What Intermountain Bill Pay is and how to use it
Intermountain Bill Pay is the online and phone payment system run by Intermountain Health, a large hospital and health system operating in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. When you receive a bill from an Intermountain facility — a hospital, clinic, urgent care, or imaging center — you can pay it through their website, mobile app, or by calling their payment line instead of mailing a check.
To pay online, you log into your patient account on Intermountain's website or app, find your bill, and enter your payment method. You can pay with a debit card, credit card, or bank account transfer. The system tells you immediately whether your payment went through and gives you a confirmation number. If you prefer to pay by phone, you call Intermountain's billing department and speak to someone who processes the payment while you're on the line.
The payment reaches Intermountain's account within one to three business days, depending on your payment method. Debit and credit card payments usually post within one business day. Bank transfers (ACH payments) typically take two to three business days. Once the payment posts, your account balance updates and you receive a receipt by email or mail, depending on how you set up your account.
Key Takeaways
- Intermountain Bill Pay lets you pay hospital and clinic bills online, through a mobile app, or by phone without mailing a check.
- Credit and debit card payments post within one business day; bank account transfers take two to three business days.
- You can set up automatic recurring payments if you have a payment plan, so you do not have to remember to pay each month.
- Intermountain does not charge a fee to pay by debit card or bank transfer, but credit card payments may include a processing fee that varies by card type.
- If you cannot pay the full bill, you can contact Intermountain's financial counselors to discuss payment plans or other options before using Bill Pay.
Payment methods and any fees involved
Intermountain accepts debit cards, credit cards, and direct bank transfers (ACH). The cost to you depends on which method you choose. Debit card and bank transfer payments have no fee — Intermountain absorbs the processing cost. Credit card payments may include a fee, usually between 2 and 3 percent of the amount you pay, though the exact percentage varies by card type and issuer.
Before you pay with a credit card, check whether the fee makes sense for your situation. If your bill is $500 and the fee is 2.5 percent, you pay an extra $12.50. For smaller bills, that fee might be larger than the benefit of earning credit card rewards. For larger bills or if you are using a card with high rewards, the fee might be worth it — that is your choice to make based on your card's benefits.
Bank transfers are the cheapest option if you have a checking or savings account and do not mind waiting two to three days for the payment to post. Debit cards are also free and post faster. If you are in a tight spot and need the payment to post immediately, a debit card is your fastest free option.
Setting up automatic payments and payment plans
If you have a payment plan with Intermountain — meaning you owe money and have agreed to pay it in installments over time — you can set up automatic payments so the money comes out of your bank account on the same day each month. This keeps you from missing a payment and triggering late fees or collection action.
To set up automatic payments, log into your Intermountain patient account, find the payment plan section, and choose the bank account or card you want to use. You enter the amount and the date each month when you want the payment to come out. Intermountain sends you a confirmation, and the payment happens automatically unless you cancel it.
If you do not have a payment plan yet but cannot pay your bill in full, contact Intermountain's financial counseling department before you use Bill Pay. They can discuss options like extended payment plans, financial hardship programs, or charity care, depending on your income and situation. Setting up a plan first means you know exactly what you owe and when, rather than guessing at a payment amount.
What happens if a payment fails or is declined
If your payment is declined — for example, because your card is expired, you have reached your credit limit, or your bank account does not have enough money — Intermountain's system tells you immediately. The payment does not go through, and your bill remains unpaid. You can try again right away with a different card or account, or you can call Intermountain's billing department to troubleshoot the problem.
If you have automatic payments set up and one fails, Intermountain typically tries the payment again a few days later. If it fails a second time, they contact you by phone or email to let you know. At that point, you need to update your payment method or contact them to reschedule the payment. Repeated failed payments can trigger late fees or a report to a collection agency, so it is important to fix the problem quickly.
If you know a payment will fail — for example, because you do not have the money yet — call Intermountain's billing department before the payment date and ask them to delay it. Many times they will work with you rather than let the payment fail and damage your account.
How to dispute a charge or get a refund
If you pay through Intermountain Bill Pay and then realize you were overcharged, or you paid twice by mistake, contact Intermountain's billing department right away. Have your confirmation number from the payment ready. They can look up the transaction, confirm what happened, and issue a refund if you are owed one.
Refunds usually go back to the same payment method you used. If you paid with a debit card, the refund appears in your bank account within three to five business days. If you paid with a credit card, the refund shows up as a credit on your next statement, usually within one to two billing cycles. Bank transfer refunds take longer — typically five to seven business days.
If you paid with a credit card and the refund does not appear after two billing cycles, or if you paid with a debit card and it does not appear after a week, contact your bank or card issuer. They can trace the refund on their end and tell you where it is. Keep your Intermountain confirmation number and the date you paid so you can give your bank the details they need.
Comparing Intermountain Bill Pay to other payment options
You have other ways to pay an Intermountain bill besides using their online system. You can mail a check to the address on your bill, pay in person at an Intermountain facility's billing office, or call and pay over the phone with a representative. Each option has trade-offs.
Mailing a check is free but slow — the check takes three to seven days to arrive, and then Intermountain takes another one to two days to process it. Your payment might not post for up to two weeks, which matters if you are close to a late-payment deadline. Online and phone payments post much faster, usually within one business day.
Paying in person at a billing office is immediate — your payment posts the same day — but you have to travel to the office during business hours. Online payment is available 24/7, so you can pay at midnight on a Sunday if you need to. Phone payment is also available outside normal business hours at many Intermountain locations, though wait times can be long during peak hours.
Protecting your information when you pay online
When you pay through Intermountain Bill Pay, your payment information travels over an encrypted connection — the same technology banks use to protect online transactions. Look for the padlock icon in your browser's address bar to confirm you are on a secure page. Never pay through a link in an email or text message, even if it looks like it came from Intermountain. Instead, go directly to Intermountain's website by typing the address yourself or calling their billing department.
Scammers sometimes send fake bills or payment links that look like they came from Intermountain but actually steal your information. If you are unsure whether a bill is real, call Intermountain's main number (not a number on the bill) and ask them to confirm the amount you owe. Real Intermountain staff can look up your account and tell you exactly what is due.
After you pay, keep your confirmation number and receipt. If there is ever a dispute about whether you paid, you have proof. Do not share your confirmation number with anyone who contacts you claiming to be from Intermountain — real staff already have access to your account and do not need you to provide it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay a bill for someone else using Intermountain Bill Pay?
You can pay if you have access to the patient account — for example, if you are a parent paying for a child's bill or a caregiver with login permission. If you do not have account access, you can mail a check or call Intermountain's billing department and ask them to take a payment over the phone. Provide the patient's name and account number so they can apply the payment to the right bill.
What if I paid online but my bill still shows as unpaid?
Check your confirmation number first — if you have one, the payment went through. It may just not have posted yet, especially if you paid by bank transfer. Wait one to three business days, then log back in and check your balance. If it still shows unpaid after three days, call Intermountain's billing department with your confirmation number and they can trace the payment and update your account.
Does Intermountain Bill Pay work for bills from other hospitals?
No. Intermountain Bill Pay only works for bills from Intermountain Health facilities. If you have a bill from a different hospital or health system, you need to use their payment system or pay by mail or phone. Check your bill for payment instructions specific to that provider.
Can I set up a payment plan without using Bill Pay?
Yes. Contact Intermountain's financial counseling or billing department by phone and ask about payment plan options. They can discuss what you owe, what you can afford to pay each month, and whether you might be may be able to access for financial hardship programs or charity care. Once a plan is set up, you can choose to pay through Bill Pay or by another method.
Is there a limit to how much I can pay at once through Bill Pay?
Intermountain does not publish a single payment limit, but your bank or card issuer may have limits on how much you can transfer or charge in one day. If your payment is declined because it exceeds a limit, call your bank to ask about raising the limit, or split the payment into two smaller payments on different days.