Medical Weight Loss |
Financial FAQQ. How much will my program cost? Q. Will my insurance cover this program? Q. How do I pay for the program? Q. Is this program tax deductible? Q. May I use my flexible spending account (FSA) to pay for the program? Q. How much will my program cost?Cost will depend on several things, and we need to present all of the information to you. Factors that influence the cost of our programs include which program you enroll in, the number of weeks you stay on the program, the daily calorie level you follow (this determines the frequency of medical visits and lab work), and your state of health. We do not have any hidden costs. We will work with you to tell you exactly what you can expect to pay. You may be able to claim insurance reimbursement for portions of the program (see below). We also offer Care Credit, a low monthly interest-free payment plan for those who qualify. We never want cost to be the reason you are not able to participate in one of our programs. Your health is too important. Return to top » Q. Will my insurance cover this program?It depends. Because of the complex nature of insurance and health care, it is impossible for us to make a general statement about insurance coverage. It will depend on what kind of insurance policy your employer has negotiated with the insurance carrier. Many employees have alternative plans to choose from, so it may also depend on what plan you have chosen. Other factors that may influence your ability to receive reimbursement include:
Because of the complexity and expense related to insurance reimbursement, we do not accept any insurance reimbursement at our clinic. We are very happy to give you information for you to give to your insurance company, or to answer any questions they may have. Please note that if you have a Flexible Health Spending Account (FSA) with your employer, and a BMI of 30 or higher, ALL of our services ARE reimbursable through a FSA program. Return to top » Q. How do I pay for the program?We do not want cost to be a barrier for you to enroll in our programs. We have several excellent options available, including Care Credit, a company that provides interest-free payment plans with no up front costs for health care services, to people who qualify. We will be happy to go over the options with you to find the best fit for your budget. The IRS allows medical weight management programs to be included in Flexible Spending Accounts through your employer. If you have such a program, and a BMI of 30 or higher, you may use pre-tax dollars to pay for the services of your program. Please check with your employer's benefits administrator regarding this. Return to top » Q. Is this program tax deductible?Yes, most of it. As of April 7, 2002, the IRS will allow people who are diagnosed by a physician as being obese to deduct the costs of the services in this program. The revenue ruling, IR 2002-19, approves the fees related to services (i.e. medical services and nutrition education meetings) when they are occurring for medically valid reasons. A person must be under the guidance of a physician in order to qualify. The ruling does not cover the cost for foods or food replacements (ie. medical weight loss products), which people would have to pay for regardless of their weight. The ruling was intended for taxpayers claiming medical expenses in excess of 7.5% of their adjusted gross income as a personal deduction on individual taxes. It is important to note the ruling does not apply to weight loss services that are aimed at improving a person's appearance or general health. Those services are non-deductible, and health clubs and spas are not viable treatment options under this ruling.
The IRS ruling is currently available online at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-02-19.pdf. Q. May I use my flexible spending account (FSA) to pay for the program?People who have a Medical FSA may use their current year plan to pay for eligible weight loss expenses. The key to FSA claims is proper documentation from a physician stating the diagnosis of obesity and its treatment program. We provide this. For further information, call us or contact a tax advisor. Return to top » |