First off, two reviewers, Jae D. and A. M. prominently displayed their ignorance of how Anthem Blue…read moreCross PPO health insurance plan works or a comparable PPO medical plan.
Both Jae D. and A. M. were misinformed that they owe no "copay" to an In-Network acupuncture provider. After the annual deductible is met (which varies with each contract), Anthem will cover 80% of the treatment, the patient/insuree is responsible for 20%. Anthem calls this 20% "coinsurance" payment, which is often confused with something different called a "copay."
Copay is a fee and term normally associated with an HMO policy, like for Kaiser Permanente and other Health Maintenance Organizations [HMO].
Whichever term is used, most people equate paying any amount at the doctor's office as a "copay."
More confusion happens because many people are unaware that their annual deductible has not been met, and full amount of the doctor's visit is owed. That is the $40 that Dr. Wendy Stedeford is expecting for a treatment.
Her actual higher billing rate to Anthem is commensurate to other medical professionals. Per contractual agreement between Dr. Stedeford and Anthem, a patient's bill is immediately reduced by 76% as an In-Network Provider "plan discount." After this plan discount, the total amount owed to Dr. Stedeford is $41.25. But, since she is nice, she only asks for an even $40.
Contrary to uninformed assumptions, Dr. Stedeford does not receive any other compensation from Anthem---only the $41.25 due to her from the patient.
If the patient's annual deductible has been met, they only pay $8.25 or 20% coinsurance. Anthem will then pay $33 or 80% plan coverage to Dr. Stedeford.
I think it is extraordinarily selfish and even cruel to expect an acupuncturist L.Ac, or a chiropractor D.C., or an optometrist O.D., or other types of doctors who complete a very expensive and long graduate school program to obtain a professional degree, go through testing and licensing processes, set up a medical practice by paying for an office rental space and other enormous business expenses, only to be paid $40 a treatment?
This is incomprehensible to me.
My M.D.'s and D.O.'s all charge between $400 to $550 per office visit. And, those doctor's visits are often only for a few minutes, after sitting in the waiting room for sometimes long periods beforehand. Osteopaths D.O.'s typically provide longer time with patients.
Selfish people have no concept of the years of post-graduate education required, the board exams required regularly, the cost of paying for office rent, employee salaries, various business insurances, business income taxes, corporate filings, equipment . . . all while having to repay huge student loans for medical school and bank loans to open a healthcare practice.
Dr. Wendy, in her kindness and humility, will give you her full attention for perhaps 30 minutes to ascertain your health needs. For my visits, she has often talked with me for up to 60 minutes so she could better devise an acupuncture treatment for me that day.
She has a great deal of knowledge of Chi, body meridians, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and of course, acupuncture. I love listening to her describe how every internal organ and gland equates to specific symptoms and direction for acupuncture treatment.
Before she begins deploying the specialized needles, Dr. Wendy explains what she is doing and why.
Then, with any number of needles placed about my body for that particular treatment, she places a mylar blanket on me as I lay resting on the table, in a quiet private room. I often fall asleep as my time-on-the-table approaches 30 minutes.
With every single acupuncture session I've experienced with Dr. Wendy Stedeford, I left feeling better and more energetic. I know my overall health improves with acupuncture.
My acupuncturist in Sonoma County did not accept insurance and charged $110 per session, and that was over 20 years ago! My current registered dental hygienist R.D.H. with far less education and training than an acupuncturist, charges $97 for my teeth cleaning.
I feel very grateful to Dr. Wendy to receive all that service for only $41.25 (since my deductible has been met, $8.25).
Guilt for paying such a small amount occasionally pops up. Yet ironically, guilt will interfere with the full health benefit of acupuncture.
So, I focus on my gratitude to the wonderful care Dr. Wendy Stedeford, L.Ac provides to everyone.
Review 0212
Feel.
