Insurance Plans
I participate in the following health plans:
I do not accept Medicare or Medi-Cal. I do not participate in any HMO plans or Workers Compensation.
Billing for Preventive Visits
Some patients have agreements with their insurance plan that state that they will cover the full allowable cost of a preventive health care visit and not require a co-pay. If you have such a plan, you should be aware that this agreement with your insurance company also says that if you receive other medical services, such as a medical consultation for a health issue or problem during this visit, then you will be responsible for any applicable co-pay.
For example, if you come in for a routine physical and we also deal with problems such as:
Then I will bill a separate charge for taking care of those problems and this separate charge may have an associated co-pay. If you don't want to pay a co-pay at the time of your routine physical, then you need to inform me that you have this kind of health plan in advance and I will schedule a visit for another day to discuss just your health problems. You would then pay any applicable co-pay at that time.
I think most people would rather take care of everything at one visit, but that is up to you.
I did not make these billing rules, which are complicated and confusing, but if I accept your insurance coverage, then I must accept their rules for reimbursement. If you don't have a medical insurance plan that says that you don't have to pay a co-pay for a preventive visit, then this does not apply to you.
- Aetna PPO
- Anthem/Blue Cross PPO
- Blue Shield PPO
- Cigna PPO
- Great West PPO
I do not accept Medicare or Medi-Cal. I do not participate in any HMO plans or Workers Compensation.
Billing for Preventive Visits
Some patients have agreements with their insurance plan that state that they will cover the full allowable cost of a preventive health care visit and not require a co-pay. If you have such a plan, you should be aware that this agreement with your insurance company also says that if you receive other medical services, such as a medical consultation for a health issue or problem during this visit, then you will be responsible for any applicable co-pay.
For example, if you come in for a routine physical and we also deal with problems such as:
- Headache
- Skin problems
- Upper respiratory infection
- Chest discomfort
- Stomach cramps
- Insomnia
- Back pain
- Travel medicine
Then I will bill a separate charge for taking care of those problems and this separate charge may have an associated co-pay. If you don't want to pay a co-pay at the time of your routine physical, then you need to inform me that you have this kind of health plan in advance and I will schedule a visit for another day to discuss just your health problems. You would then pay any applicable co-pay at that time.
I think most people would rather take care of everything at one visit, but that is up to you.
I did not make these billing rules, which are complicated and confusing, but if I accept your insurance coverage, then I must accept their rules for reimbursement. If you don't have a medical insurance plan that says that you don't have to pay a co-pay for a preventive visit, then this does not apply to you.
