Welcome, Emerald Care team!
A membership with Assurance Healthcare & Counseling Center is one of your health benefit options available to you through your employer.
Before we begin – here’s our contact info. Reach out anytime!
Office phone: 509-823-4650
General email address: info@assurancehealth.org
My personal email: jason@assurancehealth.org
What is membership at Assurance Healthcare & Counseling Center?
It’s simple – it’s like buying a gym membership, except you have excellent access to healthcare professionals at our clinic (located across from the new YMCA in Yakima). For one low monthly membership fee, you get access to:
- Unlimited medical appointments (no office visit charge, copays, or deductibles to meet)
- Same or next-day visits if you’re sick or injured
- At-cost (very affordable) medications, labs, X-Rays and ultrasounds (more info below on costs)
- 24/7 telephone access for minor emergencies when our clinic is closed
- Mental Health Counseling – groups are free, more information on individual or couples therapy below.
Our goal is to keep you healthy and away from the expensive healthcare system as much as possible. And when you might need help from the regular system, we’ll help guide you to the best and most affordable care.
How does counseling work?
We have group sessions available weekly, which are free for all members.
For individual or couples therapy, there is a $125 intake fee for the first visit. As a current member, you then receive 6 free sessions with membership. After that, sessions are $50 each.
Read more about our counseling services here.
How much is membership?
For full-time Emerald Care employees: $35/month
Any other Emerald Care employee: $75/month
*In order to receive the above rates, memberships must be registered through Emerald Care and paid out of your paycheck.
How much does it cost to add my family members?
- Spouse: $75/month
- One Child age 18 or younger: $35/month
- Children (up to 5, ages 18 or younger): $60/month
- Spouse + Children (up to 5 children, ages 18 or younger): $105/month
- Young adults up through age 26 may be added to a family plan or single parent plan for an additional $25/monthly per young adult. Contact Jason (contact info at the top) for a detailed quote.
*If you wish to add anyone to your membership, all payments will be done via payroll deduction!
Is this considered insurance?
No, our membership is not considered insurance, as it only includes medical needs and counseling services offered by our providers in our building. We do not provide services for major medical needs (surgeries, heart attacks, stroke, cancer, etc.) or other services outside of our clinic.
Does this qualify for insurance on my taxes?
No, it does not qualify for insurance. However, it shouldn’t matter, as there is no longer a penalty for not having health insurance.
Can I purchase membership and also have insurance?
Yes! That’s not a problem at all. We’ll take care of all of your daily needs, and in the case that you need specialty care, are hospitalized, or have another major issue, that’s where insurance can help.
What if I can’t afford Emerald Care’s insurance option? Are there other options available?
Yes, you have options.
What if I need surgery, or get cancer, or am hospitalized?
If you have health insurance, that’s where it will kick in. If you have nothing, that’s OK – our staff will help you navigate the healthcare system and save you money!
If you’re looking for major medical options, there are many, including those that are offered by Emerald Care. If you don’t qualify for any of those options or you’re looking for options as an individual, reach out to Jason (contact information at the top) and he’ll help you out!
What if I don’t have insurance, or can’t afford it?
Don’t fret. Assurance membership is a great benefit to have, and we can help!
Our job is to help our members avoid expensive or unnecessary healthcare when possible. In the event that you DO need something outside of our office, we’ll help you find the best service and price (for instance, an MRI normally costs between $3,000 and $4,000 – we know where you can find them for $800 or less).
If you end up in the hospital with a very large bill, we can also help you negotiate that down. Here’s a quick overview of how it might work to go without insurance…
- While being ‘cash pay’ (without health insurance) isn’t for everyone, it’s a better option than most people think. You may end up preferring it, actually.
- Why is it a great option?
- You are in control of your health care and spending – nobody else is telling you what you can and can’t do, where you can and can’t go.
- Cash discounts are VERY often much better than insurance discounts. We’re talking 30-60% and beyond. It’s insane what ‘insurance’ does to the cost of healthcare.
- Payment plans can always be worked out with hospitals and surgery centers. So, if you have an emergent need, you’ll get the same care as you would with health insurance, you just now have a bill that you pay monthly (where they can’t charge you interest) until it’s paid off (and they may eventually ‘write off’ the remainder).
- There are many patient assistance programs that will drastically decrease or even completely wipe away medical bills if you fall into a certain income level (this is up to 400% of the poverty level – so you can still have a decently high income and get assistance!).
- We will help you! Membership at Assurance gains you access to our knowledge, network and expertise when it comes to navigating the healthcare system – and we can save you thousands of dollars if you need healthcare outside of our clinic!
How do I sign up?
Easy – just ask for an employee registration form from Sandy.
Or, fill out this form. We’ll confirm that you’re eligible and then get you signed up right away!