The best way to make your first heart visit smooth is to call ahead, confirm your insurance, and bring your card, ID, medicine list and recent records. First Coast Cardiovascular Institute accepts most major insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid of Florida. The Palatka office at 386.325.2836 can confirm yours.
Before you go
- Call 386.325.2836 to confirm your plan and appointment time
- Ask if your plan needs a referral from your primary doctor
- Ask your other doctors to send recent records or test results
- Fill out new patient forms if the office sends them
New patients are welcome. Please give at least 24 hours notice if you need to change your appointment.
What to bring
- Insurance card and photo ID
- All your medicines in their bottles, or a full list with doses
- Any home blood pressure or heart rate readings
- Hospital discharge papers, if you have them
- Questions written down
- A family member, if you like
Plans FCCI accepts
FCCI's published list includes AARP, AARP Medicare Complete, Aetna, Alignment, Ambetter, AvMed, Blue Cross Blue Shield (except Shands' Gator Care), CarePlus, Cigna, Devoted Health, Humana (except Humana Gold Plus HMO and Humana Medicaid), Medicaid of Florida, Medicare, Molina, Simply Medicare and Medicaid, Sunshine Medicaid, Tricare for Life, Tricare Prime, Tricare Standard, UMR, United Healthcare, Wellcare and Wellmed PPO and HMO, among others.
Plans change, so always confirm by phone.
If you do not have insurance
FCCI has a self-pay fee schedule. Ask the front desk about it when you call. You can also pay bills online through FCCI's bill payment center.
Why outpatient can save money
FCCI was the first in the region to offer catheterization in an outpatient setting, partly to lower out-of-pocket costs. Many tests are done right in the office, too. Your actual cost depends on your plan, so ask the front desk for help understanding it.
Questions to ask at your visit
For your first visit, it helps to ask:
- Is my plan accepted?
- Do I need a referral?
- What will my copay likely be?
- Do you have a self-pay fee schedule?
- Which forms should I fill out ahead of time?
Care close to home in Palatka
Your first visit will be at 205 Zeagler Drive, Suite 101, Palatka, FL 32177. Bring your insurance card and medicine list, and allow time to park and check in.
You are joining a practice that has welcomed new Northeast Florida patients since 2002 and has more than 30 providers. If you are ever admitted to HCA Florida Putnam Hospital, FCCI physicians cover there 24/7.
Why patients choose FCCI
At that first visit you may meet a local face, like Cecilia Pitts, APRN, a longtime Palatka resident and former Putnam Community Medical Center nurse, or Kortney Winkleman, APRN, a Putnam County native.
Call ahead Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., so the front desk can verify your plan before you arrive. New symptoms that feel urgent mean 911, not waiting for your visit.
Not sure what to bring or whether your plan is accepted? Call 386.325.2836, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you request a visit online, leave out health information and share it by phone.
