Direct Pay

A direct pay (cash pay) practice is an innovative, growing healthcare model. We tailor your care to you instead of insurance rules and mandates. You know upfront what your care will cost and pay a reasonable fee at the time of service. You will not get a surprise bill months later.

Patients see a board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Jessica Kim. Referral hassles and restricted provider networks are never a concern. Dr. Kim spends the time necessary to address all of your concerns and will not rush your visit. She will explain your diagnosis and treatment plan in plain language. Since she is third-party free, she does not have conflicts of interest with respect to your care. Her priority is what is best for you, not what is mandated by an insurance company. Our staff will treat you with courtesy and will call you promptly with any test results. We strive to exceed your expectations.

Excessive rules and mandates have resulted in skyrocketing healthcare costs. Patients pay expensive insurance premiums yet still cannot afford care due to high deductibles and co-pays. To make matters worse, patients have no idea what their out-of- pocket costs are until they receive a bill months later.

We take a simpler approach. By eliminating third parties from our practice, we reduce our administrative costs and pass these savings onto you. Patients know up front what they will pay for their care. We call this price transparency. There are no surprises or hidden bills that show up after the visit.

Patients with high deductibles or no insurance will find that our fees are significantly lower than what they are currently paying out of pocket. For those of you who have out of network benefits, we can provide the necessary codes so that you can submit an insurance claim for possible reimbursement.

Our staff will help you determine how much time may be required to address your concerns and approximate cost. New patient visits start at $90, with additional fees for procedures such as biopsy.

Every year brings complex rules and mandates in our healthcare system, leaving less time to care for patients. Medicine has become impersonal and automated much like an assembly line. Direct Pay Practice allows Dr. Kim to maintain her solo dermatology practice and to serve her patients, NOT insurance companies, the government, or any other third party.

In a Direct Pay Practice, neither insurance companies nor the government have access to your private medical record.

If you have a growth removed or a biopsy, there is a separate pathology fee billed by Dermatopathology NW, our dermatopathology partner. If you require blood work or other lab work, you may choose to self-pay or get it billed through your insurance.

Upon request, we can provide the necessary information for you to file a claim with your insurance company (there is a small charge to cover the physician’s time). However, we cannot guarantee that your insurance company will reimburse you. All questions regarding your insurance coverage and reimbursement should be directed toward your insurance company or benefits manager.

We do not participate in any government healthcare program. If you have Medicare, the government requires that you sign a one-page private contract before we can see you, indicating that you understand that medical services will not be covered. Medicare will still cover any medications or testing ordered by Dr. Kim.

Under Washington law, Medicaid members cannot be billed for any service covered by Medicaid, even if the member agrees in advance to self-pay for the care. Unfortunately, this prevents us from providing medically-necessary care to any Medicaid patient. We can see Medicaid patients only for cosmetic treatments that are not covered by Medicaid.

Occasionally, there may be an additional fee for staff time, administrative work, or other extra tasks done on your behalf. We will inform you in advance any time an extra fee may apply.

Cosmetic services are billed under a separate fee schedule. As always, payment is due at the time of service.

Direct Pay is healthcare re-imagined. Contact Summit Dermatology to schedule your private appointment.