Healthcare before Medicare in Smithers

Start with the care you need—not a maze of billing steps

SakeOf is a healthcare membership designed to make it easier to access everyday services, choose where to seek care, and get help when a bill is difficult to understand. Instead of beginning every healthcare decision with an insurance-first billing process, members can begin with the kind of care they need and the active SakeOf services that fit.

For a common, non-emergency illness or symptom, Zero Copay Telemedicine can provide 24/7 access to virtual urgent care through the current service partner when that option is selected, active, and the visit is clinically appropriate. If an in-person exam, lab, imaging, specialist, or other service is needed, use the recommendation to plan your next step—not as a substitute for that service.

For an emergency, seek emergency care. Telemedicine and routine membership workflows are not emergency-care pathways.

Build an everyday-care routine around active options

Zero Copay Telemedicine requires active Rx and Prescription Benefits. The current service partner describes unlimited medically appropriate consultations, subject to provider availability, technology, state law, and clinical judgment. When clinically appropriate and legally permitted, a clinician may issue a prescription; medication costs follow the active Rx program.

Rx and Prescription Benefits may include approximately 70 acute medications at $0 through participating pharmacy locations, according to current partner materials. That does not mean every medication is included: check the active program details and confirm whether a specific prescription and pharmacy qualify. The Smithers New River Health location lists an on-site pharmacy and a pharmacy phone number; call to confirm hours, stock, and prices before traveling.

Mental Health and Counseling is an optional feature that requires active Rx and Prescription Benefits and Zero Copay Telemedicine. It includes on-demand telephonic counseling at no member cost through the current partner, with up to three face-to-face counseling consultations per incident when arranged and available. Psychiatry, inpatient behavioral health, emergency psychiatric care, testing, residential substance-use treatment, and medication costs are not automatically included with counseling.

Virtual Primary Care is another optional tier. It requires active Rx and Prescription Benefits, Zero Copay Telemedicine, and Mental Health and Counseling. The current service partner describes a dedicated physician relationship, ongoing virtual follow-up, an annual virtual wellness visit, and chronic-care and medication-management support when appropriate for virtual care. Its monthly adjustment is $15; the prerequisite options have their own monthly adjustments. Review current membership options before selecting a bundle.

Use Smithers and Fayette County care when an in-person visit fits

New River Health lists its Smithers location at 2 Greyhound Lane, with medical, dental, pharmacy, urgent-care, preventive, behavioral-health, and other services listed by the provider. A listing does not guarantee that a particular service or appointment is available today, so confirm the service, hours, appointment process, payment arrangements, and charges directly with the clinic.

New River Health is identified in a CDC directory as a federally qualified health center, with fee and sliding-scale options listed. Ask the organization whether you qualify and what terms currently apply. For any visit, request a service-specific estimate and ask whether separate professional, laboratory, or other charges may apply.

Fayette County also has a county health department and state-listed primary-care and community-clinic resources. The Fayette County Health Department describes services including family planning, screenings, vaccinations, harm reduction, and mobile clinics; contact it to confirm current offerings. CAMC Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill is listed by the state as a critical access hospital. For a hospital or clinic service, ask for an estimate for the exact service and whether separate professional or ancillary charges may be billed.

SakeOf supports provider choice. Use the provider that fits your care needs, then check how the specific service, expense, and any related bill fit the active membership program. Local provider listings and SakeOf options do not by themselves establish appointment availability, a price, or eligibility for a particular expense.

Get help when a bill is confusing or unusually high

When costs are hard to follow, Full Service advocacy can help members with bill verification, fair-price review, and negotiation support. Gather the itemized bill and relevant provider records so the team can review what was billed and how the amount compares with fair pricing. An itemized bill should include service dates, provider information, and CPT or HCPCS codes when available.

Additional clinical notes, diagnosis or procedure details, billing records, or a signed release may be requested to review eligibility, medical necessity, and pricing. Submit complete documents within six months of the service date. Submit a balance bill, denial, or payment demand within 10 days of receiving it. Follow the current Program Guide for the applicable member commitment and submission requirements.

Understand support for larger eligible medical events

For a larger eligible event, Full Service advocacy can help verify bills, review fair pricing, and support negotiation. Voluntary community funding may be available for larger eligible events under the program rules. Eligibility and any funding depend on the membership terms, documentation, and review; funding is not guaranteed. Check the Program Guide for the applicable member commitment and how an event is evaluated.

Symptoms can matter in the pre-existing condition review, even without a formal diagnosis. The review may consider an illness, injury, symptom, diagnosis, or treatment that existed or was known—or for which medical advice, diagnosis, or care was recommended or received—during the 24 months before membership began. Final determinations depend on documentation, clinical review, and the Program Guide. If you are considering membership around a planned service or ongoing concern, review the terms and ask Jordan how the process works before making a decision.

Choose additional options for your household

Depending on your needs, optional features include maternity care, dental and vision discounts, chiropractic and acupuncture, physical and occupational therapy, and durable medical equipment. Monthly adjustments range from $7 for durable medical equipment to $18 for maternity care in the current feature list. These options apply only when selected, active, eligible, and otherwise subject to program rules; turning a feature on later does not create retroactive eligibility for an event or expense that began before its effective date.

For West Virginia program information, WV PATH supports screening and applications for Medicaid and WVCHIP, while the Bureau for Medical Services provides Medicaid member resources and provider-search information. Eligibility, benefits, and provider participation depend on the applicable program; confirm details through official state resources.

Take your next step in 25186

• Need care now? For a common, non-emergency concern, review whether Zero Copay Telemedicine is active and appropriate; otherwise call a local provider to confirm the right in-person service.
• Considering New River Health? Call the Smithers location about appointments, pharmacy or dental availability, payment arrangements, and a service-specific estimate.
• Comparing membership options? Use the SakeOf calculator and Savings Guide to review the options and monthly adjustments that fit your needs.
• Have a provider or bill question? Use provider search or ask Jordan what information to gather and how Full Service review works.
• Ready to decide? Review membership options and the Program Guide, including feature dependencies and event rules, before enrolling.