Insurance, Telehealth & New Patient Information

Making Specialist Care More Accessible

Orofacial pain is a rare specialty, and finding a board-certified provider who takes insurance and offers flexible access isn't easy. Dr. Kruman is committed to removing as many barriers as possible—which is why he accepts Kaiser Permanente and offers telehealth care for patients throughout California.

Insurance

Kaiser Permanente Accepted

Dr. Kruman accepts Kaiser Permanente insurance, which is uncommon for an orofacial pain specialist at this level of training. Many DABOP-certified practices are cash-pay only; Kaiser members in the Bay Area can access board-certified specialty care without going out of network.

Coverage for specific services—including oral appliances for TMJ and sleep apnea—varies by Kaiser plan. The office will review your specific coverage during the intake process and provide a clear picture of estimated out-of-pocket costs before treatment begins.

Other Insurance

For patients with insurance other than Kaiser, Dr. Kruman operates on an out-of-network basis. Many PPO plans provide partial reimbursement for out-of-network specialist visits. The office can provide a superbill — an itemized receipt with the relevant diagnostic and procedure codes — that you can submit directly to your insurer for reimbursement.

HMO plans other than Kaiser generally do not provide out-of-network reimbursement. If you're unsure about your coverage, it's worth calling the member services number on your insurance card and asking specifically about out-of-network specialist coverage for orofacial pain or temporomandibular disorders.

Self-Pay

Patients without insurance, or those whose plans don't cover specialist care, are welcome. Self-pay rates are available and will be discussed during the scheduling process. Please contact the office for current fee information.

Additional Frequently Asked Questions →

Telehealth

Virtual Consultations Throughout California

Dr. Kruman offers telehealth appointments for patients across California — not just the Bay Area. This matters in a specialty where board-certified providers are sparse: many Californians have no local access to a DABOP-certified orofacial pain specialist. Telehealth bridges that gap.

What telehealth appointments cover:

• Initial consultations — A thorough review of your symptoms, history, prior workups, and imaging. In many cases, a detailed telehealth intake provides enough information to form a working diagnosis and initial treatment plan, or to identify what additional evaluation is needed.

• Follow-up visits — Ongoing management, treatment plan adjustments, prescription review, and coordination with other providers.

• Second opinion consultations — If you've received a diagnosis or treatment recommendation elsewhere and want an expert perspective, a telehealth second opinion is a low-barrier way to get one.

• Out-of-area patients — Patients who live outside the Bay Area but want access to board-certified orofacial pain care can establish care via telehealth, with in-person visits arranged as needed for procedures or appliance fittings.

What telehealth appointments cannot cover:

Some aspects of evaluation and treatment require an in-person visit: physical examination of the jaw joints and muscles, oral appliance fitting and adjustments, and certain procedure-based treatments. For patients beginning care via telehealth, in-person visits will be scheduled when clinically appropriate.

Who is Telehealth Right For?

Telehealth appointments work well for:

• Follow-up visits - Check in on your progress and adjust your treatment plan

• Medication management - Prescription adjustments and monitoring

• Treatment questions - Discuss concerns or changes in your symptoms

• Patients in distant areas - Sacramento, South Bay, or anywhere in California

• Busy professionals - No need to take time off work for travel

• Initial consultations - Get questions answered and determine if an in-person visit is needed

Please note: While telehealth is convenient and effective for many purposes, certain services require in-person visits—such as physical examination, custom appliance delivery and fitting, and injection procedures. Dr. Kruman will discuss whether telehealth is appropriate for your specific needs.

How to Join a Telehealth Appointment

Telehealth visits are conducted via a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. After scheduling, you'll receive a confirmation email with a link to join the appointment. No app download is required—most patients join directly from their browser on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

A stable internet connection and a quiet, reasonably well-lit space make for the best experience. You'll also want to be able to open and close your mouth during the visit without obstruction. Sitting at a table rather than lying down tends to work best.

New Patients

What to Expect

Scheduling: New patient appointments can be requested via the contact form or by phone. Please include a brief description of your main concerns and any relevant history (prior diagnoses, imaging, treatments tried). This helps the office allocate the right amount of time for your visit.

Your first appointment: Initial consultations are longer than standard follow-up visits — typically 60 to 90 minutes — because a thorough intake is the foundation of accurate diagnosis. Dr. Kruman will review your history in detail, ask questions that may not have come up in prior evaluations, and explain his clinical thinking as the appointment progresses.

What to bring (or send ahead):

• A list of current medications and supplements

• Any prior imaging relevant to your jaw, head, or neck (MRI, CT, x-rays) — digital copies or a CD both work

• Reports from prior specialist visits, if you have them

• Your insurance card

Referrals: A referral is not required to make an appointment, though Kaiser patients should confirm whether their plan requires an internal referral for specialist visits.

Wait times: Dr. Kruman has a limited patient panel, which allows for more individualized care than a high-volume clinic. New patient appointments are scheduled as availability allows. If you're in significant pain, please mention that when you contact the office —urgent cases are accommodated when possible.

Appointment Duration:

• Initial telehealth consultation: 30-45 minutes

• Follow-up visits: 20-30 minutes