This article covers Rula’s patient responsibilities toward payment and answers common questions about billing charges.
Rula may charge your credit card for several reasons related to your care and insurance. These charges can include copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and fees for missed appointments (no-show or late cancellation).
Credit card authorization
At Rula, we require patients to keep a credit card on file to efficiently manage billing for patient responsibilities and provide a seamless service to our clients.
- Adding your card during registration: You should provide an accurate and current payment method during registration.
- Keeping your payment method up-to-date: You should update your payment method if you get a new card or need to change to a different card to ensure on-time and successful Rula payments.
Why is Rula charging my credit card?
Rula will charge your credit card on file for any patient responsibilities assessed by your insurance benefits, and for a no-show or late cancellation (less than 24 hours prior to visit) when applicable.
- Your payment responsibilities are estimated during our verification of benefits (VOB) process, but are fully assessed after claim adjudication and can be found in your explanation of benefits (EOB).
Timing of charges
The timing for Rula charges may vary, but they typically occur as follows:
- No-show or late cancellation fee: Within 72 hours of cancellation
- Copay/coinsurance: After completion of visit
- Deductible: Post-claim adjudication (3-4 weeks after your visit)
Patient financial responsibility
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Deductibles: Amount you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance plan begins to cover expenses.
- By keeping a credit card on file, we can promptly and accurately charge your deductible amounts as determined by your insurance provider.
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Copays: Fixed amounts you pay for specific healthcare services at the time of your visit.
- Having a credit card on file allows us to quickly process these payments, ensuring your visit goes smoothly and you can focus on your health, instead of financial transactions.
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Coinsurance: Fixed percentage of the billed cost that the member is responsible for.
- At Rula, this is billed up front.
FAQs
Why do I have multiple charges for a single visit?
Sometimes, you may notice multiple credit card charges for a single visit. This typically happens when an upfront copay is assessed and charged at the time of the visit, followed by additional charges applied to your deductible after your insurance claim has been processed.
My visit was so long ago. Why are you charging me now?
Claims processing times vary depending on your insurance payor. While the average turnaround is about 3–4 weeks, it can take longer as insurance decisions are finalized. Because of this, charges may feel sudden when they appear.
Once your insurance company processes and posts its decision, the balance is transferred to you, and the card on file is charged within 24–48 hours. At that point, a statement is also sent directly to your email.
While not the norm, there may be retroactive insurance term denials that could happen months after the original date of service.
What security procedures are in place to store my credit card information?
Credit card information is stored securely and protected by encryption, in compliance with industry standards (PCI).
PCI DSS is a set of security standards designed to ensure that all companies that accept, process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. The PCI Security Standards Council, founded by major credit card companies, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover, develops and maintains these standards.
Can I use my HSA or FSA card/account?
If you have an HSA (Health Savings Account) or FSA (Flex Spending Account) credit card you intend to use to pay for visits, you can place it on file to be charged.
In the event your HSA/FSA card is not accepted by the system, you are able to retain receipts/superbills and submit them to your insurance company for reimbursement.
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