Added Benefits Plan

Our Added Benefits Plan is an administrative fee designed to help us maintain the level of service we feel is necessary in a pediatric practice. It specifically covers forms, transmission of prescriptions to the pharmacy, faxing to school/home and mailings to school/home.  In addition, the existence of the Added Benefits Program allows us to maintain an environment that adds to the quality of care for your family with services such as:

• Experienced, well trained staff that knows you and your children
• State of the art electronic medical records
• Vaccines available as needed
• Informative website
• timely emailings to keep you on top of important pediatric issues
• 24/7 access to your MD's
• A clean, bright, happy environment
• Prompt and Personalized medical care - Priceless!!

As of January 1st, 2010, our Added Benefits Plan will be mandatory for all but our Medicaid patients.  The physicians have put a great deal of thought into this decision, and have determined that this is the only way to keep the practice financially viable without significantly increasing patient volume, dropping insurance plans, or raising cash fees (currently at the level of insurance reimbursements).  There will no longer be added charges for any of the above administrative services. 

Any new patient who is dissatisfied with our care and transfers out of the practice prior to December 31st, 2010 will receive a full refund.

If your family is experiencing financial hardship, please contact us to discuss an alternative payment schedule.

Added Benefits Plan Fee - $125 for one child, $200 for two children, $250 for families of three or more children.

The year runs from January 1st - December 31st. 

New families will be able to pay on a prorated quarterly scale based on when they join the practice.

Please direct any questions about this program to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and our physicians or staff will contact you.

The Village Pediatrics Added Benefits Authorization form is available here. Please fill it out and return it to our office. 

A copy of the form is shown below.

Payment Options

1.        Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to give us authorization to charge the credit card we already have on file (please specify number of children and amount)

2.       Go to villagepedi.com and access instamed payment portal

3.       Fax back this letter of authorization with credit card number

Dear Village Pediatrics,

I am by faxing back this letter authorizing you to charge the added benefits mandatory fee to my credit card. 

Children

1.___________________________________________________

2.___________________________________________________

3.___________________________________________________

4.___________________________________________________

5.___________________________________________________

Fee:

1 child ______ $125

2 children____ $200

3+ children____$250

Credit card: __Visa  __Mastercard

No.____________________________________ Expiration date:_______________

Security code:____________________________

Checks may be mailed to the office:  VP, 156 King’s Highway North, Westport CT 06880

Common Questions Regarding the Annual Administrative Fee

Why did this fee come about?

Insurance reimbursements have not kept up with increasing costs of providing care. We know for the majority of our families it is important that we continue to accept health insurance and hope with this annual administrative fee we can continue on insurance plans.

Most pediatric practices depend financially on seeing a high volume of patients, and using physician extenders to cover the majority of phone care and many patient visits.  Village Pediatrics is committed to delivering physician driven care, same day service, and 24/7 access to your physician, which affects the volume of patients we can see.

Why only one fee per family, not a fee for each noncovered service?

We struggled with the fairest way to institute a fee for non-covered costs. In short, an annual fee per family is the simplest way for us to spread these costs across the year for each family.  We recognize that college-aged students require fewer of our services, but often desire to maintain a relationship with the practice. For such students, we will waive the added benefits fee as long as they attend school.

What will happen if this does not work?

If families feel this is unfair, then our practice cannot survive. We cannot cover our overhead and still offer a level of service we can ethically support. We will be forced to either drop all insurance plans and raise cash fees, or increase the number of patients we see significantly, affecting the time physicians can spend with each patient.

What if I pay the fee and am not happy?

If in the first year as a new patient in our practice you are not satisfied and wish to transfer then we will refund you the full amount of your fee.

As a long time patient of Dr. Jenn/Dr. Nikki what if I refuse to pay?

All families must pay the fee. For legal reasons, we cannot make exceptions. We assume that if you are a long time patient that you have been pleased with your care and hopefully you will feel we are worth the amount we are charging for administrative costs.

How will the fee be implemented?

The fee will take effect  January 1st and then every January1st in following years. We ask that you pay the bill when received. If necessary we will remind you about payment when booking appointments. If you come to an appointment without paying the fee, we will see your child for a sick visit and expect payment at that time. I

You do not take my insurance. Do I still have to pay the annual fee?

Yes. The annual fee applies to all families in the practice. It covers administrative costs and services that are not covered or reimbursed by insurance or cash fees.  We declined to raise our cash fees with the adoption of the administrative fee.  We are now happy to offer a 20% discount to our cash patients who pay in full at time of service.

My child rarely needs the doctor- why pay for a service we don’t use?

Fortunately most people never need to use their disability or life insurance, but they still pay for it.  Our practice is set up to provide services in a prompt and personal manner no matter when or if you need us.  Unfortunately, we have seen many usually healthy kids in crisis- whether it be medical, social or emotional- and we always make the time to support and guide you through the experience.

Dr. Jenn and Dr. Nikki have put much time and thought into this decision.  We are pleased with the practice that we have created, and want to continue to offer our unique option of physician-driven, personalized care.  You may feel that your child's healthcare needs do not merit our fee, and we respect that decision.  If you decide to transfer to a more traditional office we will provide your records upon receipt of a signed release form. Will welcome you back should you change your mind.