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Mercy Financial Clearance Policy

Mercy: Your Financial Responsibility for Outpatient & Elective Care

February 24, 2026 by Deidre Mings

Reminder about Mercy Payment Expectations.

Clarifying Payment Expectations for Outpatient & Elective Care at Mercy

Human Resources originally shared information last summer regarding Mercy’s request for payment at the time of service for non-emergency outpatient services and elective procedures. We are re-sharing this as a reminder.

The information below is based on Mercy’s Financial Clearance Policy and outlines what employees can expect—and what options may be available.

What to Expect at the Time of Service

For non-emergency care, Mercy requires patients to do one of the following before or at the time of service:

  • Pay any outstanding Mercy balances in full, or Establish a payment plan
  • Pay co-pays, deductibles, or coinsurance as required by your insurance
  • Pay for non-covered services, or establish a payment plan for those costs

Key Point: Mercy does not require full payment upfront if you set up a payment plan.

Flexible Financing Options

Mercy offers several options to help you manage your medical expenses:

  • Payment plans to spread costs over time
  • Uninsured patient discounts
  • Financial assistance for qualifying individuals

To explore your options or set up a payment plan, contact Mercy Customer Service at 855-420-7900 or visit mercy.net/financing.

Using Your Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Don’t forget—you can use your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to cover eligible out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, including:

  • Copays and deductibles
  • Coinsurance
  • Prescription medications
  • Many elective and outpatient procedures

Be sure to keep your itemized receipts and EOBs for documentation. Using your FSA card at the time of service may help reduce your upfront burden. If you’ve already paid out-of-pocket, you can submit for reimbursement through the FSA portal.

If you still have remaining 2025 FSA funds, eligible expenses must be incurred before the end of the 2½-month grace period (March 15, 2026) in order to avoid forfeiture.

Pre-Service Cost Estimates

To better understand your potential out-of-pocket costs:

  • Call 417-820-7300 (have your insurance information ready)
  • Use Mercy’s online cost estimator at mercy.net/estimates

HR Recommendation

HR strongly recommends that employees compare their Mercy billing statements with their Point C Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) to verify accuracy and understand what has been paid by insurance versus what remains their responsibility.

We appreciate your proactive approach to understanding your healthcare billing. HR is here to help you make sense of the process and connect you with the resources you need.

 


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Filed Under: Employee Benefits, Featured Tagged With: employee wellness, financial wellness, health, health plan, medical, Medical Insurance, Mercy, wellness

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