How a sharing request works
What you actually do when something happens, and the deadline most people miss.
Submit before the appointment when you can
For anything planned, like a surgery, a procedure or a preventive visit, the sharing request should be opened before the date of service, not after. That is the single biggest difference between this and insurance, and it is where people trip up.
For an emergency, get treated first. Submit afterward. Nobody is checking for approval at the door of an emergency room.
Tell the provider you are self-pay
This matters more than it sounds. Present yourself as an uninsured, self-pay patient, because that is what unlocks the self-pay rate. Those rates are frequently a fraction of the billed price, and the lower the bill, the less the community has to share.
Ask for an itemised bill every time. You cannot submit without one.
The six-month clock
Sharing requests are submitted through Zion's Member Portal, and the deadline is six months from the date of service. Original itemised bills have to be in within six months as well, and the IUA has to be paid within six months.
Bills submitted after that may be ineligible. Not delayed. Ineligible. This is the rule worth putting in your calendar.
One request per medical need
Expenses relating to the same medical need are handled as a single sharing request, however many appointments and bills that turns into. There is no lifetime limit on the number of eligible expenses that can be shared.
Determinations are made only by a Determination Adjudicator at Zion. Anything you are told by anyone else, including us, is an opinion rather than a decision.
Where CoreMed fits
Your CoreMed clinic handles the care. Zion handles the sharing. If you are not sure which side a question belongs on, message us and we will point you at the right one rather than leaving you to work it out.
Zion HealthShare is not an insurance company. Neither this publication nor membership in Zion HealthShare are offered by an insurance company. Visit zionhealthshare.org to view your state-specific notice. State-specific notices.
Common questions
When do I submit?
Before the date of service for anything planned. As soon as possible afterward for an emergency. Either way, no later than six months from the date of service.
What do I need to send?
The sharing request through Zion's Member Portal, plus original itemised bills and statements. Zion may ask for medical records, receipts or proof of payment as it goes.
Is there a limit on how much can be shared?
There is no lifetime limit on the number of eligible expenses that may be shared. Specific limits apply to pre-membership medical conditions.
Who decides whether something is eligible?
A Determination Adjudicator at Zion HealthShare. Nobody else's answer is binding, including ours.