Surgeon's Fees
Cosmetic Surgery - Cosmetic surgery is not covered by insurance. The payment is required in full prior to the onset of the procedure. Prices will generally be quoted after consultation. A 25% non-refundable down payment will be required to hold time for surgery. The balance is due 10 days prior to the date of surgery.
Although revision or secondary surgeries are never intended, the patients are told that there may be future costs if they return to surgery. If the revision occurs within the first 2 years there will usually be similar fees for anesthesia and operating room supplies. The surgeon's fee will usually be greatly reduced.
There are some special circumstances. For example, in breast augmentation there are specific warranties for the replacement of deflated implants.
Reconstructive Surgery - Reconstructive Surgery generally refers to surgery that either attempts to restore the patient to a condition prior to injury. It may refer to the treatment of a medical condition such as skin cancer, birth deformity, heavy breasts which may be painful, etc. It our office policy to perform the very best medical and surgical care to our patients that is possible. Over the past 15 years the insurance industry has steadily diminished the payment reimbursements on the services that we render.
Our office severed all contractual relationships with the insurance carriers as of early 1998. This means that we are neither providers nor are we contracted with any insurance plan or carrier. We are, however, able to bill many insurance policies and the patient is able to receive, often times, significant benefits. Sometimes the insurance company has payment benefits that cover the entire fee. Because the system has become so confusing, we have offered the following procedure with excellent success. All patients are able to come into the office for a "free consult" if it is in order to determine what the prices might be for the proposed services. Normally, the charge to seek information regarding reconstructive surgery is $50.00 or more. At the time of the visit we will give you the following:
An estimate of the charges for the service, i.e. the cost of surgery ( surgeon's fee, pathology, instrumentation, medications, anesthesia — if necessary) We will give you the codes and the diagnoses so that you may contact your carrier to check the benefits. We can mail a copy to your carrier with a photo for more significant procedures. Usually, however, the patient is their own best advocate. Under many instances, the hospital pathology lab or anesthesia department is contracted with insurance plans. It is the patient's responsibility to check this out, however, we will help if possible.
This system has been working out very well for both our existing patients and new patients. We will try very hard to come to a fair price before engaging in care. It may be a reduction from our retail value that we set ahead of time, which will in effect meet the patient or family part way. In this manner we have regained not only some of the control in pricing, but more importantly, we are no longer responsible to the insurance carriers for the decisions that are made in patient care. The decision not to "contract" with insurance carriers for surgeon’s fees has allowed us to spend more time with patients and continue to give excellent and personalized care.
Anesthesiologist Fees
Fees for the anesthesiologist follow the same rules as for the surgeon and the facility. Occasionally, Pathology fees are also applicable.
Facility Fees – Irvine Plastic Surgery Center
Cosmetic Surgery Procedures are priced prior to the procedure and will be placed in a customized quote given to the patient.
Reconstructive Surgery - Our Surgical Facility, much like a hospital, generates separate fees for the use of the operating room, medications, supplies, and recovery room services. Whereas we are not contracted with any insurance carriers, we have agreed to accept the PPO reimbursement rates as payment in full, in cases where we can determine preoperatively that benefits will apply. The patient will still be responsible to pay deductibles and co insurances.
We accept assignment for our patients on Medicare.
For patients who do not have PPO insurance that allows benefits for our operating room facility, we will attempt to provide fees that are priced for the patient prior to the onset of the procedure.
For patients who do not have PPO insurance that allows benefits for our operating room facility, we will attempt to provide fees that are priced for the patient prior to the onset of the procedure.
The office accepts most major credit cards. There are several financing programs available. From time to time we work with different financing companies for our patients. These companies are independent of our practice. Currently, many of our patients have been using Care Credit to finance both their cosmetic and reconstructive procedures.
CareCredit
We’re pleased to offer our patients the CareCredit® card, North America's leading patient payment program. CareCredit lets you begin your treatments immediately — then pay for it over time with convenient monthly payments that fit easily into your budget. Now you don’t have to save up for years to finally get the treatments you’ve always wanted.
CareCredit is the credit card exclusively for healthcare services. With low monthly payments every time you use it, you can use your card over and over for follow-up appointments or different procedures. This means you don’t have to put your health and beauty on hold until you save up enough money. We give you the power to decide when it’s the right time for you. Click the link below to apply or contact us for more information.
We offer three plans:
- 6-month: no interest if paid in full within six months.
- 24-month: 14.9% APR and fixed monthly payments until paid in full.
- 36-month: 14.9% APR and fixed monthly payments until paid in full.
A Note About Assignment of Benefits
For procedures performed that will be paid by the insurance carriers, we ask the patient to assign benefits to either the surgeon, or the facility, Irvine Plastic Surgery Center, prior to proceeding. In the event a payment for either the surgeon or the facility is mailed to the patient, the payment belongs to our office, and return will be requested. These checks should be endorsed to our office and sent back promptly.
Please call us with any questions. Lillian Ibarra has been working with Dr. Altman for more than 20 years and she is very familiar with this process.