Talk to your medical care provider about any concerns about your risk level or individual spots. They can help evaluate and tell you where you need to go for a dermatology or melanoma specialist if needed.
Worried about finding an appointment quickly? Here are some tips:
From Impact Melanoma — Here are some tips to get get help quickly from your medical professionals:
- Use your primary care providers to advocate for an urgent problem. They have well established specialist contacts and a quick phone call from them may help get an appointment quickly.
- Call the specialist’s office in the early morning (i.e. 9-10 a.m.) to ask if there have been any cancellations for that day. Be flexible and willing to change your schedule.
- Realize that more than 90% of the time, the annoying mole you’re worrying about is not life-threatening, and reassurance is all that is needed.
- Discuss problems with access with your dermatologist directly. Leaving a concerned message will result in a return phone call and some telephone triage.
- If you are a high-risk patient and don’t have a dermatologist, be proactive and make an appointment to start yearly screenings.
Virtual Dermatologic Care
Depending on where you live, physical constraints, or your scheduling availability, making an appointment to see a dermatology provider can be difficult. You may want to check with your regular care provider if virtual care for skin cancer spot checks is possible. Often times, it is much quicker to receive an expert opinion on a potentially harmful mole via virtual care.
To help combat access issues and increase dermatological access across Oregon, OHSU offers a special virtual platform designed to analyze 1-2 specific moles that you think may be potentially harmful: Virtual Skin Cancer Spot Checks.
Virtual Skin Cancer Spot Check
The cost of a Virtual Skin Cancer Spot Check will depend on your insurance (covered by most insurances), but has a maximum charge of $75. To learn more about OHSU Dermatology, including other appointment options, please visit OHSU Dermatology or call 503-418-3376.
If you want to find a dermatologist – use the American Academy of Dermatology Provider finder tool:
Worried about the cost of a visit?
Before your appointment, ask to speak with the financial assistance office. Many medical providers have a person or department who can talk to you about what an appointment may cost, how to set-up payment plans or find out about financial assistance that you might qualify for.
Find help – Oregon Health plan Community Partners are here to help you find coverage
Help enrolling is free of charge and available in your area.
Application questions: 800-699-9075 (toll-free)
Website to find a walk-in event for questions and answers: https://healthcare.oregon.gov/Pages/find-help.aspx
Understanding How Health Insurance Works
Video on health insurance in Oregon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D6c11cTZF4&feature=youtu.be
Questions to ask your insurance provider
If you have insurance, but you are worried about how much a visit or procedure might cost, you can call the number listed on the back of your insurance card to find out more about:
- Do you have insurance and does it pay for skin cancer screenings?
- Does your insurance pay for examinations of suspicious moles?
- Do you need a referral to see a dermatologist or do you need to see a primary care provider?
- Do you have a co-pay (an amount or percent of money you owe for covered visits)
- Do you have a deductible (the amount of money you have to meet before insurance will pay)
- Do you have a maximum (the most that insurance will pay, sometimes per year)
Understand insurance terms
The glossary at healthcare.gov provides definitions for common health insurance terms or health coverage options such as co-pay, deductible and more: healthcare.gov/glossary