General Questions

Do cosmetic consultations cost anything?

Yes. We ask that every cosmetic patient puts down a deposit when scheduling their consultation. This $100 deposit is collected at the time of scheduling and stays as a credit on your account to use toward any product or service at our office for up to one year. This fee also doubles as a no-show fee in the event that a patient does not attend their scheduled appointment and does not call our office to cancel/reschedule ahead of time. The consultation fee pays for the time of our highly skilled providers and for this reason is not refundable, but may be redeemed on future visits or product purchases.

What is your cancellation policy? Will I be charged for a no show?

We ask that medical patients provide us with 48 hours notice when canceling or rescheduling appointments. Cosmetic patients are asked to provide 72 hours notice because these appointments are usually longer in duration and out of respect for the providers’ schedules.

The fee for no-call and no-show cancellations is $40 for medical and $100 for cosmetic appointments. In the case of an emergency, please let our office know and we will do our best to accommodate extenuating circumstances.

What kind of payments are accepted at your office?

We are currently accepting payments via check, credit card, and CareCredit. Please be advised we are no longer accepting cash payments as of August 1st, 2022.

What kind of alternative payments are accepted at your office?

We participate with Medicare, Cigna, Aetna, United, Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal, CareFirst PPO and POS, Informed, Tricare, USFHP, and OneNet. For more specific information, please contact us and we will be happy to answer your questions. We encourage you also to directly contact your health care insurance company (with the number on the back of your health insurance card) to see how your individual plan participates. There are a wide variety of health insurance plans that operate differently with coverage, deductibles, and copays. Your health care company should be to explain transparently what your patient responsibility maybe when visiting your dermatologist specialist.

Are cosmetic procedures covered by my insurance?

Generally, cosmetic procedures are not covered by insurance. We accept CareCredit, check, or credit card for our cosmetic services. To learn more about Care Credit, please click here.

If I decide against a cosmetic treatment that I prepaid for, will I be issued a refund?

No. Per our Cosmetic Deposit Policy: ALL deposits are transferable but NON-REFUNDABLE.

What if my insurance provider is out-of-network?

Depending on your insurance plan and their participation with our practice, you may have out-of-network benefits. Out-of-network benefits will be subject to a separate deductible and maximums from your regular in-network benefits. We find that it’s best to call your insurance provider to confirm whether you are in-network or have out-of-network benefits prior to scheduling your appointment to avoid any unforeseen cost. If you need assistance with this, please contact us and our staff will be happy to assist.

Do you accept self-pay patients at your practice?

Yes! Patients without insurance or who elect to not use their insurance provider may pay using check, credit, or CareCredit for visits at our office. Most new patients who are self-pay can expect an initial out-of-pocket cost ranging from $150-$250. This can become more expensive for any necessary biopsies, lab work, etc. Our providers will be made aware of self-pay patients and will discuss anything that may incur additional charges with you during your visit to ensure you are aware of possible additional charges. We have many patients that choose to go this route because they understand the superior quality and expertise that Frederick Dermatology Associates’ provides.

Credit Card Policy

Do I have to leave my credit card information to be a patient at this practice?

Yes. This is our policy. You have the option to seek dermatological care elsewhere if you do not want to accept our policy. We appreciate that you have a choice and respect your decision if you decide to go elsewhere.

Where can I find a copy of your financial policy prior to scheduling?

We strive to maintain transparency with our patients which is why we require all of our patients to sign our financial policy at their first visit. This policy was created to ensure that payments are received in an organized and timely manner, allowing our staff more time to focus on patient care. If you don’t feel comfortable signing the financial policy, our staff will be more than happy to provide you with contact information for other practices in the area. Our office will not be able to onboard patients who are not in agreement with our practice policies. We recommend reviewing our financial policy prior to scheduling here.

How much and when will money be taken from my account?

The insurance companies on average take approximately 2 weeks to process submitted claims. Whatever the allowed amount is, your copay, coinsurance, and deductible are taken into consideration. It simply depends on your individual policy in what you may owe. Once the insurance explanation of benefits is received and posted to your account, any patient financial responsibility will be processed automatically on the debit or credit card you leave on file.

Which secure software system are you using and how does it work?

The software system is PayTrace, a Nationwide Payment Solution System. This system is compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). No data is stored on our local computers or servers. All customer payment account numbers are encrypted as soon as they enter the PayTrace system and the data is stored in geographically remote and fully redundant high security data centers. This means our staff will not have access to your full credit card number after entering this data into the system, nor will anyone else.

What are the benefits of our credit card policy?

Convenience: It saves you time and eliminates the need to write checks, buy stamps or worry about delays in the mail. Plus, if you have a rewards program linked to your card, you can earn rewards for bills you already pay.

What if there is a payment discrepancy or I have other payment questions?

Please contact our billing specialist directly to settle payment discrepancies or for other payment questions.

Will I still receive a paper bill by mail?

No. We want to eliminate printing and mailing statements.