Health Insurance
Accepted Insurance Plans (subject to change)
After decades as a PPO provider for essentially all major insurance plans, The Practice in 2024-25 has moved toward a self-pay model. We have navigated and fought the health insurance system for decades and this is a time to be free of that. Sorry for the challenge this poses for some.
Our self-pay rates are competitive with other physicians with the experience, credentials and expertise that Dr. Schechter brings to your office visit. If you have questions, please call us at (310) 836-2225 to clarify.
Our preferred plans are currently Cigna PPO and Aetna PPO. We are currently in network with First Health, Health Net, Humana, Multiplan, PHCS, on the PPO side. We may get off of some of these secondary or smaller plans in early to mid 2025.
We have opted out of Medicare as of October 1, 2024. At this time, you can sign a “self-pay” contract and continue to see us, but paying for our services and Medicare does not reimburse you. Labs, outside services referred to by Dr. Schechter are still Medicare eligible.
- Aetna Choice POS II
- Cigna PPO
- First Health PPO
- Great West PPO
- Health Net California Large Group PPO
- Humana ChoiceCare Network PPO
- Multiplan PPO
- Multiplan PHCS PPO
- Aetna PPO
Self-pay and VIP options
Self-Pay Options
Patients worry, rightfully so, if they have “lost” health insurance. We try to remind them that office visits with Dr. Schechter are surprisingly affordable. Even if you have to pay out of pocket for a physical (about $350) and 3 office visits (each $175-240 for an established patient) a year, plus some lab work, you will typically spend under $875 for the entire year. So why do you need health insurance, with premiums often $400 to $1000 per month, or more!? Hospitalizations and surgery are expensive and this is the great benefit of having health insurance. Office visits for family medicine and sports medicine care in our office are far more reasonable and are often paid out of pocket by individuals with HMO plans or other limitations in coverage when they want to see a physician of choice.
It seems to be getting increasingly difficult to find a primary care physician or, in fact, any physician, in West Los Angeles, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Santa Monica, Hancock Park, Bel Air, etc. Many are not accepting new patients and for others it can take three or more months to make an appointment. Some practices have gone concierge with annual fees of $3000, $5000 or more per year!
To become a priority patient of this practice, patients choose the VIP program. In the event that this practice limits new patients or reduces the number of existing patients, VIP patients will still be afforded the highest levels of service.
The VIP annual fee begins at $1000. Some individuals, with mutual consent, are charged more, or less, due to specific needs, high frequency of phone calls/emails, etc.
- You may enter the program any time during the year, for a twelve month period. renewal is up to you each 12 months. The full year’s fee is typically paid up front.
- The VIP fee is for certain “non-covered” services; your PPO insurance or self-pay fees are still the main focus and it/you are responsible for all covered services.
Updated2.4.2025