills to patients for services that are deemed that patient's responsibility. These bills may include balances for co-pays or deductibles. Patients with questions about a bill that is less than 30 days old may call 617.643.9444. After 30 days the bill goes to an agency; patients may call 1.888.317.6410 to discuss bills that are more than 30 days old. Uninsured patients and all patients who need assistance paying their bills may call Financial Counseling at 978.825.6900 (Salem) or 781.477.3555 (Union).


Your Hospital Bill

NSMC will submit bills to a patient's insurance company and will do everything possible to expedite the claim. Please remember that a health insurance policy is a contract between a patient and an insurance company, not between a patient and NSMC. Patients have the final responsibility for payment of their hospital bill. All patients are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the terms of their insurance coverage. A member of our Financial Counseling team is available to help patients who have a question about their insurance coverage. 

Hospital bills reflect all of the services received during a stay. The basic daily rate includes room, meals, nursing care, housekeeping, telephone and television, as well as charges for special services the patient's physician ordered, such as X-rays or laboratory tests. To resolve an issue with a hospital bill patients may call 888.317.6410.

Certain charges are not billed by the hospital and will not appear on a hospital statement. These include the professional fees of the attending physician, consulting physicians, surgeons, emergency department physicians, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, radiologists, pathologists and others.

Certain tests or treatments received during a stay in the hospital may result in bills from physicians the patient did not see in person. These bills are for professional services provided by these doctors in diagnosing and interpreting test results. Those fees will be billed to the patient or the patient's insurance company directly from the individual private practitioner. Patients with questions about these types of bills are encouraged to call the number printed on the statement.

 
Paying a bill in person

Paying a bill by mail

  • Checks may be mailed to North Shore Medical Center, P.O. Box 4108, Woburn MA, 01888 (use this address whether you stayed at NSMC Salem Hospital or NSMC Union Hospital).
  • Please include patient account number on the check.

Paying a bill by credit card

  • Credit card payment may be made by telephone; call 888.317.6410.