FAQs
We want to share with you
answers to the most commonly asked questions we hear about
Discount Medical. Read through them, and you'll also learn
more about the plans and optional benefits that are available.
We're here to serve our members. If you have problems or
questions not covered here, please use the Contact
Us form on our website.
Program Issues
Discounts
Provider Issues
Benefits
Vision
Hearing
Prescriptions
Chiropractic Care
Emergency Medical Evacuation
Vitamins
Physician Network
Q. What is Discount Medical?
A. Discount
Medical is a low-cost, high value benefits enhancement
program
that offers members discounts on healthcare and
medical services including vision, hearing, dental
care, prescription drugs,
chiropractic services, podiatry, emergency medical
evacuation, vitamins and herbs by mail, 24-hour
Nurse Helpline, physicians
network, durable medical equipment, extended care,
medical records and storage, and a complementary/alternative
health
network. These savings are available through a
nationwide network of over 500,000 healthcare
providers.
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Q. I already
have insurance. How can Discount Medical benefit me?
A. Traditional health insurance programs are usually available
only through a group (like your employer or a professional
association) and cover a percentage of certain medical expenses.
There are deductibles that need to be met before your expenses
are reimbursed, and you may be required to have a physical
exam taken before your application is approved. If you have
a pre-existing medical condition, your coverage may be restricted
or your deductible and/or premiums higher. Depending on the
insurance plan for your entire group, certain benefits like
vision or dental care may not even be available.
Discount Medical is not health insurance. You
don't have to be part of a group to become a member,
and one fee covers
your immediate family without any extra cost.
Each of our plans is designed to give you benefits
and savings usually
not part of traditional health insurance programs.
Once you receive your membership card, you can
start
receiving discounts immediately. You receive
your discount at the time
of service and pay the bill right then. There's
no waiting period, no deductibles, no premiums,
no worries about pre-existing
conditions, no maximums, and no limits to the
number of provider visits.
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Q. How
do I get my Discount Medical discounts?
A. Within two weeks of enrolling, you'll receive your complete
Discount Medical Member Portfolio, including membership card,
a list of participating healthcare providers and complete
details on each benefit in the plan you selected. Simply present
your Discount Medical membership card to the participating
provider at the time you receive the products or services.
Your discount will be applied on-the-spot when you pay your
bill.
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Q. Who is
included in my Discount Medical membership?
A.When enrolled in the family plan, everyone who
lives at your address is eligible to use any of the Discount Medical
member benefits, including any dependents living away from home, such as
college age children. However, only the member's name actually appears on
the membership card. Your membership can be used by any immediate family
members such as parents, brothers, and sisters - as long as they are
listed on your membership enrollment form and live at the same address.
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Q. How do
I find a vision, hearing, dental or other healthcare provider
in my area?
A. That's easy. You can search on-line, by going to the page
Search for a healthcare provider
in your area. Just type in your zip code and we'll
list some providers closest to you. Once you enroll in an
Discount Medical Plan, your Membership Portfolio will include
a list of the participating healthcare providers closest to
you.
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Q. How can
I find out how much my Discount Medical can save me before
I go see my provider?
A. Once you select a participating provider you can discuss
the fees that will be charged in advance of services being
rendered.
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Q. Are there
any restrictions on age or pre-existing medical conditions?
A. No. Discount Medical is not insurance, so there are none
of the exclusions or restrictions common to traditional health
insurance programs. Discount Medical discounts and services
are available to all members, regardless of age or medical
condition, except where prohibited by law.
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Q. Are
the prices the same for each healthcare provider or does it
vary?
A. Professional fees will vary by geographic area. After knowing
what service you need, your provider will be happy to give
you an idea of your savings.
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Q. Do
I have to wait until I receive my Discount Medical membership
card before I start receiving discounts?
A. Yes. Your Discount Medical membership card and materials
will have certain information that will be needed by each
healthcare provider in order to provide your discounts. You
will receive your membership card within two weeks after enrolling.
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Q. What
dental care discounts are available through Discount Medical?
A. Many dental care procedures are discounted, including exams,
routine cleanings, fillings, extractions, crowns, dentures,
and other preventive and diagnostic services. Discounts also
are available on periodontal, orthodontic and other specialty
procedures. Your savings on each treatment will be up to 50%
off the national average price.
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Q. What
if I need a dentist while I'm out of town?
A. Your membership card is valid in all states. Simply find
a participating provider at our Search
Page or call customer service on the back of your card.
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Q. What
does the vision benefit cover through Discount Medical?
A. You can save as much as 50% on the national average price
of prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses excluding disposables
and other specialty items including Laser surgery where available
through our network of over 12,000 participating retail optical
outlets nationwide. Both disposable contacts and non-prescription
sunglasses are available through our mail order service. By
presenting your Discount Medical membership card, you will
automatically be charged the discounted rate.
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Q. Are
disposable contact lenses available through Discount Medical?
A. Yes, through our Mail Order Vision Service. With your doctor's
contact lens prescription, you can order most types of soft
replacement contact lenses, including disposables, torics
and bifocals, as well as gas permeable lenses, and save up
to 60% on the national average retail price.
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Q. Do
I receive discounts on name brand non-prescription sunglasses?
A. Yes. You can save up to 25% on Bolle, Dolce & Gabbana,
Jaguar, Gargoyles, Serengeti and many other name brand non-prescription
sunglasses through our Mail Order Service. We encourage you
to try on the sunglasses you wish to order first to ensure
comfort, fit and look; you can find a large variety of styles
in major department stores and specialty suppliers. Just make
a note of the brand name and model number of the sunglasses
that you like, and call our Mail-Order Service toll-free for
a price quote on the phone. All the details are included in
your Discount Medical Membership Portfolio.
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Q. What
does the hearing benefit cover through Discount Medical?
A. This benefit enables you to receive a free consultation
from one of over 3,000 licensed audiologists nationwide. You
also can receive discounts of at least 20% on hearing aids
(10% on programmable/digital hearing aids) hearing aid repairs
as well as related hearing products (excluding batteries).
Also, receive free annual cleanings and check-ups of hearing
aids purchased through our program.
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Q. How
do I use the retail pharmacy benefit?
A. Simply present your Discount Medical membership card when
you go to pick up your prescription at a participating provider.
In fact, the pharmacy you're already going to may be one of
the 40,000-plus pharmacies nationwide participating in the
program. Your savings - as much as 30% on both brand name
and generic drugs - will be applied automatically to your
bill when you pick up your prescription.
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Q. How
do I use the mail-order pharmacy benefit?
A. To start using the benefit, just fill out your Patient
Profile form in your Discount Medical Membership Portfolio,
and have a copy of your prescription handy while you call
our Mail Order Prescription Plan toll-free to get a price
quote. Then mail your completed Patient Profile form, your
prescription and a check for the amount or credit card information
to our mail order pharmacy network. You'll receive your prescription
7 to 14 days after we receive your order.
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Q. How
do I use my Discount Medical pharmacy benefit with my insurance
to get discounts on my prescription medicine?
A. This process applies only if you do not have a co-pay prescription
card with your insurance. Your Discount Medical pharmacy benefit
cannot be used in conjunction with another discount program,
co-pay prescription cards, HMOs, or managed care programs.
However, you may be able to use your Discount Medical pharmacy
benefit on drugs not covered by your HMO or managed care provider.
Just take your Discount Medical membership card to a participating
provider location. After you pay your bill, with your discounted
Discount Medical discount already applied, simply file your
insurance claim manually, in paper form, following the instructions
given by your insurance company. (The member must file the
claim manually in order to make an insurance claim.)
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Q. Can
I get a year-long supply of the prescription medicine at one
time through Discount Medical Mail Order Prescription Plan?
A. No. Prescriptions are available in 90 day supplies.
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Q. How
can Discount Medical chiropractic services benefit help me?
A. We have a network of over 6,000 participating chiropractors
nationwide that offer members a free initial consultation,
and discounts of 40% on x-rays and diagnostic services. You
also can save 20% on treatments and related services. All
the details can be found in your Discount Medical Membership
Portfolio.
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Q. My
job requires that I travel abroad on a regular basis. How
can Discount Medical emergency medical evacuation benefit
assist me?
A.This is a great benefit for all travelers, both in
the states and abroad. Members who are injured or become ill while
traveling over 100 miles away from home who cannot be treated by a local
medical facility will receive emergency transportation to the nearest
hospital. If left unattended, your children can receive free
transportation home. It also saves you up to $1,000 off the cost of
transporting your vehicle home. If necessary, your family members can
receive air ambulance or commercial airline transportation to accompany you
home, or be reimbursed up to $100 per day for their expenses to visit
you. Members also receive free, 24-hour, multi-lingual travel assistance.
All the details can be found in your Discount Medical Membership
Portfolio. (Restrictions may apply)
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Q. How
do I order vitamins or herbal remedies through the mail?
A.You can order your nutritional products via the
internet or phone. Save 20% to 70% on thousands of products, choose from
over 25,000 items from more than 400 brands. Your Membership Portfolio
will include a phone number where you can request a catalog be delivered
to your home.
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Q. My
employer's health insurance program is minimal. Does Discount
Medical offer a plan that can help me afford doctor's bills?
A.Our plan is designed to help individuals just like
you. While it's not insurance, it does give you and your family access to
a network of over 500,000 providers including cardiologists,
dermatologists, pediatricians, orthopedic surgeons and other specialists,
all offering discounted fees. You can also save on durable medical
equipment and extended care, including nursing homes and home health
care.
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Q. I lost
my list of healthcare providers. How can I get a replacement?
A. The most up to date list of providers is available at:
PROVIDER SEARCH. Provider
lists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Q. How
do I find a provider closer to my job, or in another area?
A. Provider lists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Just click PROVIDER SEARCH.
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Q. I'm
moving and will have a new address. What should I do?
A. Send us notice with the CONTACT
US form on our site or call Customer Service. Provider
lists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just click
PROVIDER SEARCH.
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Q. I'm
getting married. Are my new husband/wife and stepchildren
covered in my membership?
A. Congratulations!
As long as your new spouse and stepchildren will be living
in the same household, they can all be included in your Discount
Medical membership plan for a one-time $9.95 processing fee.
Just use the CONTACT US form
on our site.
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Q. I went
to one of the healthcare providers on my list and they would
not accept my membership card. What do I do?
A. First, please accept our apology. Each healthcare provider
in the Discount Medical system has a contract with our provider
network. It's possible that the person you spoke with either
made a mistake, or was unaware of this network. We'll be happy
to contact the provider for you and straighten out the problem.
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Q. Can
I find out what my discount will be ahead of time?
A. Once you choose a participating provider, just ask them
in advance, such as when you're making your next appointment.
Our discount pricing is so simple that you can get an idea
of what will be the savings.
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Q. Will
my discount always be the same?
A. Professional fees will vary by geographic area. After knowing
what service you need, your provider will be happy to give
you an idea of your savings.
Back to top
Q. How does
Discount Medical differ from traditional insurance?
A.Discount Medical is not health insurance. You don't
have to be part of a group to become a member, and one fee covers your
immediate family without any extra cost. The plan is designed to give you
benefits and savings usually not part of traditional health insurance
programs. Once you receive your membership card, you can start receiving
discounts immediately. You receive your discount at the time of service
and pay the bill right then. There's no waiting period, no deductibles,
no premiums, no worries about pre-existing conditions, no maximums, and
no limits to the number of provider visits.
Back to top
Q. Will
each member of my family get his or her own card?
A. No. Two cards will be sent when you enroll each bearing
the primary card holder's name. As long as you are an immediate
family member and live at the same address, you are covered.
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Q. Do you have a problem that's
not covered here?
A. We're here to serve our members. If you have a problem or
question not covered here, please use the Contact
Us form on our website.
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