How to Compare Two Written Estimates for Cocaine Rehab in California

At the top of your comparison, enter the estimate date, period covered, expected start date if stated, and expiration date. Then record whether the price is a daily rate, weekly rate, fixed program amount, or deposit only. If one quote uses a daily rate and another uses a projected total, keep both original numbers and show your arithmetic separately. Do not infer a length of stay that the facility did not state.

Use rows for assessment or intake, room and board, clinical services described by the facility, medications, laboratory work, outside medical care, transportation, family participation, continuing-care planning, and administrative or discharge fees. These categories are comparison prompts, not claims that either facility provides or charges for them. Write “not established” rather than zero when an estimate is silent. Zero means the facility confirmed no charge; silence means you still need an answer.

• What exact dates or number of days does this estimate cover?
• Is the listed amount a total, a daily rate, or only an initial payment?
• Which services are included in the base amount? Please list them in writing rather than saying “all services.” State clearly which services are excluded or billed separately. What

Add rows for deposit amount, due date, accepted payment method, whether it applies to the total, refund deadline, cancellation fee, and circumstances in which any amount becomes nonrefundable. Ask for the governing policy in writing before paying. If the estimate says “subject to terms,” request the terms. If a representative gives an explanation that is absent from the document, send a short written recap and ask the facility to confirm or correct it.

Test the policy against ordinary scenarios: the person is not admitted after review, the intended start date is unavailable, arrival is delayed, the person chooses another provider, or the expected payer decision changes. Do not assume the result. Put each scenario into confirmed, needs review, or not established status. Also ask whether future charges can be placed on file automatically and who has authority to approve them.

• What does the deposit reserve, if anything?
• Is the deposit credited toward the quoted total?
• What deadlines and events change its refundability? Please provide the cancellation and refund policy in writing. Could any additional payment be charged automatically, and how is

Create separate columns for facility charge, estimated payer amount, patient estimate, and unresolved exposure. Label every payer figure by source: facility estimate, insurer statement, written benefit document, or claim outcome. An insurance verification is not a guarantee of payment. Ask what assumptions produced the patient estimate, including deductible, coinsurance, network status, authorization, service dates, and any coverage limits the parties identified.

Avoid broad questions such as “Do you take my insurance?” Ask instead whether the facility participates with the specific plan, whether the quoted services are expected to be covered, who seeks authorization, and what happens financially if authorization or payment is denied. Insurance participation for Living Longer Recovery is not established by the public facility facts and must be confirmed directly with the facility and payer.

• Has the specific plan, not just the insurance company, been checked?
• Is participation status confirmed for the facility and quoted services?
• Does the estimate depend on prior authorization or another approval? What amount could be due if the payer denies all or part of the claim? Which coverage statements have been