What Novant Health is and where it operates
Novant Health is a regional health system based in North Carolina that runs hospitals, clinics, and urgent care centers across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. It is not a single hospital but a network of facilities owned and operated by the same organization. If you live in or near these states, you may encounter Novant Health when looking for a doctor, scheduling surgery, or going to an emergency room.
The system includes more than 30 hospitals and hundreds of outpatient clinics. Novant Health also owns and operates its own insurance plan, called Novant Health Plan, which covers some patients in the region. Understanding which facilities belong to Novant Health matters because in-network care (using doctors and hospitals within the system) usually costs less than out-of-network care, and your insurance coverage may differ depending on where you go.
Key Takeaways
- Novant Health operates hospitals and clinics in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, and you can find specific locations and services on their website or by calling their main line.
- If you have insurance, check whether your plan covers Novant Health facilities in-network before scheduling care, because costs differ significantly between in-network and out-of-network providers.
- Novant Health runs its own insurance plan called Novant Health Plan, which may be available through your employer or as an individual purchase depending on where you live.
- Emergency rooms at Novant Health hospitals are open 24/7, but non-emergency urgent care clinics often have shorter wait times for minor injuries and illnesses.
- Patient bills from Novant Health can be confusing because they may include separate charges from the hospital, doctors, and labs; asking for an itemized bill helps you understand what you owe.
Finding a doctor or clinic within Novant Health
To locate a Novant Health doctor or clinic, visit the Novant Health website and use their provider search tool, or call their main phone line for your state. You will need to enter your location and the type of care you need—primary care, cardiology, orthopedics, and so on. The search results show which doctors are accepting new patients and which locations are nearest to you.
If you already have a doctor outside Novant Health and want to stay with them, you do not have to switch. However, if your insurance plan has a smaller network or lower costs for Novant Health providers, switching may save you money. Ask your current doctor's office whether they are in-network with your insurance before making an appointment elsewhere.
How insurance coverage works with Novant Health
Novant Health accepts most major insurance plans, including Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial plans from employers and the individual market. However, "accepting" a plan does not mean every service is covered or that you will pay the same amount at every facility. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your specific plan, your deductible, your copay or coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in-network.
Before scheduling any non-emergency care, call your insurance company or log into your plan's website to confirm that the Novant Health facility and doctor you want to see are in-network. If they are out-of-network, you will typically pay a higher percentage of the bill yourself. For emergency care, you do not have time to check, but you should contact your insurance company within a few days of the visit to report it and ask about coverage.
If you do not have insurance, Novant Health has a financial counselor program. Call the facility where you plan to receive care and ask to speak with a financial counselor before your visit. They can discuss payment plans, discounts for uninsured patients, and whether you might be may be able to access for Medicaid or other programs based on your income.
Understanding your bill from Novant Health
A single hospital or clinic visit can result in multiple bills because the hospital, the doctor, the lab, and other services may bill separately. You might receive one bill from the hospital facility, another from the physician group, and a third from the lab that processed your blood work. This is normal but confusing. Each bill shows what was charged, what your insurance paid, and what you owe.
If a bill seems wrong or you do not understand the charges, ask Novant Health for an itemized bill that lists every service, test, and supply you received with its cost. Compare it to your insurance explanation of benefits (EOB), which your insurance company sends separately and shows what they paid and what you owe. If the amounts do not match, contact both Novant Health's billing department and your insurance company to resolve the discrepancy.
Novant Health also offers a patient portal called MyChart where you can view some of your medical records and billing information online. You can set up an account on the Novant Health website if you have received care there before.
Emergency care and urgent care at Novant Health
Novant Health emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Go to the nearest Novant Health emergency room if you have a life-threatening condition such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, or signs of stroke. Call 911 if you are unsure whether you need an emergency room or if you cannot drive safely.
For minor injuries and illnesses that are not life-threatening—a sprained ankle, a mild fever, a small cut—Novant Health urgent care clinics are often faster and less expensive than the emergency room. Urgent care clinics have shorter wait times and do not require an appointment. However, they are not open 24 hours; hours vary by location, so call ahead or check the website before going.
Scheduling appointments and what to bring
To schedule a non-emergency appointment at a Novant Health clinic or hospital, call the facility directly or use the online scheduling tool on the Novant Health website if your doctor offers it. Have your insurance card ready when you call. The scheduler will ask for your date of birth, insurance information, and the reason for your visit.
Bring your insurance card, a photo ID, and any medical records from previous providers to your first appointment. If you are seeing a specialist, ask your primary care doctor for a referral; some insurance plans require a referral before covering specialist visits. If you take medications, bring a list of them or the bottles themselves so the doctor can review them.
Transferring records and switching providers
If you have received care at Novant Health and want to switch to a different provider, you have the right to request a copy of your medical records. Contact the medical records department at the Novant Health facility where you received care and request records in writing or by phone. There may be a small fee, usually a few dollars per page, though some states limit or waive this fee. Novant Health typically has 30 days to provide the records.
You can also authorize Novant Health to send your records directly to your new doctor. Ask your new doctor's office to submit a records request on your behalf, which is often faster than requesting them yourself. Your new doctor's office will handle the paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my doctor is part of Novant Health?
Use the provider search tool on the Novant Health website, or call the main number for your state and ask. You can also check your insurance card or call your insurance company to see whether your doctor is listed as in-network with Novant Health.
What if I receive a bill I think is wrong?
Request an itemized bill from Novant Health's billing department and compare it to your insurance explanation of benefits. If the charges still do not match, contact both Novant Health and your insurance company in writing and ask them to investigate. Keep copies of all documents you send.
Can I use Novant Health if I have Medicaid?
Novant Health accepts Medicaid in the states where it operates, but coverage varies by state and by your specific Medicaid plan. Call the facility where you want to receive care and confirm that your Medicaid plan is accepted before scheduling.
What should I do if I cannot pay my Novant Health bill?
Contact Novant Health's financial counselor program before or shortly after your visit. They can discuss payment plans, discounts for uninsured or underinsured patients, and whether you might be may be able to access for charity care based on your income.
How do I access my medical records online?
If you have received care at Novant Health, you can set up an account in MyChart on the Novant Health website. MyChart allows you to view some of your medical records, test results, and billing information, and to message your doctor's office with non-urgent questions.