GENERAL SURGERY • HERNIA • GALLBLADDER
General Surgeon Accepting Blue Cross Blue Shield in Katy & Sugar Land, TX
Do you have Blue Cross Blue Shield and need a general surgeon? Dr. Murtaza Shakir, a board-certified general surgeon, sees patients for hernias, gallbladder disease and other surgical conditions in Katy and Sugar Land. The practice accepts many major insurance plans, including participating BCBS plans.
Board-Certified General Surgeon
Dr. Murtaza Shakir, General Surgery & Surgical Oncology.
Accepting New Patients
Patients with many major insurance plans welcome.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Laparoscopic and robotic options when appropriate.
Katy & Sugar Land Locations
Two offices serving Greater Houston.
Surgical Associates of Southern Texas accepts patients with many major insurance plans. This page is a resource for patients with Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage who need a general surgeon, hernia surgeon or gallbladder surgeon near Katy, Sugar Land or Greater Houston.
Do You Accept Blue Cross Blue Shield for General Surgery?
Surgical Associates of Southern Texas participates with many Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. Patients with a participating BCBS plan can schedule a consultation with Dr. Shakir in Katy or Sugar Land for hernias, gallbladder problems and other conditions that may need surgery. Because participation is plan-specific, please verify yours before your appointment.
Our accepted insurance list includes BCBS PPO, BCBS HMO Blue Essentials and Blue Medicare Advantage (PPO and HMO). Other BCBS products may or may not participate, so our staff can check the plan printed on your card.
General Surgery for Patients Covered by BCBS
Your consultation focuses on the medical problem first: what is causing your symptoms and whether surgery will help. When an operation is recommended, Dr. Shakir uses minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic techniques where they are appropriate. Browse our general surgery services below.
General Surgery
Evaluation and surgical treatment for common abdominal and soft-tissue conditions. Learn more →
Hernia Repair
Inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional and recurrent hernia repair. Learn more →
Robotic Hernia Surgery
A minimally invasive approach when it suits the hernia and your anatomy. Learn more →
Gallbladder Surgery
Evaluation of gallstones and gallbladder disease, and surgery when needed. Learn more →
Laparoscopic Gallbladder Removal
Minimally invasive cholecystectomy through small incisions. Learn more →
Appendicitis
Prompt surgical evaluation and appendectomy. Learn more →
Hernia Surgeon Accepting Blue Cross Blue Shield
If you have a participating BCBS plan and a known or suspected hernia, you can schedule an evaluation in Katy or Sugar Land. Dr. Shakir treats inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional and recurrent hernias, including more complex abdominal wall problems.
He decides between open, laparoscopic and robotic repair after looking at the hernia type, its size, earlier surgery or mesh, and your general health. Blue Essentials and other HMO-style plans may need a referral, and coverage for any procedure depends on your plan. Visit the hernia surgery page for more information.
Hernia Surgery
Read about hernia types, symptoms and open, laparoscopic and robotic repair on our main hernia surgery page. Learn more →
Gallbladder Surgery
Learn about gallstones, gallbladder attacks and minimally invasive gallbladder removal on our main gallbladder surgery page. Learn more →
Who Accepts BCBS for Gallbladder Surgery Near Sugar Land?
Patients with participating BCBS plans can see Dr. Shakir at our Sugar Land or Katy office for gallbladder concerns such as gallstones, recurring right upper abdominal pain, or pain that follows meals. The evaluation looks at your symptoms and imaging to decide whether removing the gallbladder is advisable.
If surgery is recommended, it is usually performed laparoscopically. Out-of-pocket costs depend on your plan’s deductible, coinsurance and authorization rules. More on the gallbladder surgery page.
Your Surgeon
Meet Your General Surgeon
Dr. Murtaza Shakir is an independent, board-certified General Surgeon and Surgical Oncologist at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery in General Surgery and in Complex General Surgical Oncology. He earned his medical degree at Aga Khan University, completed General Surgery residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital and finished a two-year Surgical Oncology fellowship at UPMC. He performs open, laparoscopic and robotic surgery, and Houstonia Magazine has recognized him among Houston’s top general surgeons.
He accepts patients across many insurance plans. Blue Cross Blue Shield is highlighted here because it is one of the most common plans in the Houston area.
General Surgeon Accepting BCBS in Katy, TX
Patients from Katy and Fulshear with participating Blue Cross Blue Shield plans can schedule hernia, gallbladder and general surgery consultations at our Katy office.
410 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 4D, Katy, TX 77494
(713) 955-9191 • Katy office page
General Surgeon Accepting Blue Cross Blue Shield in Sugar Land, TX
Our Sugar Land office serves patients from Sugar Land, Richmond and Rosenberg. You see the same surgeon, with the same services, at either location.
17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320, Sugar Land, TX 77479
(713) 955-9191 • Sugar Land office page
Serving Cypress Patients With Blue Cross Blue Shield
Serving patients from Cypress with participating BCBS plans. There is no Cypress office; patients usually schedule at our Katy location after confirming their plan with our staff.
Serving BCBS Patients Across Greater Houston
Houston, West Houston and Spring are among the communities we serve from our two offices. They are service areas only, not additional office locations.
How to Verify Your BCBS Coverage Before Your Appointment
Blue Cross Blue Shield offers PPO, HMO and Medicare Advantage products with different rules. Our staff can help you identify what to confirm, including network status and referral or authorization requirements. Please do not send insurance ID or Social Security numbers through an unsecured web form.
1. Contact Our Office
Call (713) 955-9191 or send a message, and have your insurance card handy when we call you back.
2. Verify Your Plan
Our staff can help determine whether the practice participates with your specific plan and note any referral or authorization needs.
3. Schedule Your Consultation
Choose the most convenient available appointment at our Katy or Sugar Land office.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Questions We Hear Often
Do you accept Blue Cross Blue Shield for general surgery?
Surgical Associates of Southern Texas participates with many major insurance plans, including participating Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. Contact the office and BCBS to confirm participation, benefits and referral or authorization requirements for your plan.
Who accepts BCBS for gallbladder surgery near Sugar Land?
Dr. Murtaza Shakir evaluates gallbladder conditions for patients with participating BCBS plans at 17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320, Sugar Land, TX 77479, and at our Katy office.
Can I see a hernia surgeon with my BCBS plan?
Patients with participating BCBS plans can schedule a hernia evaluation. Coverage for the visit and any repair depends on your plan terms.
Do you accept BCBS HMO Blue Essentials?
HMO Blue Essentials appears on our accepted insurance list. HMO plans usually require a referral, so please check with your primary care doctor and our office.
Do you accept Blue Medicare Advantage?
Blue Medicare Advantage PPO and HMO are on our accepted insurance list. Contact our office to confirm your exact plan.
Can Cypress patients with BCBS schedule a visit?
Yes. We have no office in Cypress, but Cypress patients can schedule at our Katy or Sugar Land office.
Do you take insurance other than BCBS?
Yes. The practice accepts patients with many major insurance plans. Call us to check a plan that is not listed here.
Are you accepting new BCBS patients?
Yes, the practice is accepting new patients, including those with participating Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.
Have a Different Insurance Plan?
We accept patients with many major insurance plans beyond those highlighted on this page. If your insurance company is not listed here, contact our office and our team can help you determine whether your specific plan participates with the practice. You can also review our insurance information page or the full list of accepted plans.
Contact Us to Verify Your Plan
Reach our office to confirm your plan and schedule a hernia, gallbladder or general surgery consultation in Katy or Sugar Land.
Please note: We participate with many plans offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield. Coverage and network participation may vary by individual plan. This page does not guarantee coverage, authorization or payment. Please contact our office and your insurance carrier to verify benefits and network participation before treatment.