Practice Policies

Effective October 15, 2026

Appointments and telehealth

Services are provided by secure telehealth to adults who are physically located in California at the time of the appointment. Patients are responsible for joining from a private location with a reliable connection and for providing an accurate physical location and emergency contact information at each visit.

Scheduling, cancellations, and missed appointments

Please provide as much advance notice as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule. Any applicable late-cancellation or missed-appointment terms will be disclosed during intake or before scheduling. Insurance generally does not cover missed-appointment fees.

Communication

Routine administrative questions may be sent to info@balancedessencecare.com. Do not send urgent concerns or sensitive medical information through ordinary email. Current patients should use the designated secure communication channel when available. Messages are answered during normal business operations and are not monitored continuously.

Insurance and payment

Insurance acceptance does not guarantee that every plan is in network or that a service will be covered. Patients are responsible for confirming eligibility, benefits, copays, deductibles, authorization requirements, and any amount not paid by insurance. Coverage will be reviewed before the first appointment when possible.

Prescriptions and refills

Medication decisions are based on clinical assessment and are not guaranteed. Refill requests should be submitted before medication runs out and may require a follow-up appointment. Controlled medications are prescribed only when clinically appropriate and consistent with applicable law, professional standards, and practice policy.

Emergencies

Balanced Essence Care does not provide emergency or crisis services. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911 or 988, or go to the nearest emergency department.

Your right to a Good Faith Estimate

If you do not have insurance or choose not to use insurance, you generally have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining the expected cost of your care.

• You may request a written Good Faith Estimate before scheduling care.
• If an appointment is scheduled at least 3 business days in advance, an estimate will generally be provided within the timeframe required by federal law.
• The estimate is not a contract and does not require you to receive the listed services.
• If a bill from a provider or facility is at least $400 more than that provider's Good Faith Estimate, you may be able to dispute the bill.

To request an estimate, call (951) 618-3225 or email info@balancedessencecare.com. For federal information about Good Faith Estimates and the patient–provider dispute process, visit cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers or call 1-800-985-3059.

Policy updates

Practice policies may be revised as services, laws, insurer requirements, or operational needs change. Current patients will receive notice of material changes when required.