FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Additional information to help with your decision making
Insurance FAQs
DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE? ↳ The Emergence Health office does not accept insurance at this time and is considered “out-of-network” with all health insurance plans. You can, however, use out-of-network benefits through your insurance to get anywhere from 40-70% of membership or A La Carte costs reimbursed. Many patients use FSA or HSA plans for Emergence Health payments. We also make submitting out-of-network claims for reimbursement easy through our partner, Reimbursify.
HOW MUCH OF THE FEES WILL MY INSURANCE PLAN COVER? ↳ Since every health insurance policy is unique in what services are covered, it is the responsibility of each patient to know and understand their insurance benefits. We recommend that you call your insurance provider directly to confirm your out-of-network benefits and to review testing coverage prior to services being rendered. This way there are no surprises when it comes to what is and is not covered.
General FAQs
WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE? ↳ Functional medicine is an approach to healthcare that looks at how the systems of your body work to identify and treat the root cause of disease. This approach to healing relies on evidence-based practice, personal preference, and provider expertise to deliver high quality care that is personalized and holistic. Oftentimes it is not just one thing that is out of balance, but a "perfect storm" of lifestyle, genetics, and metabolic/physiologic triggers that lead to someone feeling off. The functional medicine approach to healing is deeply rooted in understanding who you are, from your birth to the present day.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE AND CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE? ↳ Conventional medicine, also known as Western or allopathic medicine, is the dominant healthcare system in most of the world. It focuses on diagnosing and treating symptoms and diseases using drugs, surgery, and other medical interventions. Conventional medicine tends to be reactive, meaning that it is typically used to treat symptoms after they appear rather than focusing on preventing them. ↳ Functional medicine, on the other hand, is an approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying root causes of imbalance in the body. It seeks to treat the whole person, rather than just treating the symptoms. Functional medicine practitioners aim to understand the complex interactions between a patient's environment, lifestyle, genetics, and biology to develop personalized treatment plans that address the root causes of illness. Functional medicine may incorporate a wide range of interventions, including dietary changes, nutritional supplements, lifestyle modifications, stress management techniques, and alternative therapies such as acupuncture, massage, and yoga.
HOW IS EMERGENCE HEALTH DIFFERENT FROM OTHER MEDICAL CARE? ↳ In the United States, 80% of all chronic disease is driven by lifestyle factors like nutrition, exercise, and stress. The conventional health care model is rooted in acute care treatments, which do not address the root cause of disease and are designed to manage symptoms. Conventional providers are not trained in lifestyle medicine and treat conditions in silos with prescriptions and expensive specialists. ↳ At Emergence Health, we provide patients with high-quality, holistic primary care and functional medicine care. Unlike standard medical care in the United States, our treatments combine the best of conventional and functional medicine modalities to give you the necessary tools and support to heal. We are not in the business of creating patients for life. Our goal is to teach you about your body and how it works so that you are able to care for yourself, with as little support as possible. This approach to care honors your unique needs and empowers you to play an active role in your health and well-being. ↳ Another big benefit our patients find in working with Emergence Health is quality one-on-one time spent with provider Leah Geoghegan, a board-certified primary care nurse practitioner and functional medicine provider, who manages your healing journey from start to finish, with high levels of attention to detail and care.
WHERE DO YOU PROVIDE SERVICES? ↳ Emergence Health is a telehealth company that provides virtual care in the United States. We conduct the majority of our appointments with patients via a HIPAA compliant live video or phone call. We also provide the option for home health visits in the general tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT), where our providers come to you. This health care model makes receiving medical care convenient, easy, and efficient.
CAN EMERGENCE HEALTH REPLACE MY PCP (PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER)? ↳ Emergence Health’s provider, Leah Geoghegan, is trained in both primary care and functional medicine and is able to provide both services to her patients. Leah will work with you to provide a functional medicine perspective on primary care needs, in addition to evaluating complex chronic issues using the functional medicine model of care. ↳ However, there are some primary care services we do not provide and you should maintain relationships with other providers, including your PCP, for these needs. For this reason, many patients find it most efficient and cost-effective to work with a PCP in addition to their partnership with Leah.
HOW DO I BECOME AN OFFICIAL PATIENT OF EMERGENCE HEALTH? ↳ Step 1: Schedule a complimentary 30-minute free consult with Leah Geoghegan. During this consult, you will share with Leah your health concerns, learn more about our approach to healing, and see if we are a good fit to work together. If we are a good match and you’d like to proceed, Leah will review service recommendations and pricing with you that align with your expressed health care goals. ↳ Step 2: Post-consult, Emergence Health will follow-up with you via email, summarizing the details from your free consult and outlining the next steps to register with the practice.
DO YOU DO COVID-19 TESTING? ↳ Yes, Covid-19 testing is something we offer. During the past three years we have met a variety of our patients’ needs for testing, whether it was at home for families, or at large events like weddings. If you have needs for COVID-19 testing, submit an inquiry using the contact page.
Membership Plans FAQs
DOES MY MEMBERSHIP PLAN INCLUDE LAB TESTING? ↳ Costs for blood work and specialty tests are not included in the membership price. The cost of conventional blood work can be run through your insurance plan and covered to the extent of your benefits. We work with you to customize lab testing based on your health needs, personal preferences, and finances. ↳ Specialty tests are typically out-of-network with insurance and range in cost from $100 - $425 and are optional. For certain specialty tests, we also require a specialty lab review, which will be described in detail on the consent form for each test. Of note, specialty lab review fees are waived for Advanced and Premium Care membership patients.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN EMERGENCE HEALTH MEMBERSHIP PLANS? ↳ Laboratory tests, as noted above. ↳ Imaging and scans, such as MRIs, ultrasounds, and x-rays. Similar to conventional lab tests, these orders can be run through most insurance plans and covered to the extent of your insurance benefits. ↳ Additional health care services offered by the practice that are not included in the membership plans: medical marijuana ID cards, home visits, medical paperwork/legal forms, etc. These additional services are optional and can be added onto a membership plan for an additional fee. ↳ Medications (over-the-counter or prescription) and supplements. ↳ Services recommended by Emergence Health but provided by others, such as health coaches, acupuncturists, or food services. ↳ Emergence Health is not responsible for fees issued by your other providers for collaboration with our office.
WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION POLICY? ↳ All membership plans are for an annual, 12-month, commitment. However, we offer the following flexibility. ↳ 30-Day Cancelation: you have 30-days from purchasing your membership plan to change your mind and cancel it. If you have not used any components of your membership plan/benefits, you will be issued a full refund, minus the credit card processing fees. If you have used components of your membership plan/benefits, you will receive a prorated refund that deducts the fees associated with the services used. These fees are calculated as follows: $150 per 15-minutes used (for example, a 30-minute visit used would deduct $300 from your refund amount).
WHAT IS THE RENEWAL POLICY? ↳ Annual renewal is automatic for membership plans and you will receive an email notification in advance of the new billing cycle. You may also cancel this membership plan renewal within 30-days of the renewal date, under the same cancellation terms as noted above.
A La Carte FAQs
WHAT ARE A LA CARTE SERVICES? ↳ Another name for A La Carte services is “fee for service care”, or one-off appointments outside of what’s included in a membership plan.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I'M A GOOD FIT FOR A LA CARTE SERVICES? Here are some common examples of when A La Carte services can be a good fit for you: ↳ You feel ‘in the driver's seat’ of your own healthcare in partnership with another practitioner, like a PCP or OBGYN, and you want to involve Leah as a specialty consult by scheduling appointments to get her perspective on lab results, or to order additional functional medicine labs that other providers don’t have access to. ↳ You are very independent and self-directed in managing your own healthcare. For example, you don’t need or want unlimited messaging or support between your visits and just want a healthcare plan laid out to follow. ↳ You want to ‘test drive’ working with Emergence Health before you invest in an annual membership plan. We understand an annual plan can be a big commitment and, therefore, offer A La Carte appointments to get a feel for what it’s like to work with Emergence Health. From there, if you decide to upgrade and enroll in a membership plan, we credit as much as possible of the money paid for A La Carte into the membership plan cost, resulting in a reduced, prorated membership plan fee for you. This eases the transition from A La Carte to a membership plan. ↳ For membership plan patients who want additional appointments and services beyond what is included in their membership plan.
WHERE DO I SAVE THE MOST MONEY: A LA CARTE OR MEMBERSHIP PLAN? ↳ The best way to save money and get the most value out of our service offerings is to pair your health care needs, communication style, and level of support you require with the service offerings that best match your goals and expectations. This is why we require all interested people to schedule a free consult with our provider, Leah Geoghegan, prior to enrolling with the practice. Leah will listen to your health care goals and work with you to determine which service option is the best fit for you.
CAN I GET A LIST OF A LA CARTE PRICING? ↳ Yes you may! In order to obtain a list of pricing for service offerings, you must first schedule a free consult with our provider, Leah Geoghegan. Click the button below to schedule a complimentary, 30-minute consultation.