Main Guide
Guarantors: Who They Are and When to Use Them
Purpose
THE SIMPLE RULE The guarantor is the person or approved entity responsible for the patient balance. The guarantor is not automatically the insurance subscriber, spouse, parent, emergency contact, caregiver, or person holding a power of attorney.
Step-by-Step Instructions
A guarantor is the individual or approved entity responsible for the patient portion of the account after insurance processes. The guarantor information is used for patient billing, statements, and account follow-up.
Role | What It Means | What Staff Must Remember |
Patient | The person receiving care. | The patient may or may not be the guarantor or insurance subscriber. |
Guarantor | The person or approved entity tied to patient-responsibility billing. | Choose based on age and legal responsibility—not who carries the insurance. |
Subscriber / Policyholder | The person whose name the insurance policy is issued under. | Subscriber information belongs in the insurance fields and may differ from the guarantor. |
Parent / Legal Guardian | The adult with verified legal responsibility for a minor. | Usually the guarantor for a patient under 19 unless an approved exception applies. |
POA / Authorized Representative | A person allowed to act for the patient within documented authority. | Authority to assist does not automatically make that person financially responsible. |
Emergency Contact | A person to contact when needed. | An emergency contact is not automatically a guarantor or authorized decision-maker. |