General Questions
Will my insurance cover anesthesia in the office setting?
Anesthesia is typically covered by most insurance plans, but coverage depends on your specific policy. It may be subject to your deductible, coinsurance, or copay. We recommend contacting your insurance provider to confirm whether anesthesia in an office setting is a covered benefit.
For patients receiving office-based procedures in Texas, you can obtain an estimate using our online tool or by calling our billing department, which gives you a general idea of what your out-of-pocket costs might be.
For all other patients, please contact the billing department to obtain an estimate.
Are you in-network with my insurance?
For most patients, we are contracted with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and many major commercial insurance plans. In some cases, even if we are not directly contracted, your insurance may still process our claim as in-network if your surgeon or facility is in-network.
To confirm in-network status and understand your benefits, check your coverage directly with your insurance provider.
For pediatric dental patients seen through our Pacific Northwest locations, we are not contracted with any commercial insurance companies and do not submit claims to TRICARE, BCBS Federal, Kaiser, or Providence.
For pediatric dental patients in Washington, we are in-network with Washington Medicaid and will bill them directly. We are not in-network with any other medical or dental plans, Payment is required prior to the date of service, however, if your medical plan allows, we will submit a claim to them as a courtesy to you. If payment is received from your medical plan, a refund will be issued to you for the appropriate amount.
For pediatric dental patients in Oregon, AAC participates with some, but not all, Oregon Health Plan (OHP) products and Oregon Community Care Organizations (CCOs). Please contact our office to confirm if we are in-network with your specific plan. We are not in-network with any other medical or dental plans. Payment is required prior to the date of service; however, if your medical plan allows, we will submit a claim on your behalf as a courtesy. If payment is received from your medical plan, a refund will be issued to you for the appropriate amount.
Why did I receive a bill after my screening colonoscopy?
Even if your screening colonoscopy is covered at 100%, you may still receive a bill for anesthesia-related services. These include medications, equipment, and nursing care, which may be subject to your deductible or coinsurance. Additionally, there are instances where your procedure may change from a screening to a diagnostic procedure — for example, if a polyp is found and removed. In those cases, the procedure is reclassified and may no longer be covered at 100% by your insurance plan.
To understand how your claim was processed review your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance provider.
Still unsure? Please contact the billing department with any questions.
Why are there multiple charges on my explanation of benefits?
You may see several line items because we bill for the anesthesiologist’s time, nursing care before and after your procedure, and any anesthesia-related medications, supplies, or equipment used.
To see how each service was processed and what portion is your responsibility review your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance provider.
Still unsure? Please contact the billing department with any questions.
Why did I receive a bill weeks after my procedure?
We work hard to minimize your out-of-pocket costs by coordinating with your insurance policy, including submitting appeals and following up to ensure accurate payment. This process can take time, which may delay when you receive your bill.
Why did I get a bill even though I already paid?
If you recently made a payment, you may still receive a bill that was generated before your payment was processed. If you have questions about your balance, please contact our billing team
Why can’t I see my balance online?
Our online payment portal is not directly connected to our billing system, so it may not reflect your current balance. If you have questions about your balance, please contact our billing team.
Do you know what my insurance will pay?
For patients receiving procedures in a provider’s office (and not an ASC) in Texas, you can obtain an estimate using our Online Estimator, which gives you a general idea of what your out-of-pocket costs might be.
For all other patients, please contact our billing team.
Please note that this estimate does not guarantee payment. Insurance coverage varies by plan, and final payment decisions are made by your insurance company. For questions about pre-authorizations, exclusions, or coverage limits, we recommend contacting your insurance provider directly.
Oregon & Washington
What if I'm a Medicaid patient?
If you are a Washington Medicaid patient, we will bill Medicaid directly and you will not owe anything unless your coverage is inactive. For Oregon Medicaid, we participate with some — but not all — Oregon Health Plan and CCOs. Please review the list below of the current CCOs we are contracted with:
- All Care
- Care Oregon
- Cascade
- Moda
- OHSU
- Pacific Source
- Providence
- Sam Health
- Trillium
- UMPQUA
- WOAH
What if I’m paying cash or using out-of-network insurance?
For pediatric patients in the Oregon or Washington, we charge a flat fee due before your procedure. We will submit a claim to your insurance as a courtesy, but we cannot guarantee reimbursement. If your insurance pays more than the total due, we will refund the difference. If they do not pay, you will not be billed for the remaining balance.