Notice to Patients
Beginning September 1, 2026, CCM Dermatology will no longer participate with Aetna, AmeriHealth, Independence Blue Cross, and Independence Administrators. We already do not participate with United Healthcare. This does NOT affect Medicare secondary insurance plans nor Medicare Advantage plans. Please see below for details.
Important Notice About Our Insurance Participation
In June, 2026, CCM Dermatology initiated the process of withdrawing participation with the following insurance plans: Aetna, AmeriHealth, Independence Blue Cross, and Independence Administrators. We continue to remain out of network with United Healthcare and their subsidiary plans including Oxford Health.
The reason: since we opened as a solo practice in January, 2022, the companies above have broken their contractual obligation to our provider with payments far less than the average payment to a dermatologist in this area. We feel this is because our provider is an independent female physician in solo practice. She takes pride in seeing each patient herself at every patient visit without employing physician extenders. Unfortunately, this model is not compatible with these insurance companies. Their lack of transparency and open communication with our solo practice threaten to compromise the quality of patient care. Our multiple attempts to discuss and negotiate before discontinuing participation have gone unanswered. We expect that, like United Healthcare, they will end our participation abruptly without notice.
If you have one of the plans above and wish to continue your care with Dr. Choi, please check your insurance plan for details of your "out-of-network" benefits. Some plans allow patients to see any provider of their choice without any financial penalty. Other plans have higher out-of-pocket costs for patients who choose out-of-network providers over in-network providers. Our practice will continue to submit all claims to insurance companies on behalf of each patient after the office visit. Therefore, please be informed about your financial responsibility before making an appointment to see our provider.
Participating Plans
Horizon BCBS, Cigna, Medicare, all Medigap ("secondary insurance") plans, Medicare Advantage plans
Non-Participating Plans
Aetna, AmeriHealth (HMO, PPO, Administrators), Independence Administrators, Independence Blue Cross, United Healthcare
Plans We Cannot Accept
We do not participate with Medicaid. Therefore, by law, we are unable to see patients with Medicaid (e.g., NJ FamilyCare).
Some Information About Medical Insurance
Every patient visit generates a claim that is submitted to the insurance company on behalf of the patient and as a courtesy to the patient. This allows patients to be seen without submitting a fee on the date of service beyond the co-pay that is set by the patient's insurance plan.
Claim
Form submitted to the insurance company on behalf of the patients that include codes to describe the visit type and reasons for the visit.
Co-pay
Patient payment that is due at the time of the office visit. This amount is determined by the insurance plan.
EOB
Explanation of Benefits. This document is mailed to the patient and to the practice by the insurance company after processing the claim. It details the amount that the particular insurance plan approves for the office visit and what the patient owes vs. what the insurance company will pay vs. what the practice must accept as a loss. Each insurance plan has set co-pay, co-insurance, and deductible amounts that determine the patient's out-of-pocket responsibility for the office visit.
Co-Insurance, Deductible
Parts of one's insurance plan beyond the co-pay that play important roles in determining the patient's out-of-pocket cost for a doctor's visit.