Preparing For Your Doctor’s Appointment
Before your appointment:
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How do I schedule an appointment?You can obtain information for how to schedule an appointment on our Make an Appointment page.
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What information do I need to schedule an appointment?To schedule an appointment, please have your name, date of birth, insurance information including your insurance card, and the reason for your visit. You may also be asked to provide information on your clinical history, including any recent discharge information.
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What should I bring with me to my appointment?
Please bring a valid form of identification, your insurance card, any relevant medical records such as referral paperwork, discharge paperwork, imaging records, and/or any forms that you may need a provider to complete.
To make the most of your appointment please also considering bringing:
- List of any current health concerns.
- List of current medications.
- Questions for your doctor. (Here is a helpful list!)
- Information about your family health history.
- A notebook to jot down any important information.
- Care partners – we welcome them!
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How early should I arrive to my appointment?Please plan to arrive to your appointment 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time unless you have been provided specific instructions from your provider’s office.
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What forms will I be asked to fill out?You may be asked to complete a few different forms. Examples include a patient intake packet if you are new to the practice, medical screening forms, travel history forms, patient financial responsibility forms, as well as acknowledgement of Stamford Health patient policies.
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Will I need to pay anything for my doctor visit?
Please be prepared to pay your copay or coinsurance at the time or prior to your visit.
You have a financial responsibility for payment for the care that is provided to you at Stamford Health. You are responsible for providing us with up-to-date insurance information, so that we can make every effort to submit insurance claims in a timely manner.
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What insurance plans do you accept?Please visit this page to learn about the accepted insurance plans here at Stamford Health.
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If my insurance is listed as accepted, is there anything else I need to do to?If we do accept your insurance, it may be helpful to contact your insurance company to learn about the specific coverage details of your insurance plan. Be sure to specifically inquire if lab services and diagnostic testing and imaging is covered. An individual plan’s coverage can change, so please make sure you have the most up-to-date information.
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What if my insurance is out-of-network or a portion of my visit is not covered?
When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other out-of-network costs or must pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.
It is your right to elect not to have Stamford Health bill your health insurance company per the HITECH ACT federal regulation and Stamford Health will not send a claim to your health insurance company. Should you choose this option, you may be asked to pay your bill in full. If you have questions regarding your hospital bill or want to provide the hospital with additional billing information, please call our Customer Service Department at 203.276.7572.
Stamford Hospital does not balance bill patients within the emergency setting per the No Surprises Act federal regulation.
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What if I don’t have insurance coverage?
If you are uninsured, our financial counselors are qualified to help determine if you are eligible for Medicaid or health insurance through Access Health CT. If you do not qualify for Medicaid or have missed the deadline to enroll through Access Health CT, we can review your financial status to determine if you qualify for the hospital's Financial Assistance Program. Visit our webpage for more information regarding the Financial Assistance Program.
For more information, please visit our Billing FAQs page.
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What if I need an interpreter for my appointment?At Stamford Health, we believe health care should be accessible to everyone. If English is not your spoken language, or if you are deaf or hard of hearing, Stamford Health has language assistance services available to you. We will make every effort to accommodate your needs, free of charge. Please call Patient Relations at 203.276.2590 or visit our Interpreter and Language Services page for more information.
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What should I do if I miss an appointment or need to cancel?If you are not able to make your scheduled appointment, please try to let us know as soon as possible by calling your provider's office. Our team will help you to reschedule for the next available appointment. Appointments that are not canceled or rescheduled in advance are subject to our No-Show Policy.
After your appointment:
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How do I access my medical information online?
Stamford Health offers secure access to your personal health information and test results. As your Patient Portal may not have all of your medical records, please contact the Health Information Management Department to obtain copies of any medical records you may need. Call 203.276.7034 to register for the Patient Portal. Please note you will need your medical record number to enroll in Stamford Hospital’s Patient Portal.
If you’re part of the Stamford Health Medical Group, please contact your physician’s office to enroll in the Patient Portal.
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How and when will I receive test results?
When your test result is available for viewing will vary depending on the type of test. You can check your Patient Portal to view your test results. Stamford Health wants to ensure your test results are available without delay. This means you may see your results or care findings before your health care provider has reviewed them. Please allow time for your health care provider to review the results.
If you have questions about your test results, please be sure to ask your care team at the time of your appointment.
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How do I contact my doctor if I have follow-up questions?Please call your provider's office if you have follow-up questions regarding your care. Many providers also utilize the Patient Portal's messaging feature so you can ask your provider if this a feature you can also use for communication.
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How do I contact someone about a billing question?
Please visit our Billing Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common questions.
You may also reach our Billing Customer Service team from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, by calling 203.276.7572.