Pricing

Your health is an investment that gives great returns.

Why we don’t contract with insurance

If you don’t like how long it takes to make an appointment with your doctor only to see them for a few minutes at a time, you’re not alone. Insurances are making it harder for doctors to be attentive to your unique needs. They also practice predatory (surprise) billing which places financial stress on patients and we were simply not ok with that way of medicine.

That is why Dr. Tea has made a deliberate choice to no longer contract with insurance so she can focus on patients instead of paperwork. Your medical care will be from the doctor, rather than the insurance company. Being out of network allows you to have the doctor’s undivided attention and receive high-quality personalized care. Dr. Tea is committed to your well-being and can provide more efficient compassionate care this way. And you’ll always know the cost of your medical care before any procedures are performed.

Find more doctors like Dr. Tea who are focused on individualized care at DSCalliance.org

PRICING & POLICIES

To ensure you receive the attention you deserve, a one-time $150 booking fee will secure your appointment and it will be credited towards the visit total.

New Patient

  • Up to 60 minutes $550

    • Best option for second opinions, chronic foot & ankle issues, complex deformities, unresolved heel or foot pain, procedure/surgical consultations, or you need someone to be your health advocate to review your medical case so you understand your options

  • Up to 30 minutes $275

    • Best for straightforward conditions such as toenail fungus, ingrown toenail, toenail or skin issues, callus/warts, toe fracture management

Established Patient

  • New problem $275

  • Same problem follow up $225

  • Xray foot/ankle with interpretation +$50 each

  • Ultrasound or live fluoroscopy foot/ankle with interpretation +$75 each

  • Treatments, Procedures, & Surgery - since these are highly variable, a consultation is required for an accurate quote

EASY PRICING FOR FOOT & ANKLE SURGERY

In-Office Surgery

Dr. Tea is specially trained in performing awake surgery (only local anesthesia to numb your foot) in her office surgical suite. Her pricing is one all-inclusive charge so you can have peace of mind during your recovery.

A consultation will provide an accurate quote and will be applied to the surgery cost. Fees will be clearly defined before surgery so you won’t experience predatory billing that is typical with insurance.

One price includes the facility fee, supplies, anesthesia, surgeon fees, xrays & 6 months of aftercare.

  • Does not include pathology, lab work, MRI/CT imaging, or prescriptions. These may be billed to your insurance at their respective facility.

Soft Tissue

  • Corn or scar removal $1500

  • Hammertoe tenotomy & capsulotomy $2000

  • Soft tissue mass removal (warts, mole, cyst), incision & drainage, foreign body removal $650

  • Skin grafting for wound closure on feet or legs

    • Split-thickness (autograft from your own body) $1500

    • Allograft (from donor source) - varies

Minimally Invasive Bone Surgery

  • Minimally invasive bone spur reduction, toe $2000

  • Minimally invasive hammertoe correction $2500

  • Minimally invasive bunion surgery $5000

Out-Patient Surgery

Dr. Tea is credentialed at Santa Cruz Surgery Center, who will provide a good-faith estimate prior to scheduling your surgery. You can expect 3 separate charges, which are due before surgery:

  1. Santa Cruz’s Facility Fees + special orders

  2. Anesthesia Services Fees

  3. Dr. Tea’s Surgeon Fees

Soft Tissue

  • Large soft tissue mass, greater than a quarter (ganglion, cyst, fibroma, melanoma) $1500

  • Endoscopic plantar fascia release $3500

  • Morton’s neuroma removal $3500

  • Tarsal tunnel decompression $4500

  • Tendon repair $5500

Bone Surgery

  • Great toe fusion (arthrodesis) $5500

  • Minimally invasive heel (calcaneus) bone spur reduction, alternative to Achilles tendon detachment-reattachment surgery $5500

  • Complete foot makeover (bunion + multiple hammertoes + corn removal) $9500 per foot

*If you have health insurance, the facility fee and anesthesiologist’s fee may be covered. The surgery center may offer eligibility information but you’ll ultimately be responsible for understanding your insurance benefits.

Not sure what you need?

Schedule a risk-free 15-minute phone or video visit for only $50, which will be credited to your visit total if you decide to proceed with health coaching, medical work-up, diagnosis, and treatment plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. All of our services are self-pay. We accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Care Credit.

  • Our patients are our priority. We no longer contract with insurance because we saw a fundamental flaw with the system. Patients were disconnected from their doctors and were not getting quality care or transparent pricing.

    If we continued to contract with insurance that would mean your medical care is dictated by insurance administrators and not necessarily your doctor. That is why places that take insurance have long wait times, short visits, incomplete care, and many times patients were left with an enormous bill they never knew they would get. They treat patients like a number and we don’t agree with that model.

  • Insurance is a contract between you and them. Since we have no relationship with insurance it will be up to you to ask your insurance company for your benefits.

    You may request a Superbill and submit them on your own. We cannot guarantee their payment for our services.

    Insurance may cover:

    • Prescriptions sent to the pharmacy

    • Lab orders sent to Quest or Labcorp

    • Imaging orders sent to radiology centers (MRI, CT)

    • Surgeries performed at Santa Cruz Surgery Center will likely pay for the facility fee and anesthesia fees. You will be billed Dr. Tea’s professional fee separately. You will want to do your due diligence regarding coverage before proceeding with surgery.

    • Referrals - Dr. Tea selects the best option to refer you, which may or may not be within your insurance benefits. You can call those facilities beforehand to verify your benefits.

  • We accept cash, checks, major credit cards, and FSA/HSA cards with a Visa or Mastercard logo. You can apply for Care Credit to finance your healthcare spending.

  • No. We welcome all with or without insurance. When you don’t rely on your insurance for referrals, you are in control of your health and can often be seen sooner and get better quicker as well.