A participating provider also known as a preferred provider according to HealthCare.gov is “a provider who has a contract with your health insurer or plan to provide services to you at a discount. Check your policy to see if you can see all preferred providers or if your health insurance or plan has a “tiered” network and you must pay extra to see some providers. Your health insurance or plan may have preferred providers who are also “participating” providers. Participating providers also contract with your health insurer or plan, but the discount may not be as great, and you may have to pay more.”

According to HealthCare.gov a referral is  “A written order from your primary care doctor for you to see a specialist or get certain medical services. [In times Medicaid, Tricare and a few other private insurances require you obtaining]   a referral before you can get medical care from anyone except your primary care doctor. If you don’t get a referral first, the plan may not pay for the services”

Non-covered coverage are medical services and supplies your medical plan declares as medically unreasonable and unnecessary.  A common non-covered service and supply is

To learn more about billing and insurance click here.

According to HealthCare.gov; Cost Sharing is “the share of costs covered by your insurance that you pay out of your own pocket. This term generally includes deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, or similar charges, but it doesn’t include premiums, balance billing amounts for non-network providers, or the cost of non-covered services.”

While you may feel embarrassed sharing personal health, Dr. Affleck will be better equipped keep you healthy with the more information you give.  Being a medical doctor and surgeon gives him comprehensive experience.

You will be asked about your medical history. This includes chronic conditions, d illnesses and your immediate family history.

Does your mother, father, sister or bother have:

• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Cataract
• Hypertension
• Heart Disease
• Thyroid Disease
• Glaucoma
• Macular Degeneration
• Retinal detachment
• Crossed/ Lazy Eye
• Stroke

If your surgeries were on eyes or eye lids, please include with eye or eye lid. The hospitalizations are for non-surgery stays.

Your insurance requires you provide proof of insurance. This is done by allowing our office to copy a A current health plan identification card. A photo on your smart phone is not valid.  Thank you in advance for your understanding.

At Affleck, M.D. Eye Care we take protecting your personal information seriously. Our staff is trained in HIPAA and handling your information. That being said, we are also required to verify your information. This means you providing documentation you are who you say you are. We must see and copy your photo identification. We must also keep a current photo of you on file.

Dr. Affleck encourages you obtaining a copy of your medical records from your previous doctor(s) for his review.  We do not charge for requesting records to our office. However to request a copy we must have written permission. Please  provide fill out this form, ( Click Here) drop it off at the office and we will fax.  Please allow time for a response from your previous doctor. It may take 5-31 days.

Name, phone number and address of those providing you medical services is important information. If requested we can provide them with information about your visit. This allows coordination of care and a healthier you!