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A |
We do not
accept assignment from insurance companies.
First, in
keeping with a free enterprise philosophy, our policy regarding
insurance has always been that we choose to work directly with
and for our patients, rather than indirectly through an
insurance company. Therefore, we have never joined any HMOs,
PPOs or other types of managed care. Furthermore, our doctors
have opted out of the Medicare Program, thus they are only able
to see Medicare eligible patients who first elect to pay in full
for all services rendered and subsequently sign a Medicare
“Waiver” in which they agree not to seek reimbursement from
Medicare for medical care received at our office.
HMOs, PPOs, managed care
entities, and even indemnity insurance plans are not in the
business of helping individuals obtain and maintain health and
wellness. Rather, insurance companies are in the business of
selling medical insurance plans for profit. While we have no
problem with an insurance company’s right to make a profit, we
do believe that for our practice to sign on with them, giving
them permission to reduce reimbursement levels or, even worse,
deny you, their client, the right to seek medical treatment or
advice without first seeking their approval, is fundamentally
wrong and deleterious to your health and the health of all
individuals.
We believe that each individual
is the best person to decide whether or not he or she needs
medical care, not a clerk working for an insurance company,
someone who has neither seen nor evaluated the individual
regarding his or her health questions.
Second, because we seek to
prevent disease and promote wellness, many of our medical
services are not covered by most insurance companies.
Finally, though we don’t accept
assignment, if you have indemnity insurance coverage, then we
will provide you with an insurance-ready receipt after receiving
your payment that you can use to submit a claim to your
insurance company, with any reimbursement from them being paid
directly to you. Many plans will partially cover services
such as labs and some medications. In addition, many
plans will apply the evaluation costs and other services towards
your deductible. Care Credit applications are easily
approved, are done in real time before or during your
appointment, and can be used for many different services, such
as dental, plastic surgery, LASIK vision correction, and even
veterinary medicine.
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A |
Yes, despite
our best efforts, occasionally we will see a patient who is not
a good match for our treatment regimen. This has to do primarily
with attitude. When individuals do not believe they can get
better, it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Secondarily,
we make every attempt to educate patients prior to their first
visit regarding the scope and cost of our treatment regimen.
Unfortunately, some individuals are unable to follow through
with the financial commitment required over the long term to
purchase hormone prescriptions and/or vitamins, and discontinue
this treatment regimen. Finally, some individuals get
conflicting advice and opinions from other medical
professionals, family, or friends which leads them to
discontinue treatment. Few medical doctors, and even fewer lay
individuals, understand the intricate connection between
nutrition, the immune system and hormonal balance. As long as
there remains ignorance and confusion about these areas, there
will continue to be some individuals who we are unable to help. |
