Here’s a breakdown of common questions about our services to help you understand what to expect:
About Dr. Verma:
- Who is Dr. Varun Verma? Varun Verma M.D. is an experienced, board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine. He graduated from Rutgers- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in 2008, completed his Internal Medicine Residency at New York University and has served in esteemed hospitals such as UCSF, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Columbia Medical Center, Mount Sinai, and Jefferson Health. He founded Health Improvement Institute LLC to focus on preventive care for adults aged 18-60, specializing in personalized wellness and longevity strategies. Dr. Verma is passionate about improving quality of life and partners with his patients to achieve their health and wellness goals.
General Questions:
- What services do you offer? We provide comprehensive wellness consultations focusing on chronic disease management, nutrition, movement, and environmental toxin reduction. This includes an initial physician consultation (in-person home visit in South Jersey or telehealth video consult in CA, FL, NJ, NY and PA), a follow-up telehealth visit to review labs and next steps, and 30 days of ongoing coaching and support via secure email.
- Where do you offer in-person visits? In-person home visits are available in Burlington County, Camden County, and Gloucester County, New Jersey.
- Where are telehealth consultations available? Telehealth video consultations are available throughout New Jersey, California, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania.
- What is included in the initial physician consult? The initial consult involves a comprehensive assessment of your health and giving you actionable strategies to improve your health and wellness.
For in-person visits, this includes checking your blood pressure, height, weight, and waist circumference, and a thorough physical exam (excluding sensitive areas like breasts, genitals, or reproductive organs). Telehealth visits will review your self-measured blood pressure, height, weight and waist circumference. We’ll also review your existing medications and supplements, discuss the health risks associated with obesity, develop a personalized nutrition and movement plan, discuss supplements (and their limitations), dissect your kitchen/pantry to identify potential toxin sources, and explore strategies to reduce your exposure to environmental toxins. - What is included in the follow-up telehealth visit? The follow-up visit is a 30-minute video call to review your lab/diagnostic test results and provide an accountability check-in for your nutrition and exercise goals.
- What does the 30 days of ongoing coaching and support include? You’ll have direct access to your physician via secure email communication for 30 days for non-emergent questions, accountability check-ins, and to help you stay on track with your personalized plan. This is not for urgent care or emergency medical services.
- Do you prescribe medication or order lab tests? Lab/diagnostic tests and/or medication prescriptions will be ordered as medically necessary. Patients are responsible for all associated costs. If you plan to use health insurance – please check with your insurance carrier about coverage and estimated cost. We have no control over your insurance company and cannot guarantee insurance coverage.
- Where are lab tests conducted? Lab tests are typically ordered through Labcorp or Quest Diagnostics. You will need to visit a nearby service center for the blood draw.
- Are supplements discussed? We discuss supplements, emphasizing that they are not regulated by the FDA and often lack third-party testing. We address the concerns about patient safety and misleading marketing practices in the supplement industry.
Financial Questions:
- How much do your services cost? Please contact us directly for detailed information about our fees and packages.
- Do you accept insurance? While we do not directly bill insurance, we can provide you with the necessary documentation to submit claims to your insurance provider for reimbursement. Please check with your insurance carrier about coverage and estimated cost.
- Are lab tests covered by the service fee? No, the cost of lab tests is separate and is the patient’s responsibility.
- Where will my labs be ordered?
I can send lab test prescriptions to Quest or Labcorp.
However, there are a few direct to consumer companies like FunctionHealth $499 and InsideTracker $489 that are excellent and sometimes more affordable than going through insurance. - Why Won’t Insurance Pay for My Labs?
Insurance companies often have specific guidelines about what they consider “preventive” versus “diagnostic” care. Comprehensive labs ordered by a longevity doctor are typically classified as diagnostic tests, which means they are used to diagnose or monitor a specific health condition. As a result, these tests are usually not covered under preventive care benefits and may be subject to deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance.
Other Questions:
- What should I expect during a kitchen/pantry dissection? The pantry dissection is a collaborative process where we review the contents of your kitchen and pantry to identify processed foods and potential sources of harmful chemicals, such as BPA, phthalates, flame retardants, and PFASs. We’ll discuss healthier alternatives and strategies for minimizing your exposure to these toxins.
- What if I have an urgent medical question during the 30-day coaching period? The ongoing coaching and support is for non-emergent questions and accountability. For urgent medical matters or emergencies, please contact your primary care physician, visit an urgent care clinic, or call emergency services.
We hope this FAQ section addresses your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any further inquiries. We look forward to helping you on your journey to better wellness!