Billing & Insurance

Bay Area Retina Associates billing office staff hopes the information available here will help make your visit with our physicians go smoothly.

If you belong to an HMO, POS, or PPO, whether through a medical group or not, please make sure that you completely understand what is needed in the way of either a referral or authorization, before your appointment. Otherwise, your visit may not be covered by your insurance.

As a courtesy we file all your insurance claims for you if you provide the current insurance address. We ask that co-payments be made at the time of your visit. If you are not currently covered by medical insurance you will be expected to make payment at the time of your visit. The Billing Office staff will be glad to discuss fees with you in advance of your appointment.

Bay Area Retina Associates physicians participate with most insurances in the Bay Area. Our doctors belong to many Medical Groups.

However, they are NOT members of the following groups:

• Brown & Toland Medical Group
• Alta Bates Medical Group Seniors & Alta Senior Care - NAMM

and we will not be able to help you get a referral for your visit.

Our Insurance Affiliations

Medical Groups

Bay Area Retina Associates is directly affiliated with several Medical Groups in the Bay Area. A member's care is managed by their Primary Care Provider, who needs to be involved in all decisions about specialist services.

Affinity Medical Group / PPMSI including:

• Alameda Medical Group
• Eden Medical Group
• Pinole Medical Group
• San Leandro Medical Group

Bay Valley Medical Group providers are located in Hayward and Pleasanton. They also have providers in Castro Valley and along the 880 corridor.

Hill Physicians Medical Group is located in San Ramon. Providers who would refer to Bay Area Retina Associates are located in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano counties.

Muir Medical Group is located in Walnut Creek. Providers are located in Contra Costa County.

Palo Alto Medical Group

Insurance Companies

Bay Area Retina is also affiliated with the following insurance companies:

Admar Med Network	Aetna
Beech Street	Blue Cross
Blue Shield	BPS/Benefit Panel Services
Champus/Tricare	CCN/Community Care Network
Cigna	First Health (Affordable)
Foundation Health	Foundation for Medical Care/ACCMA
Great West/One Health Plan	HealthNet
Interplan	PacifiCare
MediCal	PHCS/Private Health Care Systems
PHN/Preferred Health Network	United Health Care

Medicare

Bay Area Retina Associates physicians are Participating Providers for Medicare and Railroad Medicare.

A Medicare patient will receive a statement from us only when the balance due is the patient's responsibility. Usually because the deductable has not been met or a secondary coverage has transferred the balance to the patient.

Managed Medicare Insurance - known as Senior HMO Plans have become much more popular in the last few years. These offer Medicare patients the option to control their out-of-pocket expenses. The patient must enroll and then pick a Primary Care Provider who will direct them to Specialist care.


In Northern California, they are offered by the following insurance companies:

• Health Net - Senority Plus
• PacifiCare - Secure Horizons

Bay Area Retina Associates physicians see Senior HMO Plans through the following Medical Groups:

• Affinity Medical Group:
  • Alameda Medical Group (needs physician referral)
  • Eden Medical Group
  • Pinole Medical Group
  • San Leandro Medical Group
• Hill Physicians Medical Group
• Muir Medical Group

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If you require further information, please feel free to contact our Billing Office.

Phone: (925) 522-8855