Our cosmetic surgery practice does not accept insurance at this time.  All procedures are cosmetic elective procedures and patients are responsible for the full cost of the procedure.  With that said we are happy to provide a quote for the cost of anticipated procedures before they are rendered.  In a sense, we are out-of-network with all insurance companies and our services are not covered by insurance.  Please be advised that you may seek care for certain conditions, such as excess eyelid skin, from an in-network provider if you believe that your insurance may cover the cost of the procedure based on medical indications per the criteria your insurance company has established.   

 

Since we do function outside of insurance medical coverage in terms of the cosmetic procedures we provide, we are required to provide you with the No Surprises Act notification below, even though most of this does not apply to our patient population.

 

Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

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Please note that many of the provisions outlined below pertain to insurance and insurance plans.  Currently our Practice does not contract with any insurance companies but we are happy to provide you with the cost of services before they are rendered.  Most of our costs for services are posted on our website but can vary depending on the type of procedure being done, the extent of the procedure, the amount and placement of any materials used on procedures such as fillers, among other factors. We will notify you of the cost prior to the procedure.  So, since our practice does not involve insurance, many of the provisions outlined below by the Surprise Medical Act do not apply to our Practice setting.  Please ask us if you have any questions. 

 

.When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.  

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What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)? 
When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.  
“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit. 
“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.  

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You are protected from balance billing for: 

Emergency services  
If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.

  
Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center  
When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.  

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If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you, unless you give written consent and give up your protections.  
You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.   

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following 
protections: 

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•    You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.
•    Your health plan generally must:
o    Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).
o    Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
o    Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
o    Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

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If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact our office billing manager at (828) 550-3344 and we would be happy to explain further and work with you to resolve any conflicts you encounter with the provisions listed in this resource.
Visit cms.gov/nosurprises for more information about your rights under federal law. 

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Posted and effective as of January 1, 2022.