Thank you for your interest in Liu Dermatology in Exton, PA. Below you will find some helpful information about scheduling an appointment with us, and what to expect. We do not participate with health insurance. However, we offer fair, reasonable, and predictable pricing for our services.
General Guidelines for Booking
INSURANCE: Liu Dermatology does not participate with any health insurance plans, and all payments are due at the time of service. Patients with private insurance may attempt to submit for out-of-network reimbursement, and we are happy to assist with this, but we are not responsible for the outcome. Due to government regulations, patients with Medicare, Medicare supplements, Medicaid, Tricare, or other government insurances can be seen but cannot be reimbursed by their insurance plans for services rendered at Liu Dermatology. Patients may choose to have pathology and other outside lab services submitted through their insurances.
CANCELLATIONS: Out of respect for everyone's time, we require 24-hour notice for cancellations. Please follow the instructions set forth by our online scheduling system to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice may be subject to a $50 "late cancellation" fee for medical visits and $100 "late cancellation" fee for cosmetic and surgical visits. Exceptions to the cancellation policy may be made in the case of a true emergency.
PAYMENTS: All payments are due at the time of service. Our online booking system requires a credit card on file to book an appointment, however, your card will not be charged unless there is a cancellation with less than 24 hours notice or no show. Full payment will be collected at the time of the actual visit. We accept cash, debit cards, credit cards (VISA, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express), Health Savings Account (HSA) cards, and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards. We do not accept checks at this time.
Q: Do you accept my insurance?
A: We welcome all patients at Liu Dermatology, regardless of insurance status. Dr. Liu is an independent physician who works directly for her patients. We are "out-of-network" with all insurances and do not submit claims to insurances. We offer fair and transparent pricing so that patients can get excellent care without needing insurance.
Q: Why would I choose to be seen at an office that doesn't take my insurance?
A: There are numerous reasons to seek specialty care "outside the system". Most practices that accept insurance spend an unfathomable amount of time and resources dealing with the constraints imposed by insurance. At Liu Dermatology, we are able to allocate all of our time and resources to where they matter the most - the patient experience. This is evidenced by our easy and timely scheduling, low wait times, and double to triple the average physician face-to-face time. At a traditional dermatology office, you may wait 4-6 weeks to be seen, only to sit in a waiting room for a long time and then spend less than 5 minutes with the physician. At Liu Dermatology, appointments can often be scheduled same-day, waiting room times are minimal, and you will have ample one-on-one time with Dr. Liu to get all your questions answered. We also offer prescription medications on-site, so you can avoid a cumbersome trip to the pharmacy. In addition, we offer numerous other "concierge" services to further enhance the patient experience. Our pricing is completely transparent so you will not get any surprise bills from us after your visit. For patients who have high deductibles, high copays, or other restrictions imposed by insurance, and for uninsured patients, direct care may be the more economical choice.
Q. What type of payments do you accept?
A: We accept cash, debit cards, credit cards (VISA, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express), Health Savings Account (HSA) cards, and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards. We do not accept checks at this time.
Q. How are you able to charge such affordable rates for your services? Every other office I've been to charges a lot more.
A: As a direct care practice, we do not deal with insurances, and this significantly reduces our overhead costs. We are able to run a much more efficient practice without the "middle man", and focus our resources where they matter. This translates to lower prices that directly benefit our patients.
Q: Can I submit to my insurance for out-of-network coverage?
A: Yes, for patients with private insurances. You may be able to receive some reimbursement from your insurance for visits at Liu Dermatology and can request a coded receipt from us for a nominal fee. However, since we do not deal directly with insurances, we are not able to submit on your behalf. The amount your insurance reimburses you depends on your plan, but it may be less than the cost of the visit. Medicare/government insurance patients cannot, by law, get reimbursement for services rendered at Liu Dermatology.
Q: What if I have Medicare, Medicare supplement, Medicaid, Tricare, or other government insurances?
A: Patients with government insurances can be seen at Liu Dermatology, but cannot submit for reimbursement from their insurances. If you have Medicare, Medicare supplement, Medicaid, Tricare, or other government insurances, you may be asked to sign a private contract with Dr. Liu before your appointment.
Q: Can I use my insurance to cover pathology and lab fees?
A: Yes. Depending on your plan, you may be able to get these fees covered, but details of such coverage are your responsibility. We would be happy to ask for pathology and labs to be submitted through your insurance, upon request. We are not responsible for any additional bills from outside labs that you may receive as a result of using your insurance.
Q: Is it better for me to use my insurance for pathology, or to pay the self-pay fee?
A: Excellent question - it depends on your insurance. Most pathology billed to insurance will be about $200, whereas we have negotiated a flat $75 fee that is collected at the time of your visit. Our self-pay pathology fee especially benefits those without insurance, and those with insurance but with high deductibles that they do not plan to meet. You can choose the option that works best for you.
Q: What if I'm not sure of what type of appointment to schedule?
A: Feel free to give us a call at 610-634-8500 for scheduling assistance. Most new patients will need a Level 2 visit. Examples of conditions/treatments and their corresponding visit levels can be found on our pricing page. When in doubt, just schedule a Level 2 visit. If you end up scheduling the wrong appointment, we can convert it to the appropriate appointment once you arrive.
Q: What if I need to get a procedure during my appointment?
A: Unlike insurance-based practices, Liu Dermatology includes most minor procedures with office visits. The one exception is if you schedule a Level 1 visit but end up needing a skin biopsy, which is not included with Level 1. If this happens, we can convert the appointment to the appropriate level (with your prior approval), as long as time permits. If your condition requires several biopsies or a more extensive procedure (rarely happens), we will try to accomplish as much as we can at the visit, and schedule a second visit to complete the procedures.
Q: Will I ever be charged more than the appointment I scheduled for?
A: Pathology and lab specimens, which are processed outside of our practice, may incur additional fees. However, you will be made aware of this before they are sent. Otherwise, you would only be charged more if you require additional services that are not included with your visit level (and would be notified prior). You always have the right to decline treatment and will never be charged more than what was agreed upon at booking, without notice.
Q: Is there a membership fee?
A: No. Unlike a concierge practice, we do not collect any membership or subscription fees. Any patient can be seen at Liu Dermatology and patients only pay for the services they need.
Q: What does it mean to be a board-certified dermatologist?
A: A dermatologist is a physician who was completed 4 years of undergraduate college, 4 years of medical school, 1 year of post-graduate "on the job" training (internship), and 3 years of dermatology-specific "on the job" training (residency). That's 12 years of higher education! All physicians (dermatologists, family physicians, cardiologists, neurosurgeons, etc) complete the same 4 years of medical school prior to pursuing training specific to their fields. Internship/residency is an intense and rigorous training process that allows physicians to truly become experts in their fields, and gain the skills necessary to practice independently. At minimum, dermatologists receive 12,000-16,000 hours of direct patient care training (mostly in dermatology) before practicing independently. In order to become "board-certified", a dermatologist must pass a comprehensive 2-day exam to prove competency in the field. Ongoing participation in continuing medical education activities is required to maintain board certification.
