Office Info

Our office schedules well visits and follow up appointments up to twelve months in advance. We recommend you schedule your visit ahead of time. If you have a small infant, we ask that you schedule several visits at once since you will be coming in more frequently for your child's first year of life.  Scheduling in advance helps ensure you receive your preference of date, provider, office location and desired appointment time. We request appointments be made for all visit types.

We value your time and recognize how difficult it can be to wait with small children, therefore, we will make every effort to communicate schedule delays. Please let us know if you have to cancel an appointment by giving us at least 24 hrs notice so we can offer your appointment time to another child if you are not coming. It is important you call us if you are unable to arrive on time so we can plan accordingly. If you plan to bring more than one child to your appointment, please let us know in advance so we can prepare and allow the appropriate time needed for the additional child.

If your child is unconscious, not breathing or experiencing any type of life threatening emergency PLEASE CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY!

We make every effort to schedule appointments for sick children on the same day you call us. Please call our office before coming in so we can minimize the time you spend waiting. If you have an urgent issue during office hours, please call us FIRST before going to another practice or facility. There are times we may need to see your child immediately and work them into our schedule, therefore, always call us FIRST (except emergencies) and we will do our best to see your child as quick as possible or refer you to the appropriate facility.

If an emergency should arise, please call 911. Emergencies are considered conditions that are life threatening: loss of consciousness, severe bleeding, seizure, etc. In the case of minor emergencies (lacerations, cuts, mild fractures, sprains), please call our office first for instructions.

Our providers are available to take emergency calls during office hours and after hours as well. If you have a concern that you are not comfortable waiting for the office to reopen, please do not hesitate to call our main office number at (239) 768-2111 and our answering service will page our on call service to determine if a provider will need to call you back.

We contract with a pediatric nurse call triage service for after hour advice. They will triage your call to determine the best course of action. Please save routine questions (mild illness, requests for appointments, prescription refills, etc.) for normal business hours. We encourage you to refer to our website where you will find many helpful links, including a medical library, articles, topics of common pediatric illnesses and much more. You may find what you were looking for on our website before calling the office.

Click here for access to our medical library. 

In an effort to accommodate all of our patients, we have adopted a “No Show Cancellation” policy. If you are unable to make it to your scheduled appointment, you will need to notify our office within 24 hours to avoid being charged a $75 no show fee. Canceling your appointment within 24 hours will give another child the opportunity to be seen.

We understand there are instances where situations arise and prevent you from being able to keep your scheduled appointment; however, you must notify our office as soon as you realize you will not be able to make your appointment or if you are not going to make it on time.

We are committed to being responsible regarding the use of your child’s protected health information (PHI). Our Notice of Privacy and Health Information Practices describes your rights and our responsibilities as they relate to your protected health information. (click here)

Turning 18 years old is an exciting time in your child’s life. You have spent time preparing your child for this moment for many years. When your child turns 18, he or she will be considered an adult and will be responsible for their own healthcare, among other things. In addition to this, your child will be required to transition care to an adult physician. We will assist you in this process when the time comes.

If you currently have a high deductible health plan, Island Coast Pediatrics requires you to put a credit card on file to secure payment for services received. Payments will be processed by our office once an explanation of benefits has been received by your health insurance plan. Your financial information is protected and insured by a third-party payment processor.  If you are unable to put a credit card on file, we will require 80 percent of the visit to be paid at the time of service to secure payment. You will be refunded whatever is paid by your insurance plan. 

Our office supports the American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control on vaccine recommendations and schedules. We believe vaccines are safe and give protection to children. Vaccines reduce the risk of contracting serious illnesses that can be life threatening to your child and other children as well.

Island Coast Pediatrics respects your right to not vaccinate your children; however, we believe that not doing so puts your child at risk for potential serious diseases. Your decision not to vaccinate also puts other children at risk who may be too young to be protected and especially children that are immuno-compromised.

We will recommend vaccines at every well visit and we follow the recommended vaccine schedule per the American Academy of Pediatrics. We do not accept patients who will not vaccinate.

Please bring your insurance information to each appointment so we can review it and update our system with any new information. Providing us a copy of your insurance card will allow us to bill your insurance plan for services provided.  If you do not have insurance coverage, services provided will be your responsibility at the time of service. We accept cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard & American Express credit and debit cards. At your first visit with us, we will securely save your credit card on file to make it easier for you to pay any unpaid copays, deductibles or uncovered services by your insurance.

Island Coast Pediatrics is contracted with the following insurance companies:

COMMERCIAL INSURANCE PLANS

• 1st Health
• 1st Service Administrators
• Aetna HMO
• Aetna PPO
• Avmed HMO
• Blue Cross Blue Shield (HMO/PPO/OUT OF STATE)
• Tricare (Gov't Military Ins) We file as a courtesy
• Cigna HMO/GREATWEST (We do not contract with Cigna Local Plus or Cigna Connect Plans)
• United Health Care HMO/POS/PPO
• Lee Health Web TPA
• PHCS
• Multiplan
• Wellpoint

MEDICAID INSURANCE PLANS:

• Simply MediKids
• Simply Medicaid
• Sunshine Health Medicaid
• Sunshine Health Medikids
• Aetna Better Health Healthy Kids HMO
• Community Care

The purpose of this form is to notify you of our office policy in advance. Please read this carefully. (print a copy)

Our office participates with many managed care insurance companies. Should your insurance coverage be with one of these companies, we will bill your insurance company along the guidelines of our contract. Co-payments, co-insurances, deductibles, and non-covered services that have not been satisfied, are the responsibility of the patient. Payment is expected at the time services are rendered.

Scheduling and arriving for an appointment at our office is implied consent for all services to be performed which are medically and age-appropriate for your child as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

If you have insurance with which we do not participate, payment is expected at the time services are rendered. We will provide you with an itemized receipt to submit to your insurance.

There are times when making a payment can be a financial hardship. Please advise our staff prior to your visit if you are in need of a special payment arrangement. Co-pays are exempt from this because your insurance requires you to pay your co-pay at the time services are rendered. You are required to notify us at the time of service if this is an accident visit to avoid additional financial costs.

If we are your primary care physician, make sure our name and/or phone number appears on your card. If your insurance company has not been informed that we are your primary care physicians as of visit date, you may be financially responsible for the visit.

Before making an annual physical appointment, check with your insurance company. Not all plans cover annual healthy physicals or hearing and vision screenings. It is your responsibility to know your insurance plan benefits. If it is not covered, you will be responsible for payment.

Not all services provided by our office are covered by every plan. Any service determined “not covered” by your plan will be your responsibility. A $10 service fee will be charged in addition to your co-payment if not paid at the time of service or by the end of the business day.

Patient balances are billed immediately upon receipt of your insurance plan’s explanation of benefits. Your remittance is due within 20 business days of your receipt of your bill. Unpaid balances may result in the postponement of scheduled well visits, your account being sent to a collection and/or dismissal from our practice. Balances over 90 days will be forwarded to our collection agency. You agree, in order for us to collect monies you owe, Island Coast Pediatrics or its agents may contact you by telephone at any number associated with your account, including wireless telephone numbers. We may also contact you by sending text messages or emails, using any email address you provide to us. Methods of contact may include using

Pre-recorded voice messages and/or use of automatic dialing devices, as applicable.

A $25.00 fee will be charged for checks returned for insufficient funds. If a check is returned, all future payments must be cash or credit. 

If your child has a lengthy school, camp, or sport forms to be completed, there is a $25.00 charge per child.

Payment is due when the forms are picked up. We have a 5 to 7 day turnaround time for forms. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask a member of our staff.