Frequently Asked Questions
Where are you located? What hours are you open? What number should I call to make an appointment?
Our main office is located in Santa Cruz, adjacent to Dominican Hospital. We have an office in Watsonville inside Watsonville Community Hospital and an office in Salinas, directly across from Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital. Our main office is open every day from 8am-5pm Monday through Friday. Our doors remain open at the main office during the lunch hour. Please direct all inquiries, mail, and appointment requests to this location. You may reach our office during business hours, or the on-call physician when our office is closed, by calling (831) 464-9962. Our confidential fax line is (831) 464-9933.
Our surgeons also see patients by appointment only in Watsonville and Salinas. Please be aware that some appointments and services may only be available in our Santa Cruz office. Appointments at all locations can be arranged by calling our Santa Cruz office at (831) 464-9962.
Our surgeons also see patients by appointment only in Watsonville and Salinas. Please be aware that some appointments and services may only be available in our Santa Cruz office. Appointments at all locations can be arranged by calling our Santa Cruz office at (831) 464-9962.
What insurances do you accept?
We make every effort to accept as many PPO, Medicare, and Medi-Cal insurance plans as possible. We accept all major PPO insurances, including Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, out of state Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, RFK, Western Growers, Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Cigna, Aetna, HealthNet, United Healthcare, GreatWest, See Change, and many other PPO, POS, and EPO insurance plans, Medicare and Medicare supplemental insurance.
We accept Kaiser Insurance. Please request a referral from your Kaiser physician.
If you have HMO insurance, please be aware that we can only accept HMO plans that are affiliated with Dignity Health Medical Network of Santa Cruz County with a referral from your primary care physician or other in-network specialist. We regret that we cannot accept any other HMO insurance, including plans affiliated with Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Santa Clara County IPA, except in cases when you need emergency care provided through a hospital emergency room.
We accept Central California Alliance for Health, California State Medi-Cal, Healthy Kids, Healthy Families, Medi-Cruz, and Medi-Cruz Advantage once the appropriate referral documents have been received. We are also able to accept patients for services covered by the California Breast Cancer Detection Program and Every Woman Counts.
If you have questions about whether or not we accept your insurance, want to know if you need a referral from your primary care physician, or want to know if we are an in-network provider, please do not hesitate to contact our office. We also encourage you to contact your insurance plan if you have any questions about your insurance coverage.
We accept Kaiser Insurance. Please request a referral from your Kaiser physician.
If you have HMO insurance, please be aware that we can only accept HMO plans that are affiliated with Dignity Health Medical Network of Santa Cruz County with a referral from your primary care physician or other in-network specialist. We regret that we cannot accept any other HMO insurance, including plans affiliated with Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Santa Clara County IPA, except in cases when you need emergency care provided through a hospital emergency room.
We accept Central California Alliance for Health, California State Medi-Cal, Healthy Kids, Healthy Families, Medi-Cruz, and Medi-Cruz Advantage once the appropriate referral documents have been received. We are also able to accept patients for services covered by the California Breast Cancer Detection Program and Every Woman Counts.
If you have questions about whether or not we accept your insurance, want to know if you need a referral from your primary care physician, or want to know if we are an in-network provider, please do not hesitate to contact our office. We also encourage you to contact your insurance plan if you have any questions about your insurance coverage.
What will I have to pay for my appointment?
What you will pay for your appointment depends on the specific insurance plan or coverage that you have. You may have a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or other out-of-pocket expense for an office visit with a specialist physician. Understanding your insurance plan and what it covers is an essential part of being an informed consumer and patient. We encourage you to contact your insurance plan to get as much information as possible about your benefits. If you have any financial concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our billing office.
What will my surgery/treatment/procedure cost?
Please be aware that often it is not possible to quote estimates for treatment, diagnostic services, specialized exams, or surgeries until after you have been examined by one of our physicians or our physician assistant. Each of our patients deserves individual care tailored to their individual needs, and we will work with you to inform you of what your share of cost may be after your initial evaluation. While we will always contact your insurance company prior to any surgery or procedure so that we can give you an estimate of what you may be responsible for, we cannot tell you exactly what you will pay until your insurance has processed the claim after services are rendered.
What if I don’t have any insurance?
We offer discounted cash rates for initial consultations and surgery/treatment if you do not have insurance. Please contact our billing office for information about cash rates and/or payment plans. We will work with you to inform you of what your share of cost may be after your initial evaluation.
Where do your surgeons perform surgeries?
Our physicians perform procedures and surgeries at Dominican Santa Cruz Hospital, Watsonville Community Hospital, Santa Cruz Surgery Center, and Central Coast Surgery Center. Select "Locations"above for more information.
In addition to hospitals and surgery centers, we are also able to perform some minor surgical procedures, including most vein therapy procedures, in our office.
In addition to hospitals and surgery centers, we are also able to perform some minor surgical procedures, including most vein therapy procedures, in our office.
How should I prepare for my first appointment?
For your first appointment, please arrive at least 15 minutes early in order to complete your paperwork and allow us time to process your insurance, demographic information, and medical history. Please bring your insurance card(s), photo ID, and be prepared to pay your copayment or coinsurance.
If you are being seen for a breast consultation, please bring the films of your most recent mammogram with you to your appointment. You will need to contact the facility where your mammogram was performed and allow them at least 48 hours to make the films available for you to pick up.
If you have access to any other medical records and/or radiology reports or films that are relevant to your appointment, please arrange for your referring physician to forward those records to our office, or bring them with you to your appointment.
If you are being seen for a breast consultation, please bring the films of your most recent mammogram with you to your appointment. You will need to contact the facility where your mammogram was performed and allow them at least 48 hours to make the films available for you to pick up.
If you have access to any other medical records and/or radiology reports or films that are relevant to your appointment, please arrange for your referring physician to forward those records to our office, or bring them with you to your appointment.
Will there be a long wait?
Our providers make every effort to ensure that we run on time and are able to see patients at their expected appointment time. We strive to give all of our patients the time, attention, and care that they expect and deserve.
We will do everything we can to inform you as far in advance as possible if there will be a delay or a need to reschedule an appointment. However, due to the unpredictable nature of a surgical practice, please be aware that there may be unexpected wait times or the need to reschedule appointments with very little notice in order to attend to emergencies. We truly appreciate your understanding and patience.
We will do everything we can to inform you as far in advance as possible if there will be a delay or a need to reschedule an appointment. However, due to the unpredictable nature of a surgical practice, please be aware that there may be unexpected wait times or the need to reschedule appointments with very little notice in order to attend to emergencies. We truly appreciate your understanding and patience.
do you accept kaiser permanente insurance?
Yes, we are contracted providers for Kaiser Permanente. Please request a referral from your Kaiser physician.