Question 1

Do you accept insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  We currently accept the following plans:• Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon• Oregon Health Plan (Care Oregon)• Heraya Health (Kaiser)

Question 2

Do you take Oregon Health Plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We currently accept Oregon Health Plan (CareOregon)Access to care through the Oregon Health Plan matters deeply to our practice. OHP is a critical safety net that allows many people to receive care they would otherwise be unable to access, and we believe strongly that income, disability status, family structure, or life circumstance should never be a barrier to receiving compassionate, high quality healthcare. We are committed to always accepting OHP as part of our practice because equitable access to care is a core value of our work.

Question 3

What if I'm uninsured?

Accepted Answer

You are welcome here, even if you don’t have insurance. While we recommend maintaining coverage for emergencies or hospital care, insurance is not required to work with us. This practice operates on an equity-based self-pay model with transparent, equity-based pricing.

We offer discounted cash-pay rates for labs and imaging, and if you need specialty care,  we will help you find options that are both clinically appropriate and financially manageable.

Question 4

Do you accept Medicare patients?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we welcome Medicare patients! However, we do not bill medicare insurance for visits. Appointments will be paid at the time of visit using the Community Supported Direct Care model. Learn more here.

Medicare can still be used for most labs, imaging, prescriptions, and specialist care ordered outside the practice.

Question 5

What's your problem with insurance?

Accepted Answer

We want to be transparent about why we are intentionally moving toward a community supported direct care model.

In Oregon, naturopathic physicians do not have pay equity with other primary care providers, including MDs, DOs, NPs, and PAs. For the same visit types and billing codes, reimbursement is often lower, inconsistent, or denied altogether. Insurance companies may require prior authorizations simply to be seen by a naturopath, exclude licensed services, or retroactively deny care.

We have patients who pay more in monthly insurance premiums than we receive in an entire year of care from their plan.

These are not isolated issues. They reflect a healthcare system that prioritizes profit and bureaucracy over care. In the current political and economic climate, continued reliance on this model harms patients, practitioners, and clinic staff. It pushes healthcare into a transactional framework where time, relationship, and healing are devalued.

Our long-term vision is to move away from transactional healthcare models and toward systems where everyone involved is supported. This means patients receiving care without fear of denials or surprise bills, practitioners being fairly compensated for their labor, and staff working within sustainable and humane structures.

As part of this vision, we are committed to always accepting OHP. Access to care matters deeply, and this commitment exists alongside our broader goal of building a transparent, community-supported, equity-based practice that allows all of us to be cared for.

Question 6

What do I have to pay for my visit?

Accepted Answer

The amount you pay depends on your specific insurance plan, and it is not always as straightforward as it may seem.

Most patients are responsible for some combination of:
A copay, which is a fixed fee due at the time of your visit
A deductible, which must be met before your insurance begins to cover services
Any remaining balance for services that are not fully covered

Question 7

Does my copay cover the full cost of my visit?

Accepted Answer

Not always. A copay is simply the amount collected at the time of your visit, but it may not reflect the total cost of care.

Depending on your plan, you may still receive a bill if:
Your deductible has not been met
Additional services are provided
Your insurance does not fully cover certain aspects of your care

Question 8

What parts of my visit may not be covered?

Accepted Answer

Coverage varies by plan, but commonly uncovered or partially covered services can include:
Extended or complex visits
Non-covered services (Examples may include: bodywork, pelvic floor therapy) 
Lab interpretation and review
Care coordination and communication outside of your visit
Administrative work such as prior authorizations
These are all important parts of your care, but insurance does not always cover them fully.

Question 9

Why did I receive a bill after my visit?

Accepted Answer

This is usually related to how your insurance processes the claim.

If your deductible has not been met or if certain services are not covered, the remaining balance is assigned to you by your insurance plan.

Question 10

How can I better understand my costs ahead of time?

Accepted Answer

Insurance plans can be complex, and it is not always possible to know exact costs in advance.

If you are looking for more clarity around copays, deductibles, and why unexpected bills happen, we invite you to read our full blog post where we walk through this in more detail.

You can also explore our Community Supported Direct Care option if you prefer clear, upfront pricing without the uncertainty of insurance billing.

Insurance

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