Billing & Payment FAQs

If you have questions or concerns about your insurance, billing, or payments, your OPA billing representative is happy to help. You may also schedule a financial consultation at our office to help with special situations.

Will I receive an estimate before surgery?

Of course, no one likes to be surprised with unexpected costs after surgery. To avoid this, OPA’s pre-certification staff goes to great lengths to contact your insurance to understand your benefits and determine if your surgery requires pre-authorization. Our staff then attempts to obtain the necessary prior authorization for you; if we are unable to do so, we will contact you. We will then prepare a financial estimate for your surgery and our financial counselors will either meet with you or call you to discuss the costs prior to surgery. Our estimate, including the patient portion, is only an estimate as some insurance companies will not disclose patient benefit information to providers. For this and other reasons we encourage our patients to also contact their insurance company if they have specific benefit questions. The actual charges may be more or less than our estimated amount. Complications or special needs that arise during surgery can sometimes increase the amount. In such instances the actual patient liability cannot be determined until after the surgery. We try to do our best to give our patients a meaningful estimate before surgery.

What forms of payment does OPA accept?

OPA accepts all major credit cards (including VISA, Mastercard, Discover), cash, personal checks and money orders.

When does my account become overdue?

Accounts are considered overdue 60 days after the date of service regardless of the status of insurance claims. Any balance remaining after 90 days will be considered for collections.

Does OPA make exceptions for financial hardship?

If you are experiencing financial hardship you can talk to your OPA patient representative.

Is there a charge for a returned check?

OPA adds a $25.00 fee to your account for returned checks.

When is my payment due?

Payment is due at the time of service unless other arrangements have been made with our billing department. Account balances over 60 days from the date of services are considered past due and payable by the patient regardless of the status of payments from the insurance company.

What payments do I need to make at the time of service?

New Patients:
If you are a new patient, our office policy is to collect $150.00 at the time of service towards any balances your insurance leaves after they process your claim.

Established Patients:
If you are an established patient, our office policy is to collect $75.00 at the time of service towards any balances your insurance leaves after they process your claim.

Alaska Medicaid:
If you are covered by Alaska Medicaid and you are over the age of 18 we require you to pay $3.00 at the time of service.

Medicare:
Patients covered by Medicare are not required to pay at time of service. Medicare patients will receive a bill for required co-payments and deductible amounts after Medicare processes payment.

TRICARE:
Please make sure you have the necessary Authorizations from Tricare so they process your claims for benefits. Your patient liability will be due after Tricare processes your claim; please go to the Tricare website for more information about how they process/pay your claim.

Self-Pay Patients:
Self-pay patients are offered a discount if they pay in full at the time of service, otherwise payment arrangements can be made at the time of service with our financial counselors.

Can I make special payment arrangements?

OPA offers payment plans. In-house installment payment agreements are considered on a case-by-case basis and can be discussed with your financial representative.

Will I receive a statement from OPA?

You will receive a statement in the mail when a balance is due. All unpaid balances are due in full 60 days from the date of service.

Questions?

The OPA team includes Alaska’s leading specialists and offers some of the latest, most advanced treatment procedures available today.

OPA treats a wide variety of conditions and offers comprehensive treatment options — including many non-surgical solutions, minimally invasive arthroscopies (repairs), and total joint replacement.

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