FAQs
Your Questions Answered
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Drop us a line and we will be happy to find the answer for you.
Do I still need insurance if I am a patient at your practice?
Harbor is not an insurance plan. We don't bill insurance, and there are no co-pays. Well visits, sick visits, care of chronic diseases, and most procedures are covered under your membership. Patients have the option of using their insurance for labs, imaging, and medication but will likely find our prices to be much more affordable. Although we do not require insurance, it's always a good thing to have for life’s unexpected surprises. We suggest a plan with a high deductible (aka catastrophic plan) or a health sharing account for the unexpected big medical expenses such as surgeries and long hospital stays. Please contact your insurance broker or accountant for more details regarding your specific needs.
I am already healthy. Why should I join?
Congrats on a healthy lifestyle! Stay healthy with regular preventative exams included in your membership. Just because you have no pressing medical needs, there is always the chance you may need an antibiotic, laceration repair, or want to contact your doctor any day, any time for a medical concern. A single urgent care or emergency room visit could end up costing you more than our total annual membership fee. And finding a doctor to answer your question quickly may prove impossible out of the DPC structure.
Are you really this accessible?
Yes! At Harbor, we use a secure app where you can text or email us anytime, anywhere. Your doctor—not an answering service or covering provider—will be the one responding to your questions. We offer convenient appointment times and you will never have you worry about long wait times or rushed visits. This saves patients money AND time.
How do Harbor doctors have more time for their patients?
Our membership model eliminates cumbersome billing practices and paperwork, which would take time away from patient care. At Harbor, each doctor will only take on a panel of about 500-600 patients. That’s in comparison to fee-for-service providers who see on average 2000-4000 patients. This gives us the time we need to focus on your health concerns with no distractions. This model of care results in reduced need for specialist referrals, urgent care and ER visits, and long hospital stays.
Are you currently accepting new patient?
Yes, Dr. Jihan Ansari is currently accepting new patients. Due to the limited availability, once we reach our maximum patient panel we will start adding patients to a waitlist and try our best to accommodate new patients when possible.
Do you accept Medicare Patients?
All patients are welcome at our practice. However, we do not bill Medicare for our services because we have chosen to "opt out" of Medicare. When patients receive services with us, rather than billing Medicare or claiming reimbursement, we enter into a simple patient agreement which spells out how our practice works. Patients can still use Medicare for things like prescription medications, hospitalizations, emergencies, labs, imaging, etc. - just not the monthly membership fee.
What's your policy on narcotics?
We do not treat chronic pain or carry narcotics in our office.
Do you administer vaccines?
We believe age-appropriate vaccinations are important. However, we don't have the foot traffic to utilize high quantities and therefore currently do not carry vaccines in our office. If you do not have insurance, we can provide guidance for cash-pay pricing of vaccinations at a local pharmacy or county health office.
Do you offer prenatal care?
We do not offer prenatal care or OB services. However, we are happy to help patients prepare for a healthy pregnancy, family planning, as well as post-natal care. Since we see all ages, your newborn and other children can also be seen at our practice!
Do you see all ages?
Yes! We see all ages and stages, "from womb to tomb," as the saying goes.
What happens if I need to contact my doctor when I'm out of town?
We are licensed physicians in California, so all members of our practice must reside in California. However, rest assured that when you're traveling, if a health concern comes up you can reach out to your doctor and we can see if there's a way we can help. For example, if an antibiotic or refill is needed when you're traveling domestically, we are able to prescribe medication to your local out-of-town pharmacy on a one-time basis. What about international travel? Although we can't prescribe across international borders, we are still available virtually for advice and may be able to save you a trip to the pricey ER or urgent care.
Why do you charge a re-enrollment fee?
We hope to create lasting relationships with our patients, and pride ourselves on the effort we spend in doing so. Since we take the extra time during the initial consultation and getting a thorough health history, we want to assure our members also plan to invest in their health long-term. Adding a re-enrollment fee helps prevent use of our services as-needed rather than long-term to help promote health and disease prevention.