Financing/Insurance

We consider it a privilege that you have chosen us for your needs. Therefore, we strive to inform you of all the medical aspects of your needs and also would like to advise you on our financial policy for both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery procedures.

Paying for COSMETIC SURGERY and MAJOR PROCEDURES

• Our doctors provide free consultations for all patients.
• Scheduling a surgical procedure will require a scheduling fee of $600. This will be credited towards your surgery.
• Payment for the balance of the surgery fee is due at the preoperative exam or 2 weeks prior to the operation, whichever comes first. If fees are not provided 5 business days before the scheduled procedure the surgery will be cancelled.

We consider the preoperative examination as a definitive final consultation prior to the operation. If the surgery is rescheduled after the payment for your surgery has been made there will be an additional non-refundable 15% rescheduling fee.

Likewise, if surgery is canceled the following will apply: Surgery canceled 3 weeks in an advance-full refund of the deposit, Surgery canceled 2 weeks in advance-50% refund of the deposit, and Surgeries canceled one week or less in advance will forfeit 100% of the deposit.

This is done to maintain the continuity of a very valuable and busy surgical schedule. We reserve a considerable amount of discretion in implementing this difficult but necessary policy.

• Plastic surgery is an art and occasionally revisions will be necessary. These will always be within one year of the original procedure date. The majority of the time, the surgeon fees will be discounted, however facility and anesthesia fees will apply for the procedure. Our surgeons reserve the right to determine a revision versus a separate procedure that is being requested.
• We do not have in-office payment plans.

RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY paid by Veterans Affairs

The United States Department of Veteran Affairs recognizes that Wilmington Plastic Surgery’s acceptance of assignment is self-determined and occurs on an individual and case-by-case basis. As such, Wilmington Plastic Surgery is not required to accept cases regardless of VA approval status. Per our practice policy, we are happy and honored to work with the VA on cases that Wilmington Plastic Surgery determines to be medically necessary and reconstructive in nature. Our practice continues to cherish these opportunities to demonstrate our appreciation for our veterans. Wilmington Plastic Surgery does not accept VA coverage for cosmetic cases.

We are committed to providing you with the best care possible. Reconstructive consultation fees will be billed to your insurance company. It is our patient’s responsibility to provide our office with current insurance information. We will ask for your insurance card at your first visit to obtain a copy for our records. We will occasionally request a copy at a later date to update your records so please have your insurance card every time you come to the office. If current information is not obtained at the time of service, it will become the patient’s responsibility to pay until current information is provided to the clinic.

filing your insurance claim

We participate with most major insurance networks. However, we only accept Medicaid for the following patients:

• those patients under the age of 18;
• as a supplement to Medicare;
• for patients established before the implementation of this rule; and
• patients referred to us by physicians through New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

As a courtesy, we will file your claims for you with your primary and secondary insurance carriers (if Medicaid is secondary, see the above rule). However, we will not become involved in disputes between you and your insurance carrier. We will supply all the necessary information to assist you. Please remember that insurance is a contract between you, the patient, and your insurance company. Ultimately you are responsible for payment in full to Wilmington Plastic Surgery.

Some reconstructive procedures require pre-authorization from your insurance carrier. Our office is pleased to provide this service following your consultation. The authorization process may take 4 to 6 weeks. Surgery will not be scheduled until the authorization is received.

Co-payments and deductibles are due at the time you see the doctor and will be collected at check-in.

When your insurance company has paid its portion of the charge, a statement will be generated and mailed to you. Any balance due is your responsibility and is due upon receipt of the statement from our office.

work-related injury claims

Patients being seen as a result of work-related injuries are still responsible for charges incurred at the time of service. Please notify our office if you have such a claim so that prior to the time of your visit we may verify coverage of your charges by your employer if not already done at the time of making the initial appointment.

We will make every effort to collect your charges from your employer or their worker’s comp insurance carrier, but if we cannot verify coverage, you will be responsible for payment of your charges. Also, if your employer does not remit payment for your charges within a reasonable period of time, we will have no choice but to bill you directly.

Completing Disability Forms or your insurance forms requires office staff time, copies to be made, and time away from patient care for the physicians. Therefore, our charge for this service is $25 and we request 5 business days for completion of this task.

Accident-Related Injury claims

If you are here as a result of an accident (other than job-related), we require that you pay your charges at the time of service or provide us with your health insurance information so that we may bill them directly. Co-pays and deductibles will apply if the charges are filed with your health insurance. We will also need the name, address, and phone number of the Accident Insurance Company and/or attorney. In case of a lawsuit, we will file a lien with them for the charges. SCAR CONSULTATIONS due to an accident that will require attorney reports will require a $500.00 payment from your attorney prior to seeing the doctor for the consultation.

Financing Options for your surgery