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We understand that medical billing can be confusing, particularly when it comes to how different types of visits are covered by insurance. A common misconception is that a well exam includes evaluation of new concerns or ongoing management of chronic conditions.
Below is a summary of what’s typically included in a well visit, what falls under a sick visit, and when both may be billed. If a sick visit is addressed during a well exam, your insurance may require separate billing, which could result in additional out-of-pocket costs.
Even if your child’s well visit to Potomac Pediatrics is covered, you may still be responsible for part of the cost — including co-pays, co-insurance, or deductibles — depending on your insurance plan.
We hope the information below helps clarify when you might receive a bill and why.
A well visit (also known as a preventive visit) is a scheduled
check-up designed to monitor your child’s overall health and development. These
visits are recommended annually for children ages 3–23, and more frequently for
infants and toddlers.
A well visit includes:
These services are often covered at no cost to you under most insurance
plans. However, certain screening tools used or routine labs may be applicable to copay, coinsurance or deductible based on your individual insurance policy.
A sick visit is when your child sees a provider for a specific concern, such as an illness, injury, or ongoing condition. These visits are focused on diagnosing and treating health issues and may involve:
These types of visits usually come with a cost, and depending on your
insurance, you may be responsible for co-pays, co-insurance, or meeting your
deductible.
Yes. During a scheduled well visit, if a provider addresses a separate issue — such as diagnosing an illness, managing a chronic condition, or ordering additional tests — this is considered a sick visit in addition to the well exam.
In these cases, insurance requires us to bill for both visit types, which may result in an additional charge to you.
For example, if your child has a well visit and also needs treatment for an ear infection or a medication adjustment for ADHD, both types of visits will be billed — and you may see charges such as an additional co-pay, or a balance applied to your deductible.
Potomac Pediatrics will always be fully focused on helping your child and you to overcome any healthcare hurdle, with innovative, comprehensive and compassionate care.
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