Insurance & Medicare Information
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Insurance Made Simple
We want your focus to remain on your eye health, not the stress of billing. That’s why our team works closely with patients to simplify the insurance process, explain coverage, and ensure clarity before any treatment begins. We accept most major PPO health plans and Medicare, with our billing specialists guiding you every step of the way.
Clear Coverage, Simple Care
Our team simplifies insurance and Medicare, guiding you through coverage details so you can focus fully on protecting your vision.
Insurance Plans Accepted
Health Insurance
We welcome new patients and accept most major health plans. Our Billing Specialists are here to help you navigate your coverage and submit necessary claims for you. We accept:
- Medicare
- Anthem-Blue Cross PPO
- Blue Shield PPO
- Aetna PPO
- United Healthcare PPO
For other plans, please contact us to verify coverage.
Medicare
We are a non-assignment Medicare provider. This means we accept Medicare but do not accept direct payment from Medicare to our office. Instead, Medicare pays you directly.
Here’s how it works:
- Step 1 – You pay Desert Vision Center at the time of service.
- Step 2 – We submit your claim to Medicare on your behalf.
- Step 3 – Medicare reimburses you with a check, typically within 2-3 weeks.
This process allows us to provide independent, patient-centered care without being limited by Medicare’s fee restrictions or third-party financial influences.
“Medicare non-assignment gives us the freedom to focus on quality, not quantity—ensuring your care is never compromised by outside pressures.” –Dr. Tokuhara, Desert Vision Center
Why Non-Assignment Matters
Non-assignment empowers physicians to focus on quality rather than volume-based reimbursement models. It also protects against unethical referral incentives and ensures your care decisions are made based on what’s medically best for you.
We comply with Medicare’s Limiting Charge rules, which means we are only allowed to bill up to 15% over Medicare’s allowed amount. This ensures transparency and fairness in billing.
We stay independent from Medicare’s assignment model, so we can stay loyal to you.
For more information, visit: Medicare.gov – non-assignment of benefits
Why Medicare Non-Assignment is the Ethical Choice
Most patients are unaware that how a doctor chooses to participate with Medicare can directly affect their care. At Desert Vision Center, we remain non-assignment providers so we can prioritize your best interests—not government imposed incentives or hidden referral deals.
Vision Plans
While we do not participate in routine vision plans, we can assist you with submitting claims for vision exams and prescription eyewear.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Insurance & Medicare
We work with Medicare but choose not to accept payment from them. Instead, Medicare pays its share directly to you, the patient, after you receive care. You pay us directly for services rendered.
No. Medicare still covers your medical services including surgery. Being non-assignment simply changes how payments are processed. You get the same Medicare benefits without the hidden fees and referral incentives common in assignment models.
No. Medicare limits what we can charge through a “Limiting Charge” – no more than 15% above Medicare’s fee schedule. We are fully transparent with costs up front.
Because we refuse to let low Medicare reimbursement rates or kickback-driven referrals dictate how we care for you. Non-assignment gives us the freedom to offer personalized, unrushed, high-quality care.
Yes—in the best way. By remaining independent, we focus solely on what’s medically best for you, not what pays us more or satisfies insurance volume quotas.
- No hidden facility fees
- Eliminates billing for unnecessary or even false claims
- Personalized treatment recommendations
- Clear, upfront costs with no surprise bills
- Care decisions based on medical needs—not financial incentives
- You maintain control over your benefits and your care choices.
You’ll receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from Medicare and your secondary insurance. Medicare will send its payment directly to you. We assist you in understanding this process every step of the way.
Attention Patients
Dear Valued Patients of Desert Vision Center,
Dr. Tokuhara is a highly skilled cataract surgeon, specializing in advanced anterior segment surgeries, including complex glaucoma and cataract procedures. He focuses on patients who need surgical intervention or are at risk of severe vision loss.
While Dr. Tokuhara offers comprehensive eye care for his own surgical patients, he does not provide general eye care or post-operative care for patients of other surgeons. When you choose Dr. Tokuhara, he becomes your trusted eye doctor for life.
A Note About Ethical Care
In our community, some providers engage in illegal financial kickbacks, accepting payments for cataract surgery referrals. Desert Vision Center firmly rejects this unethical practice. We follow the highest ethical standards, complying with the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law, ensuring that your care is never influenced by financial incentives.
We believe referrals should always be based on what’s best for the patient not financial gain. If you’re being evaluated for cataract surgery, we encourage you to ask questions and be mindful of these referral arrangements.
Choose the surgeon who prioritizes your vision and your well-being not one chosen for someone else’s profit.
Sincerely,
Desert Vision Center