Frequently Asked Questions

A patient advocate helps guide you through the healthcare system—scheduling appointments, coordinating between doctors and specialists, managing medical bills and insurance appeals, organizing medical records, and ensuring you understand your care plan.

With the The Patient Advocate Agency, we become your partner—from Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley to virtual support nationwide—making sure your care is streamlined, clear, and effective.

Look for a licensed professional with patient-advocacy credentials (e.g., board-certified patient advocate, BCPA) and experience working in your region. Many people search “patient advocate near me” or “healthcare advocate services Palm Springs.”

Our agency offers in-person concierge advocacy for clients locally (Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indio) and virtual care across California and the U.S.

Yes—one of the key roles of a patient advocate is to review your medical bills, spot errors, negotiate with providers, and submit appeals when insurance wrongly denies claims.

With our team at The Patient Advocate Agency, we handle the paperwork, follow-through, and communication so you don’t spend hours on hold or pay more than you should.

Yes. Modern advocacy can be done remotely with great success—coordinating care, attending virtual visits, organizing records, and communicating with doctors.

We provide both: in-person advocacy for local Coachella Valley clients and full virtual services for clients across California and the U.S., with the same level of support and coordination.

Consider it if you or a loved one are facing one or more of these: multiple doctors or specialists, complex medical conditions, frequent hospital readmissions, confusion about bills or insurance, caregiver who lives far away, or needing a second opinion or specialist referral.

At The Patient Advocate Agency we specialize in helping clients exactly in these situations—bringing clarity, coordination, and peace of mind.

Absolutely. Advocates research specialists, prepare your records, coordinate referrals and pre-authorizations, and help ensure your next doctor visit is effective.

We connect you to qualified specialists locally in Southern California or nationally, depending on your condition and insurance, and manage the logistics and follow-through.

Typically, independent patient advocacy is not covered by insurance, meaning you pay privately (concierge model).

However the value often justifies the investment—better outcomes, fewer errors, smoother transitions, and reduced stress. We provide clear pricing and value for our clients.

Look for someone who is certified (e.g., BCPA), has healthcare experience (nurse, social worker, case manager), understands insurance and billing, communicates clearly and respects your goals.

At The Patient Advocate Agency, our founder Cindy Johnson holds BCPA and CSA credentials and we maintain high standards in ethics, communication, and care coordination.

Often quickly—once you contact the advocate, they can begin gathering records, making calls, coordinating doctors, or preparing for upcoming appointments.

We schedule an initial consultation, assess your situation, and begin action as soon as you’re ready so you’re not waiting while time-sensitive care slips by.

While anyone can benefit, the highest-impact clients are those with multiple providers, chronic illnesses, recent hospital discharges, insurance issues, cognitive or mobility challenges, aging adults, or families managing care from afar.

We work with clients locally in Coachella Valley and across the U.S., tailoring our concierge services to your unique needs.