What is a Care Card?
A Care Card is a non-insurance medical discount card. It works similar to a Sam's Club card. When a Care Card is presented at a participating provider's office, the Member is entitled to a significant discount on the fees normally charged for routine services when those fees are paid at the time of service.

How much does a Care Card cost?
The Care Card is sold on an annual membership basis and the prices are as follows:
Individual Membership: $ 72.00 per year.
Family Membership (2 Members): $108.00 per year.
Family+ Membership (3 or more Members): $132.00 per year.

If I become a Member, how much will I save on doctor's office visits and other services?
You're going to save a lot! Physicians' fees are usually set to exceed what they normally are paid by insurers, federal and state government entitlement programs. Insurance companies "buy" physician and hospital services by commanding discounts commensurate with the volume (the number of insured individuals) they represent. Similarly, federal and state government entitlement programs (Medicare and Medicaid) enjoy the best pricing on medical goods and services from physicians and other healthcare providers because they are the largest purchasers of medical services.
All of these fees however take into account the providers' cost of collecting their fees from the insurance company and insurance carriers (third party administrators). In many cases these costs are significant. In fact, a recent Harvard University study found that as much as 31% of all healthcare expense in the U.S. was expense related to the administrative cost of insurance.
Because there are no collections costs, claims processing or other administrative costs associated with a Care Card transaction, our fees can be greatly discounted without negatively impacting the net payment to a physican. We are a physician-owned company, managed by local physicians. We have created the Care Card program to pass along those savings directly to you!

I've heard about other medical discount cards and some of what I've heard isn't good. Is the Care Card any different?
The Care Card is completely different. Because traditional health insurance products have become so expensive, there has been a significant increase in the number of medical discount cards offered throughout the U.S. As with most other goods and services sold in the U.S., there are good ones and bad ones.
We've heard the stories about the bad ones too. Stories of disappointed discount card purchasers who are turned away from doctors' offices when presenting other discount cards because the doctors had never heard of the card company. This is one of the reasons we've decided to offer our Care Card.
Our Care Card differs from other discount cards in several important ways:

• First, unlike any other discount card being sold in Georgia, our Care Card is owned, managed and offered by many of the same physicians who participate in our network. The Care Card is a product of Doctors Direct of the CSRA, Inc., a large Independent Practice Association ("IPA") representing physicians in private practice in our area. We are not going to offer a product that is anything less than what we say it is. Our livelihoods as physicians depend upon your trust in us and our professionalism.
• Second, other discount cards are much more expensive (ranging in price from $40-$120 per month) than our Care Card because they "lease" a provider network through a nationally organized Preferred Provider Organization ("PPO") company which charges the discount card company significant amounts of money to use their network. We are building our own network of providers so we don't have to pay the cost of leasing providers.
• Third, when presented with another discount card, many physicians will not honor the discounts promised by the card company because they simply don't know they are listed by the card company as a participating provider. Most often, they are unaware that their practice's PPO contract is being leased to that card company.
• Fourth, in most states, there are no regulations governing the sales of discount medical cards so consumers buy them and then later learn that the card is ineffective. Here in Georgia however, medical discount cards are regulated and require (among other standards) that the discount card company possess a separately executed Agreement between it and the provider of service specifying the terms of service, including fees. The Doctors Direct Care Card meets and exceeds all of these standards. To review those regulations, click here: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/gl_codes_detail.pl?code=10-1-393. (See Paragraph (32) near the end of the page.)
• Fifth, other discount cards usually require a participating provider to call the card company to determine eligibility of the member and/or to find out the fees associated with the services provided. The Care Card program is designed to eliminate those steps if the card is presented at the time of service. The physician office fees are printed on the back of the card so that the Member and the physician's staff are aware of those fees.
  Sixth, other discount cards state that they will offer discounts usually expressed as a percentage off of a provider's fees (e.g., 30%); but the Care Card simply and clearly states the amount of money a Member will be charged for an office visit; right on the back of the card! Further, every participating physician has all of the discounted fees available at his or her office.
• Lastly, many other discount cards charge an application fee ($25-$50) for enrollment. Our Care Card only charges an annual membership fee.
   

What if I want my doctor to file with my insurance company for my office visit instead of paying at the time of the visit? Will I still get the Care Card rates?
No. In the event you elect not to pay at the time of service, the Care Card fees do not apply.

Can I use my Care Card when I travel outside the CSRA?
No. The Care Card is a local membership program only available throughout the CSRA.
Other discount cards advertise more than 300,000 physicians and 10,000 hospitals in their networks.Why doesn't the Care Card?
Our Care Card provides a local non-insurance product here in the CSRA. We care about the high cost of healthcare throughout the U.S. as well, but we care much more about our own community. By designing our program locally, we are able to offer our Care Card services at a much lower rate than those that promise "national" coverage. Simply put, we live here just like you do. We go to work every day and raise our children here, just like you do. And we are your neighbors. We care about you and your family's health and we care about your ability to afford health care of the highest quality. The Care Card is a local product and it is our intent that it remain so. We will continue to expand our local network of participating providers every day.

What if I (or a family member) go to the hospital for a serious illness or expensive procedure? Will the Care Card save me any money on those charges?
The Care Card was not designed to replace health insurance. It was designed to offer affordable routine, in-offce medical care. In the case of a serious illness, most people would agree that having a low cost "major medical" or hospital insurance coverage is the best solution to guard against significant medical expenses.

I have an HMO (or PPO) insurance policy and pay a $15 co-pay for doctor office visits. Should I also have a Care Card?
No, in your circumstance, the Care Card really isn't necessary. If you (or your employer) can afford, and want, to pay the premium on any health insurance policy which offers a $15 co-pay per visit, you don't need a Care Card. If however, you find that the cost for any insurance coverage becomes more than you want to pay, we recommend that you explore other options (e.g., Care Card membership with HSAs, HRAs, etc.).

Am I or any family member required to have a physical or to send in medical records?
No, a physical exam is not required for Care Card membership. No Care Card Member will ever be asked to submit any medical records.

If I enroll in the Care Card program, do I still need insurance?
It is always a good idea to have, at the very least, a hospitalization or major medical health plan to guard against significant medical expenses. If you don't have any health insurance, contact us and we will be happy to help you find a hospitalization or major medical policy you can afford.

I have an HSA. Should I also have a Care Card?
Yes. If you have a Health Savings Account ("HSA") or a Medical Savings Account ("MSA"), the Care Card can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket expenses for routine, in-office care, retaining those savings in your HSA or MSA account.

My employer pays for my healthcare through an HRA/FSA. Should I also have a Care Card?
Yes. In much the same manner as an HSA or MSA, a Care Card can significantly reduce your expenses of routine, in-office care which allows your employer to save those dollars for you in your HRA or FSA account.

Why are the Care Card membership fees so much lower than other discount cards? How can the program afford to offer such low fees?
The Care Card fees are low because we don't pay to "lease" our provider network. We are building our own network of local providers so we don't have to pay those costs.

If I have Medicare, should I have a Care Card?
If you do not pay a Medicare Part B premium, the Care Card can save you significant amounts of money on your routine, in-office care. If you have elected to purchase Medicare Part B (and especially if you have supplemental Medicare insurance which covers out-patient services), there is no significant advantage for you to purchase a Care Card.

How do I update my personal membership information?
You can update your membership information by contacting us by mail or calling us at (706) 733-1776.

Are there any age restrictions with a Care Card?
There are no age restrictions with the use of our Care Card.

How often can I use my Care Card?
You can use your Care Card as often or an infrequently as your health care needs require. Also, there is no waiting period before you can use your card.

How do I know if my doctor is a participating provider?
You can check our Provider Directory online or you can call our office (706) 733-1776 for the most up-to-date listing of our participating providers. We continue to expand our network of local participating providers, every day.

How will my doctor know to give me the discounts?
When you register at a participating provider's office you must present your Care Card which informs the staff that you are entited to the Care Card fees.

Why should a physician or other provider participate in the Care Card program?
First and foremost, because it is the right thing to do to help our community reduce the high cost of healthcare. Also, healthcare providers understand that a Care Card transaction is more efficient and less costly to them. There are no forms to fill out; no insurance company to fight with to get paid and they don't have to wait for their payment.