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Member Handbook

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Summary of Membership Sharing Guidelines

SakeOf is a peer to peer community that coordinates voluntary sharing for certain eligible medical bills after verification and fair price review. Participation is voluntary and not guaranteed, does not constitute insurance, and does not create a contract of coverage.

Important disclosure. SakeOf is not insurance. Membership does not guarantee payment of medical bills. Community funding is voluntary and discretionary, subject to eligibility review, documentation requirements, fair price verification, participation status, fraud prevention, and available community funds.

What SakeOf does
We help members navigate costs, verify bills, review medical necessity when needed, and coordinate voluntary community funding for eligible events.
What SakeOf does not do
We do not provide insurance coverage. We do not guarantee payment. All sharing decisions are discretionary and based on program rules and available community funds.
  • Notices by participating you also agree to the disclosures and notices posted at Tax information and required notices
  • Disputes and decisions sharing and eligibility decisions are made in the sole discretion of SakeOf under the Program Guide and Terms of Service, and are final. Any disputes are governed by the Terms of Service, including arbitration and class action waiver provisions
  • Platform growth contribution. The first month of your community ask at enrollment, and the first month of each subsequent year at renewal, is collected by SakeOf as a platform growth contribution to support community expansion, including marketing, onboarding, technology, and broker support. This amount is not deposited into the sharing wallet for sharing needs
Helpful reminder
For planned care, reaching out early usually leads to better pricing and fewer billing issues.

Quick start

Use this checklist before and after a medical visit to keep everything moving smoothly.

  1. 1Before planned care start an event in the portal and contact Member Advocacy when services may exceed 500 dollars so we can help with fair pricing options.
  2. 2At the provider ask for a cash-pay estimate and request itemized billing when available. Always keep your discharge paperwork and provider notes.
  3. 3After the visit upload documents promptly. If you receive a balance bill, denial, or final notice, submit it within 10 days of receipt.
  4. 4Stay active keep your base fee paid and your wallet funded so your monthly ask can be collected and new events can be considered.

Plans and program structure

  • Full Service is designed for members who want support for everyday medical needs and larger health events, including advocacy, bill verification, fair price review, negotiation support, and eligibility for voluntary community funding after the applicable member commitment. Optional program features shown during enrollment may be added or declined and are not automatically part of every Full Service membership configuration
  • Major Medical Only is designed primarily for larger unexpected medical events with a lower monthly ask structure and a higher member commitment. Optional service, discount, or sharing features are included only when they are expressly offered, selected, and active for the member. Maternity sharing is not available under Major Medical Only unless SakeOf expressly states otherwise in the enrollment experience or applicable program terms
  • No provider network requirement members may generally visit any licensed provider. SakeOf may help members identify fair price options and may require fair price review, documentation, or reasonable alternatives as part of eligibility review
Choosing between plans
Full Service is designed for members who want help across both everyday care and larger events. Major Medical Only is designed for members who want a lower monthly commitment and support primarily for major, unexpected needs. The enrollment screen controls which optional program features are available with the plan you select.

Customize Your Membership — Optional Program Features

During enrollment, SakeOf may allow members to customize their membership by selecting or declining optional program features. These features are not all the same. Some provide direct access to a service or discount program, while others create limited eligibility for community sharing of a defined category of expense.

  • When an option is turned ON the feature is included in the selected membership configuration beginning on its effective date, subject to any waiting period, dependency, service limit, member responsibility, or other rule shown below
  • When an option is turned OFF the feature is not part of the member's program and the services, discounts, access, or sharing eligibility associated specifically with that feature are not included
  • Current monthly amount the amounts shown below are the current feature adjustments used in enrollment. The final enrollment summary controls the amount charged or added to the member's displayed monthly amount
  • Benefit year annual visit limits and annual dollar limits reset on the membership anniversary unless a feature states otherwise. Unused visits or dollar allowances do not roll over
  • Household access unless the enrollment screen states otherwise, a selected service or discount feature is available to active members of the enrolled household. Dollar and visit limits described as "per membership" are shared across the household
  • No double counting an expense paid, discounted, or made available through an optional feature cannot also be submitted as a separate community-sharing request for the same charge unless SakeOf expressly approves the remaining eligible balance
  • Feature-specific rules control where this feature schedule provides a special visit limit, dollar limit, waiting period, or member responsibility, that feature-specific rule controls over the general standard-event rules
How to read this schedule
"Direct service" means the member receives access through the applicable SakeOf or third-party program and the service itself is not a promise of community funding. "Discount program" means the member receives access to negotiated or participating-provider discounts and remains responsible for the discounted bill. "Community sharing feature" means qualifying expenses may be considered for voluntary community funding after the feature-specific member responsibility and subject to the stated limit and all other program rules.

Maternity Care

Community sharing feature
+$18/mo
Waiting period12 continuous months before conception Member responsibility$5,000 per eligible pregnancy Community sharing limitUp to $25,000 per eligible pregnancy after the maternity member responsibility Benefit periodPregnancy through 6 weeks postpartum for pregnancy-related care

Eligible maternity expenses may include routine prenatal physician or licensed-midwife visits, medically necessary prenatal laboratory testing, standard diagnostic ultrasounds, pregnancy-related specialist care, hospital or licensed birthing-center facility charges, professional delivery charges, vaginal delivery, medically necessary cesarean delivery, anesthesia associated with delivery, medically necessary treatment of pregnancy complications, and routine pregnancy-related postpartum care through 6 weeks after delivery.

  • Pregnancy must begin after the member has maintained both active SakeOf membership and the maternity feature continuously for at least 12 months
  • Adding or restoring maternity after conception does not make that pregnancy eligible
  • Multiple gestation is treated as one maternity event and is subject to one maternity limit
  • Routine newborn facility and physician charges occurring before the newborn's initial discharge may be reviewed within the maternity event when billed as part of the delivery, subject to the maternity limit
  • Medical needs of the newborn after initial discharge are separate from the maternity event and require timely addition of the newborn to the membership
  • Licensed birth-center and licensed-midwife services may be considered at a fair cash price. Planned home birth requires advance review and must be lawful in the member's state and performed by an appropriately licensed provider

Not included under the maternity feature: infertility evaluation or treatment, fertility medications, IVF or other assisted reproductive technology, surrogacy costs, adoption expenses, elective non-medically necessary procedures, elective 3D or 4D ultrasounds, cord-blood banking, non-medical doula services, private-room upgrades or other convenience items, and expenses above the maternity sharing limit. These exclusions do not prevent a separate non-maternity medical event from being reviewed under the normal program rules when appropriate.

Rx & Prescription Benefits

Direct service / prescription program
+$10/mo
Included benefit$0 access to the current acute-medication formulary Current formularyApproximately 70 commonly prescribed acute medications Pharmacy network67,000+ participating pharmacy locations nationwide under the current service partner Use limitNo program limit on dose, duration, dosage form, or frequency for listed medications when clinically appropriate and legally prescribed
  • The benefit is designed primarily for medications commonly prescribed for acute conditions treated through urgent-care telemedicine and other appropriate prescribers
  • Listed formulary medications are available at $0 when filled through the applicable participating-pharmacy process and all prescribing and dispensing requirements are met
  • The current service partner reports that more than 98% of generic medications commonly prescribed through its telemedicine service are represented within the acute prescription benefit; the current formulary, not that percentage, controls whether a specific medication is included
  • Non-formulary medications may be available at a negotiated or discount price but are not automatically $0 and are not automatically eligible for community sharing
  • Chronic-maintenance medication programs, mental-health medication bundles, specialty drugs, compounded medications, fertility drugs, weight-loss drugs, and other medications outside the active formulary are included only when a separate active program or member-portal benefit expressly provides them
  • Participating pharmacies, formulary content, equivalent generic substitutions, and vendor operational rules may change. The current pharmacy tool or member portal should be used to confirm a medication before filling it

Zero Copay Telemedicine

Direct service
+$8/mo
Member cost$0 per eligible urgent-care telemedicine consultation Visit limitUnlimited medically appropriate urgent-care telemedicine consultations while active Availability24/7 national access by phone or video where state licensing and service-partner availability permit CliniciansBoard-certified physicians appropriately licensed for the member's location through the current service partner
  • Designed for common non-emergency illnesses and symptoms that can be appropriately evaluated through telemedicine
  • The current service partner does not impose a program limit on consultation frequency or consultation duration, although clinical appropriateness, provider availability, technology, state law, and prescribing rules still apply
  • Prescriptions may be issued when clinically appropriate and legally permitted, but the cost of a prescription is governed by the Rx feature or other applicable pharmacy terms
  • Emergency care, specialty care, procedures, imaging, laboratory charges, and in-person follow-up are not included merely because a telemedicine clinician recommends them
  • Requires the Rx & Prescription Benefits feature to remain active

Mental Health & Counseling

Direct service
+$6/mo
Included benefitUnlimited telephonic counseling on demand through the current service partner Member cost$0 for included counseling access Face-to-face supportUp to 3 face-to-face counseling consultations per incident when arranged and available through the program Availability24/7 access to master's-level counseling professionals for the member and eligible enrolled dependents
  • Services may include immediate problem assessment, supportive counseling, subsequent sessions, follow-up with the original counselor when available, crisis support, and referral to an appropriate behavioral-health plan or local community resource when additional care is needed
  • The current counseling program also includes telephonic legal and financial consultation resources. These are ancillary member services and are not medical community-sharing benefits
  • Psychiatry, inpatient behavioral health, emergency psychiatric care, neuropsychological testing, residential substance-use treatment, and medication costs are not included merely because counseling access is active
  • Prescription benefits related to mental-health medications are included only if the member's active prescription program expressly includes those medications
  • Requires both Rx & Prescription Benefits and Zero Copay Telemedicine to remain active

Virtual Primary Care

Direct service
+$15/mo
Included benefit$0 virtual primary-care access through the current service partner Primary-care relationshipDedicated physician relationship with ongoing virtual follow-up support WellnessAnnual virtual wellness visit plus comprehensive health-risk assessment and stratification Ongoing careChronic-care follow-up and medication-management support when clinically appropriate for virtual care
  • Virtual primary care may include preventive discussion, health-risk review, ongoing primary-care evaluation, medication review, chronic-condition follow-up, and care coordination
  • The current service partner describes the included primary-care service as $0 copay. Clinical scheduling, continuity with a particular physician, state licensing, and provider availability remain subject to the service partner's operating rules
  • Laboratory tests, imaging, in-person examinations, procedures, specialist visits, and medications ordered during a virtual primary-care visit are separate expenses and are subject to the applicable program rules
  • Requires Rx & Prescription Benefits, Zero Copay Telemedicine, and Mental Health & Counseling to remain active because the current primary-care service is delivered as the higher bundled service tier

Chiropractic & Acupuncture

Community sharing feature
+$14/mo
Visit limitUp to 8 combined chiropractic or acupuncture visits per membership year Member responsibilityNo standard $500 event commitment for an eligible visit under this feature Sharing limitUp to $30 of the approved fair-price amount per eligible visit Annual sharing maximum$240 per membership year
  • Visits must be provided by an appropriately licensed chiropractor or acupuncturist and must address an active symptom, injury, or condition
  • The 8-visit limit and $240 annual sharing maximum are combined across chiropractic and acupuncture and are shared across the enrolled membership
  • SakeOf may reprice the provider charge before determining the eligible amount. Community sharing under this feature is limited to the lesser of the approved fair-price amount or $30 per eligible visit
  • If the provider's final amount exceeds the approved sharing amount, the member is responsible for the remaining balance unless SakeOf separately approves that balance under another applicable program rule
  • Maintenance-only adjustments, wellness visits without an active complaint, massage therapy, supplements, non-covered modalities, and services above the annual visit or dollar limit are not eligible under this feature
  • Imaging or other medical services ordered by a chiropractic or acupuncture provider are separate expenses and follow the normal eligibility rules

Dental & Vision Discounts

Discount program
+$9/mo
BenefitAccess to participating dental and vision discount pricing Typical discount rangeApproximately 10% to 50% depending on provider and service Annual maximumNo program maximum on use of participating discounts
  • This is a discount-access feature, not community sharing of routine dental or vision bills
  • The member pays the participating provider directly at the applicable discounted rate
  • Actual discounts vary by provider, geography, service, procedure, product, and vendor terms and are not guaranteed at every provider
  • Routine dental exams, cleanings, fillings, orthodontics, routine eye exams, frames, lenses, and contacts remain excluded from community sharing unless another written program term expressly states otherwise

Physical & Occupational Therapy

Community sharing feature
+$11/mo
Visit limit12 combined PT or OT visits per membership year Member responsibility$35 per eligible visit Sharing limitUp to $65 per eligible visit, with a $780 annual community-sharing maximum
  • Services must be medically necessary and provided by an appropriately licensed physical or occupational therapist
  • The 12-visit limit and $780 annual sharing maximum are shared across the enrolled membership
  • The $35 feature-specific member responsibility replaces the standard $500 event commitment for eligible visits under this feature
  • A physician order, referral, or documented plan of care may be required when clinically appropriate or required by state law
  • Maintenance therapy, general conditioning, sports-performance training, massage-only services, and visits after the annual limit are not eligible under this feature

Durable Medical Equipment

Community sharing feature
+$7/mo
Member responsibilityFirst $100 of each distinct eligible equipment need Sharing percentageUp to 80% of the remaining fair-price amount Annual sharing limit$1,000 per membership year
  • Eligible equipment may include medically necessary walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, prescribed braces, hospital beds, nebulizers, CPAP machines, and similar reusable equipment when ordered by a qualified provider
  • The $1,000 annual community-sharing maximum is shared across the enrolled membership
  • Equipment expected to cost more than $300 requires advance review when reasonably possible. SakeOf may require rental instead of purchase when rental is the lower reasonable cost
  • Replacement is generally limited to once every 3 years unless documented medical necessity, growth, damage outside the member's control, or a material change in medical condition requires earlier replacement
  • Disposable supplies, convenience items, home modifications, fitness equipment, comfort items, non-prescribed devices, and upgrades above the medically necessary model are not included

Changing optional features after enrollment

  • Members may request changes to optional program features in accordance with SakeOf's program-change rules and the options made available in the member portal
  • The effective date shown in the portal or provided by SakeOf controls when an added, removed, or changed feature becomes active or inactive
  • A newly added feature applies prospectively only and does not create eligibility for an event, condition, symptom, service, expense, prescription, pregnancy, or course of treatment that began before the feature's effective date
  • Applicable waiting periods, eligibility periods, or continuous-participation requirements apply or restart when required by the feature schedule, including the maternity waiting period
  • Annual visit and dollar limits are not prorated upward when a feature is added during a membership year and unused amounts do not carry into the next year
  • If a required prerequisite feature is declined, removed, suspended, or inactive, a dependent feature may also become unavailable
  • An option that was not selected or is not active is not part of the member's program. A service or expense is not included merely because it may be available under another SakeOf configuration

Payment and inactive features

  • An optional feature remains active only while the membership and any amount required for that feature are current
  • If an amount required for an optional feature is not successfully collected, SakeOf may suspend or remove the feature under the applicable billing rules
  • Bringing an optional feature current after a period of inactivity does not create retroactive eligibility for an event, condition, pregnancy, service, expense, prescription, visit, or benefit that began or was received while the feature was inactive

Membership fees and monthly caps

  • Base membership fee 50 dollars per member per month. This funds advocacy, technology, bill review, and support
  • Community ask cap, Full Service
    • Ages 0 to 25, up to 140 dollars per month
    • Ages 26 to 55, up to 220 dollars per month
    • Ages 56 to 65, up to 320 dollars per month
    • Ages 65 and older, up to 420 dollars per month
  • Community ask cap, Major Medical Only
    • Ages 0 to 25, up to 110 dollars per month
    • Ages 26 to 55, up to 180 dollars per month
    • Ages 56 to 65, up to 240 dollars per month
    • Ages 65 and older, up to 340 dollars per month
  • Households total monthly cap is the sum of each member by age band and selected plan
  • One time application fee 100 dollars collected at enrollment
  • One time card issuance fee 7.50 dollars per member for the SakeOf wallet and membership card
  • Reenrollment fee 125 dollars may be collected if a member reenrolls after cancellation or termination, unless waived in writing by SakeOf
  • Fee notice fees are generally non-refundable, may be assessed at SakeOf’s discretion where applicable, and may change with notice as described in this handbook
How the monthly ask cap works
Your monthly ask is capped by age band and plan. Actual asks may be less than the cap. In months where verified needs are lower, community asks may remain below the cap.

Platform growth contribution (first month and renewals)

  • The first month of your community ask at enrollment is collected by SakeOf as a platform growth contribution
  • The first month of your community ask in each subsequent year at renewal is collected by SakeOf as a platform growth contribution
  • These contributions support community expansion and operations including marketing, onboarding, technology, and broker support
  • These contributions are not deposited into the sharing wallet for sharing needs and are not refundable
  • Renewal means your annual membership renewal month based on your original effective date, not your monthly billing date

Select household size

  • Members of the same household joining the same membership must be related by birth, marriage or adoption
  • An unmarried dependent child may participate with his or her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) under a sharing membership up to and including age 26
  • Unmarried dependents may continue as sharing members with their parent or guardian if they are medically unable to maintain a full-time occupation or be a full-time student because of illness or injury, physical or mental disability. A physician or qualified health professional may be required to verify this disability
  • It is the member’s responsibility to notify SakeOf of any change in the marital status of their dependent child that may affect continued participation as a dependent of the member. If marital status is not as presented at the time an episode of care is submitted for sharing, such medical expenses will not be eligible for sharing
  • Dependent who wishes to continue membership but who no longer qualifies due to age or marital status must apply and qualify on his or her own merit as a new sharing member. If the dependent applies and is accepted within 30 days of the loss of qualification, the membership enrollment dues are waived. If the dependent has a medical condition when he or she applies as a separate SakeOf member, any existing medical conditions will be eligible for sharing with no interruption of his or her sharing member status
  • A newly adopted child may be added as a dependent to a membership provided all medical criteria be met within the program for acceptance. The sharing member must provide notification of adoption, including all medical history or existing conditions, in writing within 30 days after finalized adoption. Existing medical conditions disclosed for a dependent may result in a declination, or a limitation on the types of needs eligible for sharing
  • In the event of divorce or separation where the primary member and spouse desire to continue as SakeOf members, both parties must notify SakeOf. The original combined membership will be cancelled, and a new membership created for each party. Both members will keep their original effective date and the first-time membership enrollment dues will be waived. Each new membership is subject to the new ask caps and program limitations

Member commitment per event

  • Full Service standard event 500 dollars
  • Maternity event when the maternity feature is active and eligible 5,000 dollars per pregnancy, with the maternity-specific sharing limit described in the Optional Program Features schedule
  • Major Medical Only standard event 15,000 dollars
  • Chiropractic and acupuncture no standard 500 dollar event commitment applies to an eligible visit under this feature. Community sharing is limited to the lesser of the approved fair-price amount or 30 dollars per eligible visit, for up to 8 combined visits and 240 dollars per membership year
  • Physical and occupational therapy 35 dollars per eligible visit when the feature is active, instead of the standard-event commitment, subject to the feature visit and annual sharing limits
  • Durable medical equipment the first 100 dollars of each distinct eligible equipment need when the feature is active, followed by the feature-specific sharing percentage and annual limit
  • Direct-service and discount features such as Rx, telemedicine, counseling, virtual primary care, and dental or vision discounts do not use the standard event commitment for the included service or discount itself
  • After the applicable member commitment or feature-specific responsibility is met, the remaining eligible amount may be considered for community funding subject to discretionary eligibility review, feature limits, participation requirements, and available community funds
  • Community funding is discretionary even if an item appears eligible, the community may decline or partially fund a request for reasons including eligibility results, pricing review, documentation requirements, participation status, fraud prevention, or available community funds
General per event limit250,000 dollars, except where a feature-specific limit is lower Lifetime limitNo limit for Full Service. Major Medical Only lifetime limit is 500,000 dollars. Feature-specific annual and per-event limits still apply
What counts as a single event
An event generally includes care that is clinically related to the same illness, injury, pregnancy, or condition. Related services may be reviewed as part of the same event.

What is eligible

The categories below may be eligible when they are included under the member's selected plan and active optional program features. Listing a category here does not override feature selections, waiting periods, exclusions, member commitments, documentation requirements, medical-necessity review, fair-price review, or discretionary community-funding rules.

  • Medically necessary services for illness or injury
  • Emergency and urgent care
  • Diagnostics, labs, and imaging
  • Hospitalization and surgery
  • Ambulance when medically necessary
  • Physical and occupational therapy when the applicable feature is selected and active and the services meet program requirements
  • Chiropractic and acupuncture when the applicable feature is selected and active and the services meet program requirements
  • Durable medical equipment when the applicable feature is selected and active and the item meets program requirements
  • Maternity when available under the selected plan, the maternity feature is selected and active, and all applicable waiting-period and eligibility requirements are satisfied
  • Items that pass eligibility review, documentation requirements, and fair price verification
Feature-specific limits still apply
A category can be medically necessary and still be limited by the optional-feature schedule. For example, selecting chiropractic does not create unlimited chiropractic sharing, and selecting maternity does not increase the maternity event above the maternity-specific limit. Expenses above a feature limit do not automatically become eligible under the base plan.
Medical necessity review
Some submissions require medical records or provider documentation to confirm that services were clinically appropriate and necessary. This helps protect the community and keeps monthly asks stable.

How it works

  1. 1Choose any licensed provider. For planned care or services estimated at 500 dollars or more, contact us in advance when possible so we can help with navigation and fair pricing
  2. 2If a visit is under 500 dollars, you are responsible for payment because it is below the Full Service member commitment. Ask for an itemized bill and a cash-pay estimate when available
  3. 3For services 500 dollars or more, the provider should bill through the SakeOf membership card process. If the provider needs eligibility verification or billing support, have them call the phone number on the back of your card
  4. 4SakeOf reviews medical necessity and fair pricing. After you meet the member commitment and remain active and current on community asks, the remaining balance may be considered for community funding subject to eligibility review, documentation requirements, fair price verification, participation status, fraud prevention, and available community funds. Funds may be sent to your SakeOf wallet or paid to the provider where accepted

Prenotification of medical expense

Prenotification is a process by which SakeOf assists members to determine eligibility for submission of upcoming medical services and procedures, in accordance with their program and member handbook. Providing sufficient advance notice, whenever possible and as required, is a responsibility of the member. SakeOf can offer a range of recommendations to assist members with avoiding unreasonable billing practices by some physicians and facilities. While our processes don’t dictate a member’s medical treatment choice, they are designed to assist members in navigating the complexities of the healthcare system.

Example: ER visit with imaging

Member goes to the ER, receives labs and imaging, then gets billed 2,900 dollars. SakeOf reviews for fair pricing and documentation. Member pays the first 500 dollars under Full Service, and the remaining eligible amount may be considered for community funding.

Example: planned outpatient procedure

Member schedules a procedure expected to cost 8,000 dollars. Member contacts advocacy ahead of time. SakeOf helps compare facilities and negotiate a fair cash price before care occurs, reducing risk of overbilling.

Documentation and deadlines

To evaluate eligibility and coordinate funding, we may require documents from you and your provider.

  • Itemized bill required for all submissions and must include service dates, CPT/HCPCS when available, and provider information
  • Medical records may be required to confirm clinical details or medical necessity
  • Submission timeline submit complete documents within six months of date of service
  • Urgent notices submit any balance bill, denial, or payment demand within 10 days of receipt
  • Authorization you may be asked to sign medical record release forms to allow SakeOf and its vendors to obtain required documentation
  • Incomplete submissions requests may be paused, limited, or denied if required documents are not received within a reasonable timeframe
If your provider will not cooperate
If a provider refuses to provide an itemized bill or required documentation, contact Member Advocacy. We can help request documents, explain billing standards, and work toward a fair resolution.

HIPAA, PHI, and personal information

SakeOf may need to request and use certain health and billing information to evaluate eligibility, support fair price review, and coordinate program operations. This section explains how we handle protected health information and personal information, and what you authorize as a condition of participation.

Protected health information (PHI)

  • What we may request. We may request medical records, clinical notes, provider documentation, diagnosis and procedure details, and billing records needed to verify eligibility, confirm medical necessity when required, and support fair price review and negotiation.
  • How we may use PHI. We use PHI for program operations including eligibility verification, medical necessity review when applicable, fraud prevention, billing support, care coordination, case management, provider negotiation, appeals or reconsideration review, quality assurance, and dispute resolution.
  • How we may disclose PHI. We may disclose PHI to contracted vendors and service providers who support these operations (such as bill review and negotiation partners, pharmacy and telehealth partners, payment and wallet providers, identity verification providers, and technology vendors) as necessary to perform services on our behalf.
  • Safeguards. Vendors are required to protect information, limit use to authorized program operations, and apply appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards. We limit access to those with a need to know for program operations.
  • Member authorization. By participating, you authorize SakeOf and its vendors to request, receive, store, review, and use PHI and related documentation to administer your membership, evaluate eligibility, and coordinate voluntary sharing, including to communicate with your providers on your behalf where required.

Personal information (PII)

  • What we collect. We may collect personal information such as your name, contact information, date of birth, address, household information, payment information, identity verification data, and account and device information used to operate the portal and wallet.
  • How we use PII. We use personal information to manage your account, provide customer support, process payments and participation asks, prevent fraud, comply with legal obligations, communicate with you, and improve program operations.
  • Sharing and service providers. We may share personal information with service providers who help operate the program, including payment processors, wallet providers, identity verification providers, communication providers, and technology vendors, subject to confidentiality and security safeguards.
  • Security. We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical measures designed to protect personal information. No system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, and members are responsible for protecting login credentials and promptly reporting suspected unauthorized access.
Important notes
SakeOf is not an insurance company and does not provide insurance coverage. Participation is voluntary and discretionary. You may be asked to sign additional authorizations or releases to obtain records. If you decline to provide required documentation or authorizations, a request may be paused, limited, or denied.

Policies that support fairness and participation

Price fairness policy

  • SakeOf targets fair market cash pricing in your region
  • For planned care we may request a second option when a quoted price is well above fair market levels
  • Bills that reflect unreasonable pricing may have limited eligibility until negotiation completes
  • If a member declines reasonable alternatives or refuses required documentation, the request may be denied or limited

Fraud prevention and integrity

  • SakeOf may verify identity, participation status, and provider credentials to prevent fraud
  • Misrepresentation, falsified documents, altered bills, or intentional omissions may result in denial and account restriction
  • SakeOf may request additional information if an event is unusual, inconsistent, or requires deeper review

Participation policy

  • Requests to fund others are voluntary
  • Consistent participation helps stabilize monthly asks for the community
  • The program relies on consistent voluntary participation to promote stability and timely sharing across the community
  • To be eligible for community funding you must keep your membership active. Active means your base fee is paid, your wallet is funded with the current month’s community ask, and any past due asks are made current
  • Eligibility tied to an optional program feature also requires that the applicable feature be selected, active, and current for the relevant period
  • If you are not active or not current on your asks, new medical events are not eligible for submission or funding until your participation is brought up to date. Bringing the account current does not retroactively activate an optional feature for an event or service that arose while that feature was inactive
  • Platform growth contribution. The first month of the community ask at enrollment and the first month of the community ask each year at renewal is collected by SakeOf for platform growth and community expansion, including marketing, onboarding, technology, and broker support, and is not deposited into the sharing wallet for sharing needs

Pre-existing conditions and waiting periods

Definition. A pre-existing condition is any illness, injury, symptom, diagnosis, or treatment that existed, was advised, was known, or for which medical advice, diagnosis, or care was recommended or received during the 24 months prior to your membership start date. Related conditions may be treated as one event. Eligibility determinations are discretionary and based on documentation, clinical review, and the Program Guide.

  • Months 0 to 12 not shareable
  • Months 13 to 24 up to 25,000 dollars per year
  • Months 25 to 36 up to 50,000 dollars per year
  • After 36 months fully shareable

Prescription, virtual care, counseling, and other optional features

  • The benefit schedule in Optional Program Features states the baseline included visits, dollar limits, member responsibilities, waiting periods, dependencies, and exclusions for each selected feature
  • Third-party vendors may establish reasonable operational rules such as provider availability, scheduling, pharmacy network requirements, identity verification, prescribing rules, and state licensing restrictions
  • Vendor operational rules do not convert a direct-service or discount feature into community sharing and do not make services outside the published feature schedule eligible
  • If a required prerequisite feature becomes inactive, dependent virtual-care or counseling features may also become inactive

Pharmacy and maternity

Prescription benefits

  • The Rx & Prescription Benefits feature provides the prescription-program benefits described in the Optional Program Features schedule while that feature is selected, active, and current
  • The current baseline benefit includes approximately 70 acute medications at $0 through 67,000+ participating pharmacy locations. For listed medications, the current service partner does not impose a program limit on dose, duration, dosage form, or frequency when the medication is clinically appropriate and legally prescribed
  • Maintenance, chronic, specialty, non-formulary, and excluded medications are not automatically provided at $0 and are not automatically eligible for community sharing unless a separate active pharmacy program expressly includes them
  • Choose generic options when clinically appropriate and use participating or recommended pharmacy resources when required by the applicable program
  • If you need expanded maintenance medication support, ask Member Advocacy about optional pharmacy upgrade programs and pricing. View optional pharmacy upgrades

Maternity and family

  • Maternity sharing is available only when offered under the selected plan and the maternity feature is selected, active, current, and otherwise eligible
  • Maternity waiting period. The member must maintain active SakeOf membership and keep the maternity feature continuously selected, active, and current for at least 12 months before conception
  • The maternity feature uses a 5,000 dollar member responsibility and a 25,000 dollar community-sharing limit per eligible pregnancy as described in the maternity feature schedule
  • Adding or restoring maternity after conception does not create eligibility for that pregnancy. Removing or allowing maternity to become inactive before the waiting period is completed may restart the waiting period if the feature is later added again
  • Routine eligible prenatal, delivery, and pregnancy-related postpartum services are subject to the maternity feature schedule, fair-price review, documentation requirements, and discretionary community-funding rules
  • A newborn should be added within 30 days of birth. Medical needs of the newborn after the initial delivery discharge are separate from the mother's maternity event and are subject to the newborn's membership status and applicable program rules
  • Family totals use each member age band, selected plan, and applicable optional program features to determine the displayed monthly amount
Family additions and changes
To avoid eligibility or service gaps, submit family changes promptly through the portal. Some additions may restart waiting periods, change optional-feature eligibility, or change monthly amounts.

Member responsibilities

  • Keep membership active by paying the base fee each month and staying current on monthly asks, optional-feature amounts, and any past due amounts
  • Maintain a valid payment method and load your wallet so that your monthly ask and any applicable optional-feature amounts can be collected
  • Review optional program feature selections and effective dates in the portal and promptly report any selection or billing issue to Member Advocacy
  • Pay your member commitment when it applies
  • Submit complete and itemized bills within six months of the date of service. Requests submitted after the deadline may be denied
  • Submit any balance bill, denial notice, or request for payment received from a provider within 10 days of receipt so we can review, negotiate, and correct billing issues
  • Notify SakeOf for planned care so we can assist with navigation and negotiation

Admin and late fees

  • Late payment 15 dollars
  • Reactivation 25 dollars
  • Returned payment 25 dollars
  • A payment is considered late after we attempt automatic retries for a few days and the payment still does not complete. Once a payment is late, a 25 dollar returned payment fee applies when the payment fails and your account may be restricted until brought current
Account restrictions
If your participation is not current, new events may not be eligible for submission and previously approved funding may be paused until your account is brought up to date.

Exclusions

  • Cosmetic or elective services
  • Services that are not medically necessary
  • Items outside published limits or categories
  • Illegal or fraudulent activity
  • Experimental items that lack evidence of benefit
  • Services primarily for comfort, convenience, personal preference, or lifestyle choice, including non-medically necessary upgrades or amenities
  • Routine, preventive, screening, or wellness services unless specifically included by plan or approved in advance
  • Dental, orthodontic, vision, and hearing services unless medically necessary due to illness or injury and approved as eligible
  • Fertility services, infertility evaluation, assisted reproductive technologies, and elective contraception, unless required for medically necessary treatment of an illness or injury and approved as eligible
  • Weight loss programs, nutritional supplements, and obesity-related medications or procedures unless medically necessary for treatment of a covered illness or injury and approved as eligible
  • Services, supplies, or devices not ordered by a licensed provider, including over the counter drugs and supplements unless explicitly approved
  • Alternative, complementary, or investigational care that lacks sufficient clinical evidence of benefit, unless ordered by a licensed provider and approved after review
  • Services received outside the United States, medical tourism, and associated travel expenses unless approved in advance and deemed medically necessary
  • Injuries or conditions resulting from participation in illegal acts, fraud, or intentional misrepresentation
  • Self-inflicted injury or harm, including attempted suicide, except where prohibited by applicable law
  • Costs that are eligible for payment or reimbursement through workers’ compensation, auto insurance, liability claims, government programs, or other coverage may be excluded or reduced unless and until those sources are exhausted
  • Any expense or balance bill arising from failure to provide required documentation, refusal to cooperate with eligibility or fair price review, or failure to follow reasonable clinical guidance necessary to resolve the event
  • Occupational or work-related injuries or illnesses, including self-employment, are not eligible for sharing, unless the state in which the injuries occurred has no workers’ compensation laws or requirement, or state laws do not require the business owner and or enterprise to participate in workers’ compensation. Documentation may be required
  • Breast implants including the placement, replacement or removal of breast enhancement devices and complications related to breast implants unless related to reconstructive mammoplasty
  • Alcohol or drugs services, supplies, care or treatment for an injury and or disease and or bodily malfunction that occurred as a result of abuse and or use of alcohol or drugs or pharmaceuticals, including drug and or alcohol rehabilitation treatment
  • Emergency room charges when not an emergency when treatment at an emergency room is not determined an emergency by normal standards of medical care and when less costly treatment was available by taking reasonable measures to seek such care
  • Eye care including eye exercise therapy, radial keratotomy or other eye surgery to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness or any other vision problems that could be corrected with corrective eyewear; routine eye examinations, including refractions, lenses for the eyes and exams for their fitting. This exclusion does not apply to the initial permanent lenses following cataract removal. Ineligible optometry. Routine vision exams or any treatment related to vision correction. Eligible ophthalmology. Treatment of disorders and diseases of the eye not routinely vision correction related
  • Gastric bypass, gastric sleeve or other types of bariatric or weight loss surgery are not eligible for sharing
  • Gross negligent acts, hazardous activities, illegal acts and self-inflicted injury. Expenses resulting from an illness or injury where the member has acted with gross negligence or with reckless disregard to safety, as evidenced by medical records and as determined by SakeOf. Care and treatment of an injury or illness that results from engaging in a hazardous activity is not eligible for submission. An activity is hazardous if it is an activity which is characterized by a constant or recurring threat of danger or risk of bodily harm. Charges for services received as a result of injury or illness caused by engaging in an illegal act or occupation; by committing or attempting to commit any crime, criminal act, assault or other illegal behavior; including illegal drug activity, crimes against persons, crimes against property and gun offenses is not eligible for submission. Any medical expense due to an intentionally self-inflicted injury, while sane or insane is not eligible for sharing
  • Non-compliance with medical advice including failure or refusal to comply with physician treatment plan and or leaving a facility against medical advice shall be subject to clinical review and may result in a determination of ineligibility for submission
  • No obligation to pay charges incurred for which the sharing member has no legal obligation to pay are ineligible for submission
  • Outpatient pharmaceuticals including maintenance pharmaceuticals regardless of the route of administration and over the counter medications whether prescribed or not are not eligible for submission, but may be eligible for discounts under pharmaceutical discount programs that SakeOf may offer
  • Outpatient prescribed or non-prescribed medical supplies including over the counter drugs and treatments, nutritional formulas regardless of age, elastic stockings, tubing, masks, ostomy supplies, insulin infusion pumps, ace bandages, gauze, syringes, diabetic test strips and similar supplies are ineligible for submission
  • Personal comfort items such as air conditioners, air-purification units, humidifiers, electric heating units, orthopedic mattresses, blood pressure instruments, scales, elastic bandages or stockings, nonprescription drugs and medicines, first-aid supplies and non-hospital adjustable beds are ineligible for submission
  • Relative providing services professional services performed by a person who ordinarily resides in the sharing member’s home or is related to the sharing member as a spouse, parent, child, brother or sister, whether the relationship is by blood or exists in law are ineligible for submission
  • Replacement braces of the leg, arm, back, neck, unless there is sufficient change in the sharing member's physical condition to make the original device no longer functional are ineligible for submission
  • Sports-related safety or performance devices and programs, and all membership, registration, or participation costs related to physical conditioning programs such as athletic training, bodybuilding, exercise, fitness flexibility and diversion or general motivation are not eligible for submission
  • War, military activity or intentional involvement in terroristic action or civil unrest including riots, violent protests or civil disobedience are ineligible for submission

Eligibility and enrollment

  • Open to adults eighteen and older who meet participation criteria. Minors may enroll as members with an adult guardian who manages the account and wallet on their behalf. Rules may vary by state and plan
  • Rules may vary by state
  • Medical information consent. Members authorize SakeOf and its vendors to request, receive, review, and store medical and billing records necessary to evaluate eligibility, negotiate fair pricing, administer the membership card process, and prevent fraud. Members may be required to provide documentation and sign authorizations as a condition of consideration for community funding
Other coverage coordination
If an expense may be eligible under auto, liability, workers’ compensation, or government programs, SakeOf may require those sources to be applied before the community considers funding any remaining eligible balance.

Account wallet and payments

  • Each member receives a SakeOf wallet and membership card. Your wallet has a participation balance that you load for your monthly asks and fees, and a funding balance where approved community funds may be deposited
  • Wallet ownership and control. The wallet is owned and controlled by the designated primary member of the membership. KYC is required to open the wallet account at the time of membership
  • Platform growth contribution. In the first month of enrollment and in the first month of each renewal year, the monthly community ask is collected by SakeOf as a platform growth contribution and is not deposited into the sharing wallet for sharing needs
  • Authorization. Members agree to allow SakeOf to move funds on their behalf for the purposes of paying platform fees, membership fees, medical bills, negotiated settlements, refunds, chargebacks, returned payments, and any other liabilities in regards to their account
  • Funds for approved items may be sent to the funding balance in your SakeOf wallet or paid directly to providers where accepted. Funding balances may be limited to eligible medical and related expenses
  • Use your SakeOf membership card for approved transactions and for services where we are securing fair pricing, especially when bills are 500 dollars or more
  • If a negotiated price is reduced after payment members agree in good faith to return excess funds to the community
  • Community funding is discretionary. Even if an item appears eligible, the community may decline or partially fund a request for reasons including eligibility results, pricing review, documentation requirements, participation status, fraud prevention, or available community funds

Plan changes, optional features, cancellation, and reinstatement

  • You may request a plan change or changes to optional program features when those changes are made available by SakeOf. The effective date shown in the portal or provided in writing controls
  • Plan and optional-feature changes apply prospectively. Events generally tie to the plan and active features in effect when the applicable symptoms, condition, pregnancy, course of treatment, service, or expense began
  • Adding an optional feature after an event, condition, symptom, pregnancy, service, or course of treatment has begun does not make that prior or ongoing matter retroactively eligible
  • Removing, declining, suspending, or failing to remain current on an optional feature ends access or eligibility associated specifically with that feature as of its applicable inactive date. Later restoration does not create retroactive eligibility for the inactive period
  • If one optional feature depends on another, removal or suspension of the prerequisite feature may also suspend or remove the dependent feature
  • You may cancel any time. Cancellation is effective at the end of the current billing cycle
  • If you cancel, SakeOf may use any remaining account or wallet balance to pay submitted needs, medical bills, and related liabilities incurred between the date of cancellation and the end of the billing period, subject to program rules and discretionary eligibility review
  • If a payment remains late for more than sixty days your membership is cancelled and you must reenroll to participate again. The same applies if you cancel your membership. Any waiting periods, timers, and eligibility periods restart upon cancellation and reenrollment
  • Reinstatement may require a waiting period and payment of any fees. Optional program features may need to be reselected and may be subject to new effective dates or restarted waiting periods

Pricing and ask cap adjustments

SakeOf may update membership pricing, base fees, and monthly ask caps over time to support operations and ensure the community can continue funding eligible needs.

How adjustments may work

  • If SakeOf experiences two consecutive months where collected funds are insufficient to cover operating expenses and verified eligible funding needs, SakeOf may adjust monthly ask caps and or base fees beginning in the third month
  • Adjustments may also be made due to changes in medical costs, utilization, operating costs, fraud risk, regulatory requirements, payment processing costs, or other business needs
  • Changes apply prospectively and do not change eligibility decisions for prior events already submitted under previous terms

Notice

  • When possible, SakeOf will provide advance notice through the portal, email, and the upcoming changes page (link top of the page)
  • The most current terms and updates are always reflected in the published Program Guide and the upcoming changes page

How to get the most from your membership

  • Start events in the portal before planned care when possible
  • Ask for itemized bills and cash estimates
  • Use your SakeOf card and navigation to compare options and secure fair prices, especially when care is expected to cost more than 500 dollars
  • Upload documents promptly and respond to requests from the team
Know when to reach out
If you are unsure whether a service will exceed your member commitment or if your provider has questions about billing, contact Member Advocacy early. It is often easier to solve problems before a bill is finalized.

FAQ

Is SakeOf insurance?
No. SakeOf is not insurance and does not guarantee payment of medical bills. Sharing is voluntary and discretionary under these guidelines and the Program Guide.
What if my bill is very high compared to local pricing?
We may negotiate with the provider, request supporting documentation, and help identify fair market options. If pricing is unreasonable and a member declines reasonable alternatives when available, eligibility may be limited.
How long does review take?
Timelines vary based on documentation, provider responsiveness, and negotiation needs. Uploading itemized bills and responding quickly to requests usually shortens review time.
Can SakeOf pay the provider directly?
When available and accepted by the provider, funds may be paid directly. Otherwise, approved funds may be deposited to your wallet funding balance for eligible use.
What happens if I fall behind on monthly asks?
If your account is not current, new events may not be eligible for submission or funding and previously approved funding may be paused until your participation is brought up to date.
What happens if I turn off an optional program feature?
Once the feature becomes inactive, the services, discounts, access, benefits, or community-sharing eligibility associated specifically with that feature are no longer part of your program. Adding the feature again later does not create retroactive eligibility, and applicable waiting periods or eligibility periods may restart.
How many chiropractic or acupuncture visits are included?
The current feature schedule allows up to 8 combined chiropractic or acupuncture visits per membership year, shared across the enrolled membership. SakeOf may reprice the provider charge, and community sharing is limited to the lesser of the approved fair-price amount or 30 dollars per eligible visit, with a 240 dollar annual sharing maximum. The standard 500 dollar event commitment does not apply to an eligible visit under this feature.
What does the maternity feature include?
After the 12-month pre-conception waiting period and the 5,000 dollar maternity member responsibility, eligible prenatal, delivery, and pregnancy-related postpartum expenses may be considered for community sharing up to the maternity feature limit of 25,000 dollars per pregnancy. See the maternity feature schedule above for included services and exclusions.
Are dental and vision bills paid by the community?
No. The Dental & Vision Discounts feature is a discount-access program. Members pay participating providers directly at the applicable discounted rate. Routine dental and vision expenses are not community-sharing expenses under this feature.
Do optional feature limits roll over?
No. Annual visit and dollar limits reset on the membership anniversary unless the feature schedule states otherwise. Unused visits and allowances do not carry forward.
What happens if payment for an optional feature fails?
SakeOf may suspend or remove the feature under the applicable billing rules. Services or expenses arising while the feature is inactive are not made retroactively eligible merely because the amount is later paid. Contact Member Advocacy promptly if you believe a feature was suspended because of a billing error.
Can I appeal an eligibility decision?
You may request a reconsideration by providing new documentation. Final decisions are made in SakeOf’s discretion under the Program Guide and Terms of Service.

Definitions

  • Active membership means your base fee is paid, your wallet is funded for the current month’s community ask, and any past due asks are made current.
  • Active optional program feature means a feature that has been selected, has reached its applicable effective date, has not been removed or suspended, and is current on any amount required for that feature.
  • Optional program feature means an elective service, discount, access benefit, or category of community-sharing eligibility that may be selected or declined during enrollment or through an approved program change.
  • Community ask is the monthly amount collected to support eligible funding needs, capped by age band and plan.
  • Member commitment is the portion of an eligible event that the member pays before community funding may be considered.
  • Eligible means the item passes discretionary eligibility review and fair pricing verification under the Program Guide.
  • Event refers to clinically related services connected to the same condition, injury, or pregnancy, which may be reviewed as a single submission.
  • Fair price refers to a reasonable cash-pay amount in the member’s region based on common market pricing and provider type.
  • Primary member is the designated account owner who controls the membership wallet and is responsible for participation and communications for the membership.
  • Household means members on the same membership who are related by birth, marriage or adoption and meet dependent qualification rules described in this handbook.
  • Renewal means the annual membership renewal month based on the membership effective date.

Contact

Need help with billing, eligibility, provider questions, or pharmacy options? Contact Member Advocacy.

Contact Member Advocacy
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