11 Water Street, Suite 1-A | Arlington, MA 02476 | P (781) 648-9700 | View our hours >
Our Core Value
Treating the whole person is a core value at Family Practice Group. We strive to address all of your concerns and properly investigate issues that arise during your visit.
Preventive Care Visit
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Your Preventive Care Visit (Physical) includes a routine physical exam, immunizations and services such that have been defined by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
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For a growing number of health plans, insurance providers will no longer be able to charge a copay, deductible or coinsurance for preventive services.
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Please be aware that if you have other health issues, your insurance may require Family Practice Group to charge a copay for that visit.
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Check with your insurance company and the table below about what preventive services are covered by your plan.
Here’s a good rule of thumb:
If you discuss symptoms at your physical or if your provider orders a test, it’s diagnostic and you’ll most likely pay a copayment. If you have no symptoms, it’s covered.
Copay or No Copay?
“HIDDEN COPAYS” Even if a preventive test or screen is fully paid by insurance, you may still have a copayment or co-insurance for the doctor’s office visit. That is, the preventive care is free, but the doctor’s visit is not.
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Your Preventive Care Visit (Physical) which includes a routine physical exam and immunizations does not require a copayment.
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If you discuss symptoms of acute or chronic diseases at your Preventative Care Visit (Physical) it is considered “diagnostic” and you will most likely be required to pay a copayment.
When patients come to see their health care providers for a Preventative Care Visit (Physical) they should expect the possibility that both preventive care and acute problems may be addressed during the same visit. Because of this copayment may be charged.
Example: Let’s say you make a doctor’s appointment specifically for a preventive service or test (Preventative Care Visit/Physical), but during the course of the visit you are treated for an unrelated problem, like the flu or changes in your diabetes medications. For this visit you would be required to pay the copayment for the office visit.
Complaints with Copayments
The decision of a copayment vs non-copayment for a visit is not decided by Family Practice Group; these decisions are based federal laws and insurance regulations. Complaints of this nature should be addressed with your insurance company.