What is the Affordable Health Card program (AHC)?
The Affordable Health Card program provides alternative health care solutions for businesses and individuals. The Affordable Health Card program provides significant savings for your healthcare needs. Savings benefits include Physician, Hospital, Dental, Prescription Drug, Vision, Hearing, and Chiropractic services.

How does the Affordable Health Card program work?
The Affordable Health Card plan is very simple. Upon registration, you will receive an registration packet within 10 to 14 business days after the initial enrollment date. The registration packet will include a Member Information Manual, Service Provider Directory, and Membership Identification Cards listing the member and any dependents included in the registration. You then may make an appointment with any medical provider listed in the provider directory. At the time of your office visit, just present your membership identification card and your savings are instantly granted. There are no time-consuming just instant savings on your entire healthcare needs.

How do I receive my discounts?
Simply show your card at participating provider locations and your discount will be granted at the time you receive the products or services.

Why would a provider be interested in the Affordable Health Card program?
Currently, millions of Americans have limited or non-existent benefits and cannot afford the high cost of medical services. With the Affordable HealthCard program, consumers can more easily afford the cost of these much needed services and healthcare providers have realized this as an opportunity to acquire new patients and build their practice. 

Is the Affordable Health Card program insurance?
Affordable Health Card is not an insurance plan or program of any type. The AffordableHealthCard program was developed to provide significant discounts on health and medical services to program members by working with PPO networks to give you the same purchasing power as large insurance companies. The savings to Affordable Health Card members ranges from 10% to 60% on doctor, hospital, and dentist visits as well as on long-term care, prescriptions, vision care, and much more. These beneficial savings would not be possible if the AffordableHealthCard program was structured as an insurance plan.

Are there any long or complicated claim forms to fill out?
There are no long or complicated claim forms to fill out. Most providers will furnish the discounted network price at the time services are rendered.

Can the plan be combined with an existing health insurance policy?
Yes, this plan is designed to assist everyone in saving money and may be combined with some types of current health insurance coverage.

How does the Affordable Health Card program work with my insurance?
There are many types of insurance coverage and it is not possible for AffordableHealthCard to offer advice on how the program works in combination with all of the various types of insurance coverage. The AffordableHealthCard program may be used in conjunction with services not covered by your current insurance, with policies that have high deductibles, or that charge flat-fees for hospital stays.

How much are the program co-payments?
Since the AffordableHealthCard program is not an insurance plan; there are absolutely no co-payments. Members will receive the savings benefits from the medical provider at the time of service.

What percentage of savings can members expect to receive?
Many factors are involved in determining the percentage of savings benefits each member will receive. These factors generally include, but are not limited to, the provider selected, the nature of services received, the type of prescription medication, and the geographic location of the member. For a better understanding, please click on Actual Examples of Savings Benefits, to review the savings benefits in greater detail. 

Are there any limitations on pre-existing health conditions?
The AffordableHealthCard program uniquely eliminates ALL pre-existing condition limitations regardless of current health status. Members are not disqualified or excluded because of a pre-existing health condition. There is a thirty-day waiting period for all non-emergency hospital visits.

Are there any age limitations for qualifying or using the plan? 
There are no age limitations for qualifying or utilizing this plan. Any member in good standing may use the plan, regardless of age.

Can members obtain savings without having their Member Identification card present?
Members must wait until they have their Member Identification card before receiving any savings benefits. Service providers will need specific information from the card to process the savings benefits.

Does membership in the Affordable Health Card program include everyone in the household?
Usually membership does include all members of the household for one low monthly fee. Any person considered a legal dependent of the enrollee under IRS guidelines could qualify as a dependent on the membership.

Does the program cover dental care?
The Affordable Health Card program covers routine dental care. You will receive discounts up to 60% on routine dental care through a network of 19,000 service providers and savings of 30% to 50% on major dental work such as braces, crowns and root canals. There are no restrictions on how often you use the AffordableHealthCard program to take advantage of great savings; you just pay your discounted fee at the time of service.

Does the Affordable Health Card program includes vision care?
The Affordable Health Card program includes vision care, including eyeglasses and contact lenses. Vision service providers include, Lens Crafters, Pearle Vision Centers, Sears Optical and more. Additionally, we offer 10% to 30% savings on laser eye correction by board certified surgeons through our Lasik-Laser Vision Correction program.

What are the savings benefits on prescription drugs?
The Affordable Health Card program saves you 20% to 60% on medications and other medical supplies such as diabetic testing supplies, insulin and contraceptives. Our member pharmacies conveniently include nationwide chains such as Walgreen, Kmart, Target, and many more. We also offer a mail-order program for home delivery and greater savings. Members can also save 20% to 60% off retail drug store prices for brand name prescriptions on mail orders.

How do I use my membership with my insurance to get discounts on my prescription medication?
Just take your membership card to a participating provider location. The pharmacist will process the prescription through our network administrator's pharmacy benefit processing system. You will pay the discounted price and then you may file your insurance claim manually, in paper form. (Note: in order to use the plan with insurance, the member must file the insurance claim manually in paper form.) The prescription drug benefit may not be used in conjunction with any other discount program, HMO, or managed care program. However, you may be able to use your pharmacy discount benefit on drugs that are not covered by your HMO or managed care provider.

Does this program include alternative therapies like acupuncture or chiropractic care?
Many alternative therapies, traditionally not included with insurance, are discounted and available through the Affordable Health Card Program. Through our extensive network of providers you can take advantage of therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, biofeedback, yoga and many others.

I have called several doctors listed on the Affordable Health Card website and they have not heard of Affordable Health Card. Why are they not familiar with the program?
Affordable Health Card is a new and innovative approach to affordable healthcare. Although some providers may not be familiar with the Affordable Health Card name, we do have agreements with over 310,000 providers nationwide through a series of PPO networks. The Affordable Health Card membership identification cards displays the information necessary to process all savings benefits and it fully explains in and Member Information Manual.

How do I know which providers will honor the Affordable Health Card program?
Upon registration, you will receive a membership packet containing a list of local participating healthcare providers. Members may also access this list by clicking on the Providers link or by calling Member Services toll-free at the number provided. Information regarding specialists and other Affordable Health Card services may be obtained by calling Member Services. 

I went to a listed provider and they would not accept my card. Why?
Each provider in our system has a contract with his or her provider network. It is possible that the person you spoke with was not aware of this. If you call us toll-free at Member Services, we will be happy to contact the provider.

Can members choose their own providers?
Yes, members may visit a provider of their own choosing as long as provider is a member of the Affordable Health Card program. If a particular provider is not presently in the Affordable Health Card program, members may call Member Service for assistance or complete the nomination form included in the membership packet.

My doctor is not in your list of providers. Can I add my doctor?
If your provider is not presently participating in our PPO networks, there is a nomination form and instructions in your membership packet or you may contact Member Services for assistance.

Are payments due at the time of service?
Unless other arrangements are made with the healthcare provider, all payments are due at the time of service.

What methods of payment are accepted?
Members may use all methods of payment accepted by the healthcare provider, including cash.

Can Affordable Health Card send a monthly bill by mail to members instead of using automated billing service?
In order to keep costs low and still provide the best service possible, Affordable Health Card has eliminated the expense of direct billing and only provides the automated billing service.

I have lost my membership identification card. How do I request a new one?
We are always happy to issue a replacement card. Call us toll-free at Member services to request a new membership identification card.

Could I get a second card for my spouse or child?
Yes, just give us a call at Member Services and we will send you a second card.

May members use the program when traveling or moving to a new area?
The Affordable Health Card program may be used nationwide. Click on the Providers link to locate a nearby network provider or contact Member Services for assistance.

Why would Affordable Health Card benefit my company?
A successful business is based on the retention of good employees. In this competitive market, one key in retaining employees is by providing useful benefits. Affordable Health Card does just that by providing a realistic alternative to insurance in obtaining affordable family healthcare for your employees.

I have recently moved. How do I update my address?
Just call Member Services at our toll-free number to update your membership information. We will gladly send you a provider list for your new location.

May members cancel membership in the plan at any time?
Simply contact Member Services to cancel program membership at any time. Membership in the plan will then expire at the end of the month in which the cancellation occurs. New members may choose to cancel within the first thirty days of membership by simply returning the Membership Identification Cards to the address listed in the membership packet for a full refund of the first month fees.

Why is registration in the program offer by the Internet?
Affordable Health Card is excited and confident about the plan and the savings that the program provides to members and their families. Therefore, Affordable Health Card finds it unnecessary to call or otherwise "pressure" potential members to register. The Affordable Health Card website offers complete plan information and allows potential members complete privacy to make the important decision to join. If there is a question that has not been answered here, please contact Member Services at Affordable Health Card.

When does membership in the Affordable Health Card program become effective?
Membership in the Affordable Health Card program becomes effective as of the date of registration. 

How does Affordable Health Card protect member's personal information online?
The security system used by the Affordable Health Card website meets the highest standards, supporting browsers that use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) 3.0 or higher for encryption. Secure online communication is made possible by your computer's web browser, which plays a critical role in the security of every transaction. Encryption protects private information so it cannot be intercepted and read.

How does Affordable Health Card offer such great savings benefits?
With healthcare costs continuously on the rise, insurance companies have found it necessary to maximize profits through higher premiums. PPO networks were created as a result of the high cost of medical care. The PPO networks refer patients to network doctors who in turn offer savings on their services. The Affordable Health Card program has developed contracts with the same PPO networks to pass the savings on to program members.