Admissions

Private pay, accepted.

Sometimes the right care isn't the care the insurance plan covers. Sometimes there's no plan at all. Private pay is part of how we make NorthStar Day work for the families it's right for.

A parent and admissions financial coordinator reviewing payment plan options together at NorthStar Day
01 · The why

Why families choose private pay.

Most families who pay privately do so for one of a few reasons. Their insurance is out-of-network. Their plan covers outpatient but limits day-treatment days below what their child clinically needs. Their plan requires a prior authorization process that would delay starting longer than the family can wait. Or they simply prefer to keep treatment information outside the insurance system entirely.

We don't push private pay over insurance. We'll always verify benefits first if you have a plan. But for families where private pay is the right move, it's a straightforward option here.

02 · The scope

What private pay covers at NorthStar Day.

Private pay covers the full program at whichever level your child is admitted to, PHP or IOP. Same clinical content. Same coordinated model. Same daily rhythm. Same case management. There is no two-tier program.

What's flexible on private pay: the financial structure. We work with families on monthly billing, payment plans tied to the length of stay, and in some cases sliding-scale arrangements when the clinical fit is right but the financial reality is tight. Specifics get discussed in the intake conversation, not negotiated by email.

What an agreed payment schedule typically looks like
03 · The intake

What the conversation looks like.

The financial conversation happens during the intake call, not at check-in on day one, not buried in paperwork. You'll talk to a real person who knows the program and the cost. They'll walk you through what PHP costs per week, what IOP costs per week, what payment options are available, and what timeline makes sense for your family.

We don't publish specific dollar figures on the website because the right number depends on level of care, length of stay, and family situation. We'd rather you have a real conversation than a sticker price.

04 · The hybrid case

Private pay alongside insurance.

Some families do both: insurance covers part of the program, private pay fills the gap. That happens most often when insurance approves a limited number of PHP days but the clinical recommendation is longer, or when insurance covers IOP but the family wants to start at PHP intensity.

We'll lay out the hybrid math in the verification summary if that's the situation. Sometimes a few weeks of private pay at the front bridges to long-term insurance coverage. We'll tell you what we see.

Ready when you are

We are ready when you are.

Tell us what's going on. We can talk through cost and coverage before any commitment.