While you can't "put a price tag on
health," Livengrin’s rates compare very
favorably with other treatment providers. We
know, because we’ve done the comparisons. Livengrin
works with most insurance and managed-care companies
to offer the most cost-effective care possible.
Please know that financial considerations for
a patient's treatment must be arranged in advance
of your admission. In addition to cash payment,
Livengrin accepts many forms of commercial health
insurance. Our Admissions Staff is trained to help
you understand what co-pays, deductibles or limitations
may apply for your plan. Patients or referral sources
should investigate this prior to admission.
There are many different types of insurance companies,
plans and levels of coverage. Obviously, we can't
explain the exact details of your plan here - but
here are a few basics:
The law in Pennsylvania requires (with some
exceptions) that insurance companies and HMOs
(health management organizations) that write
group policies in the Commonwealth must provide
for inpatient and outpatient care for alcohol-
and drug-related illness. If you have a
policy in this state, you have the right to
appropriate treatment.
Many insurance carriers now own, or contract with, "managed-care" organizations.
These companies assess the information given them
by doctors and other healthcare providers and then
tell us what they think is the appropriate level
and type of care a patient should get.
Livengrin takes responsibility for evaluating
a patient's medical and clinical needs, by using
nationally-recognized criteria. However, in today's
insurance climate, we cannot always decide what
kind of care, or how much care, an insurance company
will pay for. This decision is often made by the
managed-care company used by your insurance carrier
.
Often they are in agreement with Livengrin's assessment
of a patient, sometimes not. We can appeal their
decision, and fight for what we think you need,
but the final say regarding payment is up to them.
If you are unhappy with your insurance or managed-care
company's determination of what they will pay for,
we can usually provide you with the contact information
so that you or your family can speak directly to
them.
The benefits manager at one's place of employment
can often give you useful information about the
policy that you are a part of. Although it may
be uncomfortable to reveal to this person that
you are applying for benefits covering a substance-abuse
problem, that can be a small matter compared to
how important your treatment will be for you! Because
the employer pays all or most of the insurance
premium for your plan, the benefits or personnel
manager will want to help you make the most of
it.
