Accepted Insurance Plans
As part of the Northside Hospital network, Gwinnett Robotic & Hernia Surgery accepts most major commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, and workers’ compensation insurance plans. The plans listed below are accepted at Northside Hospital facilities where Dr. Kakarla operates.
Commercial Plans
- Aetna
- Ambetter
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (including Pathway plans)
- CareSource
- Cigna (including Cigna + Oscar Open Access)
- Coventry National / First Health
- Health One Alliance
- Humana
- Kaiser (including Kaiser-Tricare Prime Option)
- Lifewell
- Multiplan / PHCS
- Northside Health Network
- Novanet
- Oscar Health
- Tricare
- UnitedHealthcare
- VA Community Care Network (VA CCN)
Medicare Advantage Plans
- Aetna · Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield · CareSource · Cigna Medicare Advantage · Clover · Coventry Advantra · Eon · Humana · Kaiser · Peach State (Allwell) · Sonder · UnitedHealthcare · Wellcare
Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) is also accepted.
Medicaid Managed Care
- Amerigroup · CareSource · Peach State (Centene) · WellCare
Workers’ Compensation
- Aetna · Coventry · Corvel Healthcare · Heritage Summit Healthcare/Synergy · Identity MCO · Multiplan · Spreemo
This list is updated periodically but Northside Hospital does not guarantee participation with all plan products. New insurance plans are offered constantly. If you do not see your plan listed, please call our office at (770) 962-9977 — we may still participate with your network. Always verify coverage with your insurance provider before your visit.
View the full, current list on Northside Hospital’s website →
How Insurance Verification Works
You call to schedule
Call (770) 962-9977 or request a callback. Our scheduling team collects your insurance information.
We verify your benefits
Before your appointment, our billing team contacts your insurance to verify your coverage, deductible, copay, and coinsurance for the recommended procedure.
You know your costs upfront
We share your estimated out-of-pocket cost before you commit to surgery. No surprises. All costs are subject to your plan rules and patient responsibility (deductible, copay, coinsurance).
Do I Need a Referral?
Most patients do not need a referral. You can call our office directly to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kakarla. The only exception is if your specific insurance plan requires a referral from your primary care physician before seeing a specialist — some HMO plans have this requirement. If you are unsure, call your insurance company or ask our scheduling team and we will help you figure it out.
Billing Questions
Understanding your bills
After surgery, you may receive separate bills from multiple providers. This is standard and not an error:
- Surgeon’s fee — from our office for Dr. Kakarla’s surgical services
- Facility fee — from the hospital or surgery center where the procedure was performed (Northside Hospital Gwinnett, Northside Outpatient Surgery Center, or Gwinnett Surgery Center)
- Anesthesia fee — from the anesthesia group that provided your anesthesia
- Pathology / lab fee — if specimens or blood work were processed
Each provider bills your insurance separately. Your out-of-pocket responsibility for each depends on your plan’s deductible, copay, and coinsurance structure. Payment methods accepted at Northside Hospital include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, checks, and cash.
Financial Assistance
Northside Hospital offers a Financial Assistance Program for uninsured, underinsured, and medically indigent patients who need help paying for medically necessary care.
- Patients with annual household income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level may qualify to receive a full discount on care
- Income, assets, debt, and expenses are evaluated for eligibility
- Insured patients may also apply if they have a remaining balance after all insurance payments are exhausted
- Payment plans are available for patients who cannot pay in full
The Financial Assistance Application is available in English, Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese. Download the application or request a copy from Northside’s Financial Counseling office.
Northside Hospital Billing Customer Service
For questions about hospital or facility bills (not Dr. Kakarla’s surgical fee), contact Northside Hospital’s billing department:
- Phone: 404-851-6500 (Mon–Fri, 8 am–4 pm EST)
- Online: Pay your bill online via PatientWallet
For questions about Dr. Kakarla’s surgical fee, call our office at (770) 962-9977.
What if I don’t have insurance?
Please call our office to discuss your situation. You may qualify for Northside Hospital’s Financial Assistance Program, which provides discounted or free care for patients who meet income and eligibility guidelines. Payment plans are also available. A deposit may be required for non-emergent services, but emergency care is never delayed for financial reasons.
What is a deductible?
A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance begins to cover costs. For example, if your plan has a $2,000 deductible and you have not met it yet, you will pay the first $2,000 of covered services before insurance begins paying its portion.
What is the difference between copay and coinsurance?
A copay is a fixed dollar amount you pay for a service (for example, $40 for a specialist visit). Coinsurance is a percentage you pay after meeting your deductible (for example, you pay 20% and insurance pays 80%). Your plan may use one or both.
Will my surgery be covered?
Most surgical procedures Dr. Kakarla performs are medically necessary and covered by insurance. We verify your specific coverage and get any required pre-authorization before scheduling. Cosmetic procedures are not covered by insurance.
I received a bill I have questions about
Call our office at (770) 962-9977 and ask to speak with our billing department. We are happy to explain any charges and help resolve questions about your bills.