We accept all major insurance plans, and are in network with most companies. Please bring your insurance ID card(s) to your office visit, regardless of expected coverage of each plan.
If there is a co-payment for your office visit, you will be expected to pay this at the time of your visit. We accept all major credit / debit cards, cash or personal checks.
Medicare
Despite years of efforts with Medicare, we have been unable to contact any Medicare personnel who can guarantee approval and reimbursement. In our test cases, there have been continual denials of our claims, so eventually we withdrew from Medicare. However, our hospital and anesthesia group are contracted with and accepting Medicare for transgender surgery, and have successfully submitted claims. This means that while you will need to pay the self-pay rate to our office prior to surgery, the hospital and anesthesia group will not require payment upfront, and will bill Medicare. You will still need to provide two strong letters of recommendation which will be submitted to Medicare by the hospital following your surgery. Please contact our office with questions.
Medicaid/Medi-Cal
We are sympathetic to those with Medicaid. We believe in access for all. However, due to the lengthy and often arduous process necessary for pre-authorization, we are not contracted with MediCal (California state Medicaid), or any MediCal managed plans, other than San Francisco Health Plan. We are not contracted with any out-of-state Medicaid or Medicaid managed plans.
Gynecologic Visits
For Gynecologic Visits, co-payment is usually minimal but does vary by plan. Most annual exams are covered without copay so please let us know if this is the specific reason for your visit with us.
FGM/c Patients
For FGM/c Patients, there is a small office charge for advance consultations, but Dr. Bowers does not charge or collect any surgical fees. The only surgical fees you would be expected to pay for are those for the operating room and anesthesia.
Surgical Fees
For Surgical Fees, our pre-authorization process can help you to know exactly how much your co-payment might be expected to cost. This is done about 6 months prior to the surgery date.
If you are having a surgery or procedure, we will likely need to obtain pre-authorization from your insurance company. You will be given specific paperwork and instructions to allow us to complete the pre-auth. You will be asked to provide all insurance ID cards and information regardless of expected coverage of each plan. IF YOU DO NOT PROVIDE US WITH ALL OF YOUR INSURANCE INFORMATION, YOU MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FULL CHARGES AFTER THE SURGERY, EVEN IF WE HAVE PRE-AUTHORIZATION.
If you do not have insurance, we normally ask you to pay in full for the OR and anesthesia costs prior to your date of surgery. If you would like to know the cost of a specific type of visit or surgery, you may call us at any time at 650-570-2270.