Healthcare when you work for yourself in Birmingham

Plan care around what you need

SakeOf is a healthcare membership built around a more direct way to plan and manage care. Members choose from available features, select providers for in-person care, and can ask for help when a medical bill needs a closer look. The practical advantage is having a path for everyday concerns as well as support for larger eligible needs, rather than starting every decision with a bill to sort out later.

For a new, non-emergency concern, first consider whether an active telemedicine or Virtual Primary Care feature fits. If you need an examination, testing, imaging, a specialist, or hospital care, choose a provider that can meet the need and ask about the expected charges. For emergencies, seek emergency care.

Explore the calculator and Savings Guide to compare membership options and selected features. Jordan can help answer questions about the membership, while provider search can help you identify local in-person options.

Use everyday-care features when they fit

Zero Copay Telemedicine and Virtual Primary Care are separate optional features. If selected and active, telemedicine may provide a remote visit option for an appropriate everyday concern. Virtual Primary Care is a distinct feature for virtual primary care. Check the applicable feature details before relying on either for a particular need, and ask what follow-up, testing, or in-person care may involve separately.

Rx and Prescription Benefits is also optional. When selected and active, its terms determine what applies to a medication. Ask the prescribing clinician and pharmacy about availability and cost, and check whether a lab, follow-up visit, specialist appointment, or medication falls within the feature’s terms.

Mental Health and Counseling may include immediate problem assessment, supportive counseling and follow-up sessions, crisis support, and referrals to appropriate behavioral-health plans or community resources when more care is needed. Psychiatry, inpatient or emergency psychiatric care, and medication costs are not included simply because the counseling feature is active. Before starting, check the feature details and ask how to access the service.

Choose local in-person care in Birmingham

When remote care is not a fit, choose the kind of service you need—such as primary care, urgent care, specialty care, imaging, or hospital care—and then contact the location directly. Provider choice lets you consider local options, but each facility’s services, appointment process, and charges should be confirmed with that facility.

Cooper Green Mercy Health Services in Birmingham lists primary and specialty clinics, urgent care, pharmacy, and radiology. Enrollment and financial-assistance requirements apply to some services; contact Cooper Green to confirm what applies to the care you need. UAB Medicine’s location directory lists Birmingham-area hospitals, clinics, and urgent-care sites. UAB Hospital is at 1802 6th Avenue South, and The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital is at 2000 6th Avenue South. Check the specific location for current services and appointment contacts.

Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) operates public-health clinics across the county. Its clinic directory lists locations, services, and appointment information; availability and requirements vary by clinic and service. Contact the health center to check whether it offers the service you need and to ask about fees or eligibility requirements.

For planned hospital care, request an estimate for the specific service and ask whether professional charges, facility charges, labs, and imaging are included. UAB Medicine offers a price estimator and standard-charge information, but posted charges may differ from an individual’s final cost and separate professional charges may apply. CMS explains how hospital standard-charge information can help consumers compare prices.^www.cms.gov

Get help reviewing a medical bill

If a bill is confusing or seems higher than expected, SakeOf Full Service advocacy can help verify charges, review fair pricing, and support negotiation. Gather the itemized bill, any estimate, and relevant visit details so the charges can be considered in context. Advocacy can help you understand next steps, but it does not promise a particular price or outcome.

For a larger eligible medical event, the applicable member commitment is part of the process. The standard event commitment is $500; eligible physical and occupational therapy visits under that feature use a $35 feature-specific member responsibility instead. Voluntary community funding may be considered for larger eligible events under program rules. Funding is not guaranteed. Keep estimates and final itemized charges together, and contact SakeOf about Full Service advocacy if you want help reviewing the bill.

Match optional features to longer-term needs

Some members may want features for specific care needs. When selected and otherwise eligible, Maternity Care may include routine prenatal visits, medically necessary prenatal labs, standard diagnostic ultrasounds, pregnancy-related specialist care, delivery services, and routine pregnancy-related postpartum care through six weeks. The pregnancy must begin after the continuous 12-month maternity waiting period is completed. Review the feature terms and limits before making plans.

Other optional features include Dental and Vision Discounts, Chiropractic and Acupuncture, and Durable Medical Equipment. Physical and Occupational Therapy may be useful after an injury or during rehabilitation. When active and eligible, PT/OT has a shared 12-visit annual limit and a $780 annual maximum across the enrolled membership. Eligible visits use a $35 feature-specific member responsibility instead of the standard $500 event commitment. A physician order, referral, or documented plan of care may be required when clinically appropriate or required by state law.

Each feature has its own price adjustment, effective date, limits, and rules. Use the current Savings Guide and calculator to see how selected features fit your membership choices; ask Jordan if you have questions about a feature’s terms.

Choose your next step

• Everyday concern: Check whether active telemedicine or Virtual Primary Care fits, and ask about follow-up or testing that may be separate.
• Ongoing or specific care: Compare available membership features and use provider search to identify local options for in-person care.
• Prescription: Confirm that Rx and Prescription Benefits is selected and active, then ask the clinician and pharmacy about the medication and its cost.
• Local visit or planned hospital service: Contact the specific facility about services, appointments, enrollment requirements, and charges. Request an estimate for planned hospital care.
• Unexpected bill or larger event: Gather itemized charges and estimates, then contact SakeOf about Full Service advocacy and applicable program rules.
• Comparing membership options: Start with the calculator and Savings Guide, review membership options, or ask Jordan.