A different way to healthcare in Columbus

Start with the care you need

SakeOf gives you a different way to organize healthcare: selected direct services for everyday needs, freedom to choose a provider when you need in-person care, and advocacy when a bill or larger medical expense needs attention. Instead of beginning with a complicated billing question, begin with the care in front of you and choose the simplest appropriate next step.

Your selected membership features determine which direct services are available. Features must be active and applicable to the situation, and program requirements still apply. Use the calculator to explore membership options, then check the Savings Guide or ask Jordan about how a particular care path works.

Use everyday care options when they fit

For a routine question or a concern that may be appropriate for remote care, start with Zero Copay Telemedicine if it is included in your active membership. If you need continuing support, Virtual Primary Care offers a dedicated physician relationship with virtual follow-up, an annual virtual wellness visit, and chronic-care and medication-management support when clinically appropriate. The current Virtual Primary Care tier requires Rx and Prescription Benefits, Zero Copay Telemedicine, and Mental Health and Counseling to remain active.

For eligible acute prescriptions, the Rx and Prescription Benefits option includes a current formulary of about 70 commonly prescribed medications at $0 when program requirements are met. A medication outside the formulary, or care that needs an in-person assessment, may have separate costs. Confirm the medication and current program details before relying on a benefit.

Mental Health and Counseling, when selected and active with its prerequisites, includes unlimited on-demand telephone counseling at $0. Up to three face-to-face consultations per incident may be arranged when available through the program. These services offer another way to get support without first figuring out which local office to call.

Choose local in-person care when you need it

When a remote visit is not the right fit, you choose where to seek in-person care. A citywide provider listing is a starting point, not confirmation of an appointment, participation, or a specific price. Before scheduled care, contact the provider to confirm the service, availability, expected charges, and any participation details relevant to your arrangements.

Columbus Public Health is at 240 Parsons Ave. and lists clinical and public-health programs. Its Sexual Health and Wellness Center describes testing, treatment, and education; appointments are preferred, with limited walk-ins, and the clinic lists sliding-scale fees. Contact the clinic directly to confirm current services, access, and fees.

For hospital care, OhioHealth lists Grant Medical Center at 111 S. Grant Ave. (614-566-9000), Doctors Hospital at 5100 W. Broad St. (614-544-1000), and Riverside Methodist Hospital at 3535 Olentangy River Rd. (614-566-5000). Ask the relevant facility about services, an estimate, and financial assistance. Labs, imaging, specialist visits, in-person follow-up, and medications outside an applicable formulary may be billed separately from a direct-service benefit.

Get help when a bill needs a closer look

If a bill seems confusing or unexpectedly high, Full Service advocacy can help you verify billing details, review fair pricing, and seek negotiation support. Gather the itemized bill and any related records so the review has useful information to work with. An itemized bill should include service dates, provider information, and CPT or HCPCS codes when available.

SakeOf may also request 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. Keep your membership active, meet the applicable member commitment or feature-specific responsibility, and respond promptly to document requests.

Understand support for larger eligible expenses

For a larger eligible medical event, the practical sequence is to contact SakeOf in advance when the care is planned, confirm what documentation may be needed, and keep bills and records together. Advocacy and fair-price review may help clarify charges or support negotiations. Eligible expenses may also be considered for voluntary member-to-member community funding, subject to program rules and review; funding is not guaranteed.

Eligibility depends on the program and the facts of the event. For example, symptoms as well as diagnoses may be considered during pre-existing-condition review. Final determinations depend on documentation, clinical review, and the Program Guide. Use Jordan or the membership materials to ask about the relevant rules before planned higher-cost care when reasonably possible.

Check other options and take your next step

If maternity is relevant to your planning, the handbook requires pregnancy to begin after a continuous 12-month maternity waiting period. Adding or restoring maternity after conception does not make that pregnancy eligible. Newborn medical needs after the initial discharge are separate from the mother's maternity event, and the newborn should be added to membership within 30 days of birth. Ask about the current feature terms before making plans.

To apply for Medicaid or get help with an application, Franklin County Job and Family Services lists online and telephone application routes and instructions for submitting documents. Columbus Public Health also lists walk-in Marketplace and Medicaid sign-up help at its Resource Center at 240 Parsons Ave.; call the Social Work Helpline at 614-645-6807 to ask about current hours and requirements.

• For a routine concern, check whether your selected telemedicine or Virtual Primary Care options fit.
• For a prescription, check the active formulary and program requirements.
• For local care, contact the clinic or hospital to confirm access and expected charges.
• For a confusing bill, gather the itemized statement and submit it promptly for review.
• Use the calculator, Savings Guide, provider search, or Jordan to choose a useful next step.