How to Pay Your IHC Medical Bills Online and by Mail
What IHC Bill Pay is and how to use it
IHC Bill Pay is the online payment system run by Intermountain Healthcare, a large hospital and clinic network in the Mountain West. If you receive care at an IHC hospital, urgent care clinic, or physician office, your bill will likely come from IHC, and you can pay it through their website, by phone, or by mail. You do not have to use their online system — you can mail a check or call to pay by phone — but the online option is fastest and gives you a record right away.
To pay online, you log into your IHC patient account at ihc.com, find your bill in the "Billing" section, and choose to pay by debit card, credit card, or bank transfer (ACH). The payment posts within one to two business days. If you do not have an online account yet, you can create one using your Social Security number, date of birth, and a recent IHC bill or statement.
If you prefer not to go online, you can call IHC's billing department at the number on your bill statement, or mail a check to the address printed on the bill itself. Mailed payments take longer — typically five to seven business days to reach IHC and post to your account — so mail early if your due date is near.
Key Takeaways
- IHC Bill Pay lets you pay online, by phone, or by mail using your patient account or the billing number on your statement.
- Online and phone payments post within one to two business days; mailed checks take five to seven business days.
- You can pay with a debit card, credit card, or direct bank transfer (ACH), but credit card payments may include a processing fee.
- If you cannot pay the full amount, contact IHC billing to ask about payment plans, which are often available without interest.
- Keep your payment confirmation number and a record of what you paid, in case a dispute arises later.
Setting up your IHC online account
To use IHC Bill Pay online, you need a patient account on the IHC website. If you have already used MyChart (IHC's patient portal for viewing medical records and messaging your doctor), you already have an account and can log in with the same username and password.
If you do not have an account, go to ihc.com and select "Sign In" or "Create Account." You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, and either a recent IHC bill or a phone number associated with your account. After you verify your identity, you can create a username and password. Once you are logged in, select "Billing" or "Pay My Bill" to see any outstanding balances.
If you run into trouble creating an account, call IHC's patient support line — the number is on your bill or on the IHC website — and a representative can help you set up access or walk you through the payment process over the phone.
Payment methods and processing times
IHC accepts three main payment methods: debit card, credit card, and electronic bank transfer (ACH). Debit card and ACH payments have no fee. Credit card payments typically include a processing fee — usually 2 to 3 percent of the amount you pay — so if you use a credit card, expect to pay a little extra. The fee is added to your bill, not charged separately at checkout.
Online and phone payments post to your account within one to two business days. If you pay on a Friday evening, for example, the payment may not show until Monday or Tuesday. Mailed checks take longer because they have to be received, opened, and processed by hand — typically five to seven business days from the time IHC receives them. If your due date is coming up, do not rely on mail.
If you are paying a bill that is already past due, ask IHC whether late fees have been added. Some healthcare providers waive late fees if you contact them before the bill reaches a collection agency, but you have to call and ask. The sooner you reach out, the better your chances.
What to do if you cannot pay the full amount
If your bill is larger than you can pay right now, contact IHC billing before the due date and ask about a payment plan. Many healthcare providers, including IHC, offer payment plans that let you split the bill into smaller monthly payments. Some plans charge interest; others do not. The terms depend on the size of the bill and your situation, so you have to ask.
To set up a payment plan, call the billing number on your statement and explain that you want to pay but need time. Have your bill in front of you so you can give the representative your account number. They will tell you what monthly payment amounts are available and whether interest applies. Once you agree, the plan is usually active right away, and your first payment is due on the date you choose.
If you are struggling with medical debt more broadly — not just this one bill — look into whether you may have access to for financial hardship programs. Many hospitals, including IHC facilities, have charity care or financial assistance programs for people with low income. Ask the billing department whether you can submit a financial hardship form, or visit the IHC website and search for "financial assistance" to find the application.
Keeping records and handling disputes
Every time you make a payment, write down or take a screenshot of your confirmation number, the amount paid, the date, and the payment method. Keep this record for at least one year. If IHC ever tells you that a payment did not post, or if you see a charge on your credit card or bank account that you do not recognize, you will need this proof.
If a payment does not show up in your account within the timeframe IHC promised (one to two business days for online or phone, five to seven for mail), log back into your account and check the balance. Sometimes a payment is processing and just has not posted yet. If more than a week has passed and the payment still does not appear, call billing and give them your confirmation number. They can look it up and tell you what happened.
If you see a charge on your bank account or credit card that you did not make, or if you paid the bill but IHC is still asking you to pay, contact your bank or credit card company right away to report the issue. You have the right to dispute unauthorized charges. At the same time, call IHC billing with your confirmation number and ask them to investigate on their end.
Paying by mail or phone if you prefer not to use the website
If you do not want to pay online, you can mail a check to the address on your bill. Write your account number on the check so IHC knows which bill to apply the payment to. Mail early — at least one week before the due date — because postal delivery and processing both take time. Keep a copy of the check or write down the check number for your records.
To pay by phone, call the billing number on your statement. A representative will ask for your account number, the amount you want to pay, and your payment method (debit card or bank account). They will give you a confirmation number over the phone. Write it down immediately. Phone payments post as quickly as online payments — usually within one to two business days.
Some IHC locations also accept in-person payments at the hospital or clinic cashier, though this is less common. If you want to pay in person, call ahead to confirm that the location accepts walk-in payments and ask what hours the cashier is open.
What happens if you miss a payment or fall behind
If you miss a due date, IHC will usually send you a past-due notice in the mail. The notice will tell you how much you owe, the new due date, and whether a late fee has been added. At this point, you still have options: you can pay the full amount, set up a payment plan, or contact billing to ask about financial assistance or hardship programs.
If you ignore the past-due notices and do not pay for several months, IHC may send your account to a collection agency. Once that happens, the debt appears on your credit report and a third-party collector will start contacting you. This is much harder to fix than paying or setting up a plan early, so reach out to IHC billing as soon as you know you are going to be late.
If you have already received a collection notice, you can still contact IHC directly and ask whether they will work with you. Some providers will pull an account back from a collection agency if you agree to a payment plan or make a lump-sum payment. It is worth asking, even if you think it is too late.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set up automatic payments so I do not have to remember to pay each month?
IHC does not offer automatic recurring payments through their standard Bill Pay system. However, if you set up a payment plan, you can arrange for automatic monthly payments from your bank account. Ask the billing representative about this option when you call to set up the plan.
Is there a fee for paying online with a debit card?
No. Debit card and ACH (bank transfer) payments have no processing fee. Credit card payments usually include a 2 to 3 percent fee, which is added to your bill. If you want to avoid the fee, use your debit card or bank account instead.
What if I paid my bill but I still got a collection notice?
This can happen if the payment was still processing when the collection notice was sent. Call IHC billing with your confirmation number and ask them to verify the payment. If it has posted, ask them to contact the collection agency and tell them the account is paid. If the payment has not posted yet, give it a few more days and then call back to confirm.
Can I dispute a charge on my IHC bill?
Yes. If you believe a charge is wrong — for example, if you were billed twice for the same service — call IHC billing and explain the issue. They will investigate and either correct the bill or explain why the charge is correct. Keep records of all your communications in case you need to escalate the dispute.
What if I cannot afford to pay even with a payment plan?
Ask IHC about their financial hardship or charity care program. Many hospitals have funds to reduce or forgive bills for people with low income. You will need to fill out a financial form showing your income and expenses. There is no harm in asking, and you may may have access to for significant help.