Frequently Asked Questions
At Access Medical and Health Clinic, we offer quality health care services with low-cost fees. Because we don’t have negotiated rates with insurance companies, we are not bound by their expensive prices, coverage limits, claims or deductibles.
Unlike many clinics that operate under a direct care model, we do NOT charge a monthly membership fee. You pay for the services you need when you need them. We aim to provide accessible and affordable services to detect, prevent, and treat conditions as early as possible, avoiding more costly and worsening circumstances.
As an insured patient who wants to benefit from the services of a direct care clinic, you can use superbills to submit claims to your insurance company for reimbursement or to apply toward a deductible.
A superbill itemizes the services your healthcare provider gives you. It’s a receipt for a medical visit that contains vital information for the insurance company. Instead of paying the healthcare provider, the insurer reimburses you.
The insurer will assess the services detailed on the superbill and, depending on your plan, reimburse you for all, some, or none of the out-of-pocket costs or apply them toward your deductible.*
As an insured patient, you can also use cash prices to negotiate a better deal with providers by asking about cash discounts and comparing these with your insurance company’s quote for the same service. If the cash price is lower than the insurance quote, you can opt for self-pay and save money.**
*Understanding your out-of-network benefits is important. The easiest way is to view plan details on your insurer’s website or call your insurance company using the number on the back of your health insurance card.
**For example, let's say you have a policy to cover catastrophic events with a high deductible that you are not likely to meet under normal circumstances. Your self-pay cost may be as much as seventy-five percent lower than the insurance company's cost, which you would pay as part of your deductible.
You can use your credit/debit card, HSA or FSA account for any services offered at Access Medical and Health Clinic.
Self-pay in healthcare refers to patients paying cash for medical services instead of using their health insurance. This approach is often cheaper for routine procedures, blood work, and diagnostic tests. A growing trend shows that healthcare providers offer discounts for self-pay, even when patients have insurance coverage.
Self-pay is becoming popular due to the rise of high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). These plans require insured patients to pay a larger portion of their medical expenses out of pocket at the insurer-negotiated price, which is often higher than the self-pay cash rate. By opting for self-pay, patients can often secure lower prices by cutting out the middleman—the insurance companies.
Self-pay is typically a good option when you have a high deductible plan and are seeking care but haven't reached your deductible yet and don't expect to hit the threshold within the calendar year. It's also useful when you need services like blood tests, regular outpatient procedures, imaging, and diagnostic assessments, such as lab panels or MRIs. For those that may hit their deductible, we offer a copy of a superbill for you to personally submit to your insurance company for reimbursement, or applying costs towards deductible.
With self-pay, patients are not limited to in-network providers and can explore a wider suite of options. Since every provider accepts cash, this can make cash prices more competitive. Providers have to consider what an individual patient can afford to pay out of pocket and price their services accordingly to stay competitive.