Frequently Asked Questions
Physician-Led Health Optimization for Men 40+
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about how the practice works, what’s included, and whether this is the right fit.
The Practice
What this is, and who it’s for
What is Health Improvement Institute?
A physician-led practice for men over 40, run by a board-certified Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine physician with 14 years of hospital experience.
The focus is metabolic health, weight, and hormones, managed together as one connected picture, with monthly physician oversight rather than an annual check-in.
This is not a testosterone clinic, a med spa, or a prescription-by-questionnaire service. It’s physician-led medical care.
Who is this practice for?
Men over 40 who are ready to stop accepting “fine” as an answer. You’re likely a good fit if:
- Your weight, energy, or labs are trending the wrong direction
- You have risk factors — blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, family history — and want more than “watch and wait”
- You’ve considered testosterone or weight-loss telehealth and wanted more actual physician oversight than a questionnaire-based service
- You want a physician managing your metabolic health, weight, and hormones together, not three separate prescriptions from three separate places
Who is this practice not for?
- Medicare beneficiaries (Medicare patients cannot be seen at this time)
- Advanced diabetes with complications requiring active endocrinology management
- Active heart disease requiring ongoing cardiology management
- Anyone looking for a quick fix without addressing root causes
You’ll need your own primary care physician for annual physicals, vaccines, and routine preventive screening. This practice doesn’t replace that — it focuses on what typically gets missed in between.
How is this different from my regular doctor?
Most primary care physicians manage thousands of patients in 15-minute visits. This practice keeps a deliberately small panel.
- 60–90 minute initial visit, no clock watching
- Monthly follow-up, not an annual checklist
- Direct secure messaging to your physician between visits
- Treatment aimed at optimal outcomes, not just guideline minimums
- A full workup to understand the cause before prescribing anything
Pricing & What’s Included
One program. Transparent pricing.
What does it cost?
One program covers metabolic health, weight management, and hormone optimization together — no separate tiers.
This is a direct-pay practice. Physician services are not billed through insurance. A superbill is available upon request for HSA/FSA reimbursement.
What does the initial month include?
- Comprehensive 60–90 minute initial video consultation — full history, metabolic and hormone labs ordered and reviewed, personalized plan
- 2-week follow-up video visit (30 minutes) to review tolerability, early progress, and initial adjustments
- Direct, secure messaging for brief care-related questions (weekdays 8am–5pm, replies generally within one business day)
What does ongoing care include?
- Monthly 30-minute video consultation — nutrition, weight trends, hormone levels, medication response, strategy refinement
- Direct, secure messaging for brief care-related questions between visits. Urgent issues, new symptoms, or complex decisions may require a visit
- Ongoing lab review and medication management — FDA-approved branded medications only, no compounded products
Do you accept insurance?
No. This is a self-pay practice — physician visits aren’t billed to insurance.
Labs and medications are separate. I order labs through Labcorp, and prescriptions are filled at your regular pharmacy — many patients find insurance covers a meaningful portion of those costs. Labs, imaging, medications, and any outside testing or specialist visits are billed by their respective parties and are not included in Dr. Verma’s consult fees.
Do you prescribe GLP-1 medications like Zepbound or Wegovy?
Yes, when clinically appropriate, as part of a comprehensive approach to weight and metabolic health. Only FDA-approved branded medications are prescribed — no compounded versions.
If a GLP-1 isn’t covered by insurance, branded self-pay options may be available through manufacturer programs. See Lilly’s current Zepbound savings page at zepbound.lilly.com/savings for up-to-date pricing.
Are visits HSA or FSA eligible?
In most cases, yes. Physician services are generally HSA/FSA-eligible. Check with your plan administrator to confirm, since rules vary by account type.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. No long-term contracts. Cancel ongoing care with 30 days’ notice.
Clinical Care
What’s actually managed
What conditions do you focus on?
- Cardiovascular risk factors — blood pressure, cholesterol, ApoB, as part of your metabolic picture
- Metabolic health — insulin resistance, prediabetes, blood sugar
- Weight management — physician-led medical weight loss, GLP-1 therapy when indicated
- Hormone optimization — testosterone evaluation and management
Do you treat testosterone and prescribe TRT?
Yes, when clinically indicated. Testosterone isn’t prescribed based on a single number — a full workup is done first to understand the cause and rule out anything requiring further evaluation before starting treatment.
Levels are individualized to your symptoms, labs, and baseline, and monitored on an ongoing basis as part of your monthly visits.
What other medications do you prescribe?
Medications relevant to metabolic and cardiovascular health — statins, antihypertensives, metformin, and branded GLP-1s — as clinically indicated, with proper workup, dose titration, and monitoring.
Compounded medications of any kind are not prescribed.
What labs do you recommend before the first visit?
Metabolic and hormone labs are ordered as part of the initial consultation. If you have recent labs from another doctor, bring those and they’ll be reviewed together.
Do you work with my other doctors?
Yes. Current medications and records from your other providers are reviewed at the initial visit, and any changes affecting a specialist’s plan are discussed with you first.
Logistics
How it works
Where are you located? Do you offer telehealth?
Both. Appointments are available via telehealth video visit or in person at the Cherry Hill, NJ office.
Telehealth is available for patients located in New Jersey, New York, California, and Pennsylvania.
What are your hours?
New patients: Flexible scheduling, including early morning and select evening slots.
Ongoing visits: Monday–Friday, scheduled at your convenience.
Secure messaging: Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm, for brief care-related questions, with replies generally within one business day.
Emergencies: Call 911 or go to your nearest ER. This practice is not equipped for emergency or urgent care.
How do I get started?
Book a consultation through the link below, or call or text 856-291-6452 with questions first.