Healthcare before Medicare in Cincinnati

Start with the care you need

SakeOf is a healthcare membership designed to make it easier to take an active role in everyday care, provider choice, and medical bills. Start by identifying the next step: a routine health question, ongoing virtual primary care, a prescription, counseling, an in-person visit, or help understanding a bill. Then check which membership features you selected and currently keep active.

The calculator and Savings Guide can help you explore membership options. You can also search for providers or ask Jordan a question. These are practical ways to narrow your next step before contacting a provider or arranging care.

Use everyday services when they fit

Zero Copay Telemedicine is an optional direct service with a listed monthly adjustment of $8. When selected and active, it provides virtual visits under program rules. It can be a starting point for a concern appropriate for virtual care; a separate lab, imaging study, in-person follow-up, or specialist appointment needs its own arrangements.

Rx and Prescription Benefits is an optional feature with a listed monthly adjustment of $10. Check the current feature details for how it applies to a particular prescription. Medication costs and eligibility depend on the applicable program terms, so do not assume the feature name determines what a medication will cost.

Mental Health and Counseling has a listed monthly adjustment of $6. When active with its required features, it includes unlimited on-demand telephone counseling at $0, with 24/7 access to master's-level counseling professionals. Up to three face-to-face counseling consultations per incident may be arranged when available. Psychiatry, inpatient or emergency psychiatric care, and medication costs are not included merely because counseling is active.

Virtual Primary Care is a direct service with a listed monthly adjustment of $15. When active with its required bundled features, it includes $0 virtual primary-care access, a dedicated physician relationship, an annual virtual wellness visit, and chronic-care and medication-management support when clinically appropriate for virtual care. Its required active features are Rx and Prescription Benefits, Zero Copay Telemedicine, and Mental Health and Counseling.

Choose a provider for in-person care

When you need an exam, lab, imaging, specialist, or hospital service, you can choose a provider and contact that provider directly. Cincinnati Health Department’s City of Cincinnati Primary Care lists six community health centers offering medical care. Call 513-357-7320 to ask about appointments and which center may offer the service you need. The department also lists dental services. [[cite:]]

Hamilton County Public Health lists STI/HIV testing and treatment, tuberculosis services, and support for eligible families through the Children with Medical Handicaps program. Its clinic is at 5050 Section Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45212; call 513-946-7610 to confirm current services, arrangements, and fees. This is a county resource, not a statement about access for every ZIP code. [[cite:]]

For hospital care, UC Health provides patient pricing information and a way to request an estimate. TriHealth lists hospital locations in Cincinnati and provides financial-assistance information and financial-counseling contacts. Ask the facility about the particular service, expected charges, availability, and any applicable participation before scheduled care when possible. Estimates and directories are useful starting points; the provider can confirm current details. [[cite:]]

Get help with a bill

SakeOf Full Service advocacy can help members navigate bill verification, fair-price review, and negotiation support. Keep the itemized bill and related provider documents together, then contact SakeOf about the review process. Advocacy is support for understanding and addressing a bill; it does not guarantee an adjustment or a particular result.

An itemized bill is required and should show service dates, provider information, and CPT or HCPCS codes when available. SakeOf may also request medical records, clinical notes, diagnosis or procedure details, provider documentation, billing records, or a signed release. Submit complete documents within six months of the service date. Send a balance bill, denial, or payment demand within 10 days of receiving it.

If you have a TriHealth bill, TriHealth describes financial assistance and financial-counseling contacts. Contact the health system to confirm current application requirements and eligibility. [[cite:]]

Plan for a larger eligible medical event

For a larger eligible event, SakeOf combines an applicable member commitment with voluntary community funding, subject to the Program Guide and the event’s eligibility review. Contact SakeOf in advance about planned higher-cost care when reasonably possible. Keep your membership current, fund required asks, pay applicable member responsibilities, and submit complete documentation promptly.

Eligibility review can consider medical history. A symptom may count even without a formal diagnosis if it existed, was known, or led to recommended or received medical advice, diagnosis, or care during the 24 months before membership began. Review the applicable program terms for your situation, and use the Savings Guide or ask SakeOf about next steps before planned care.

Choose additional features for your needs

Optional features may be useful for particular services: Maternity Care is listed at $18 per month; Chiropractic and Acupuncture at $14; Physical and Occupational Therapy at $11; and Durable Medical Equipment at $7. Each applies only when selected and active, and is subject to its program terms.

Dental and Vision Discounts is listed at $9 per month. Members pay participating providers directly at applicable discounted rates, which vary by provider, service, product, and vendor terms. Routine dental and vision bills are not community-sharing expenses under the stated program rules. Ask a participating provider about its rates before arranging care.

• Routine question: Check whether Zero Copay Telemedicine is active and whether virtual care fits your concern.
• Ongoing virtual care: Review Virtual Primary Care and its required active bundled features.
• Local medical appointment: Call City of Cincinnati Primary Care at 513-357-7320 to ask about appointments and services.
• Bill review: Gather the itemized bill and contact SakeOf about Full Service advocacy.
• Planned higher-cost care: Contact SakeOf in advance when reasonably possible and ask the provider for service-specific estimates.