Frequently Asked Questions
Finding great healthcare doesn’t have to feel like fishing…
where you never know what you’re reeling in.
That's why we at Lake Life DPC chose Direct Primary Care…
we believe in the transparency of the care, costs, and quality you receive.
We’ve compiled this list of frequently asked questions to help you understand our services better (read about our quality here).
If you're looking for a Primary Care Provider that offers personalized care with the transparency you’re missing from the healthcare system, this is the perfect opportunity to learn more about us!
From understanding our approach to healthcare, to knowing what types of services we offer, we've got you covered.
So, take a look at our frequently asked questions and discover why Lake Life DPC is the right choice for you and your family!
What is Direct Primary Care?
Direct Primary Care, or DPC, is a model of healthcare that puts patients first by getting rid of the red tape that constrains traditional practices. How? It's simple: we don't accept insurance, and – believe it or not – this actually saves you money in the long run.
This short video from Direct Primary Care Conferences does a wonderful job explaining the model. It still holds true, even from when it was created in 2018 (well, perhaps not for the inflation on monthly costs), and we strongly recommend you give it a watch!
How will this save me money?
You won't have to pay for each individual office visit whether it's a routine follow-up, routine physical, or sick visit. That means no co-pays and no surprise bill in the mail three months later (what’s the deal with that?!). Also, you'll be able to avoid many visits altogether by sending your questions directly to us via email and text – something you won't get from a traditional practice. We've negotiated amazing cash pay deals for blood tests, X-rays, MRI/CT scans on your behalf. We can also help you find the lowest cost option on your medications.
More importantly, because of the comprehensive care you receive from a DPC practice, most patients find that they can cut way back on their insurance premiums. Most DPC patients find a high-deductible, low-premium insurance plan so they're covered in the case of a major health issue. But leave the rest of your healthcare to us.
OK, that sounds nice, but can you break it down for me a little more? Perhaps with an example?
You got it!
With DPC, you can see your Physician as little, or as much, as you need… and all for the price of your monthly membership.
Picture your current “traditional practice”:
You waited three months to see your Primary Care Physician and, because it’s a whole ordeal (between the scheduling, phone tag, and setting aside three hours of your day to sit in a waiting room full of others), you saved up six different concerns to discuss with your physician to try and make it worth your time (and money).
Despite paying the co-pay at the front desk, you sat in the waiting room for 30 minutes, then in the exam room for 15 minutes more, all for your Physician only able to address two of your concerns, because their schedule is crammed full of patients and sprinkled with insurance paperwork in between… all to wonder if and how much your bill is going to be when it arrives in the mail in 3-4 months. You leave frustrated.
The next morning, you wake with a sore throat with ear pain… and now you can’t tell if you’re having a fever or simply sweating from the thought of having to pay another co-pay to go through the entire ordeal again!
With Direct Primary Care:
You talked with your Physician last week on the phone after sending a text, because you dropped a weight on your foot, but now it’s time to follow up on your health conditions.
You arrive to the practice and… no one is in the waiting room… there is no waiting room. Your physician doesn’t have to line patients up and beg their insurance to reimburse them.
Their patient panel is 1/5th the size.
There’s no co-pay.
You and your doctor planned on this being an extended visit. You’ve spent 45 minutes talking about each of your concerns and you got to ask all your questions. Now you and the physician are talking about the coffee spot that just opened, the NFL season, and that the local professional soccer games are a blast!
You part ways for the day knowing that you won’t be getting any surprise bill in the mail from the visit.
The next morning you wake up with a sore throat and ear pain… you send your physician a text and they respond, “Oh, no! Come on in today at 9am, so I can take a quick peak!”
No copay, you’re in & out, and you high five because it looks like it’s just viral.
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With your membership you will have enhanced access to your Doctor including same or next day visits and extended appointment times. No more playing phone tag to get a response or sitting endlessly on hold.
Our memberships include the following services:
Office visits for Acute and Non-acute (Chronic) Care
Telehealth (Virtual) and Telephone Visits, when appropriate
Preventative Care
Annual Wellness exam (“Physical”) that is in-depth and personalized
Sports Physicals
School Physicals
Well-Woman Care
Well-Child Care
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
Blood Pressure Monitoring
Chronic disease management (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma)
Sports injuries
Breathing Treatments (nebulizer or inhaler with spacer)
Rapid in-office testing, such as Flu, Covid, and Strep tests (YES, included! No added fees!)
Removal of benign skin lesions, warts, skin tags
Simple injections of joints
Removal of Cerumen (ear wax)
Wound Repair and Sutures
Abscess Incision and Drainage
Simple Dermatology Procedures
Basic vision testing
Basic hearing testing
Price comparisons for medications on your behalf, including…
Access to many commonly prescribed medications at greatly reduced cash-pay prices, with convenient on-site dispensing. To do this, we’ve partnered with several medication wholesalers to locate the lowest price for our members!
As a primary care practice, we are able to provide the majority of the health care you will require.
By offering and including the above, in one flat monthly rate, we aim to reduce your visits to specialists and the urgent care, as best as we can. -
Of course. Everyone benefits from a service tailored directly to them. That’s why we offer truly custom healthcare. We’re here for you if you're sick or hurt, but we also help you proactively maintain good overall health. Every visit with us will be thorough, relaxed, and as long as you need to address your health concerns. The longer you're our patient, the more we learn about your health and lifestyle, and the better we can help you maintain that health.
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Thankfully, No. Insurance has a place in managing serious health issues, but not in everyday health care. We forgo insurance reimbursements in order to spend the time needed to provide a superior care experience. We are also free from the typical contractual agreements that would prevent us from offering cash pay prices on laboratory tests, imaging, and medications to our patients.
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That is definitely our goal! However, currently, we are only seeing patients 2 years of age and older. Our goal is to increase our age ranges in the near future to include seeing patients as young as newborns.
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Certainly! Many patients keep their traditional insurance to cover any catastrophic events but are able to increase their deductible to save money even with their monthly membership fee included.
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In the age of technology, many conditions can be diagnosed and treated via a simple conversation by phone, email, or video chat. Without the access you would have to your DPC doctor, you will likely have to pay for an urgent care visit when you're away from home. If appropriate, your doctor will locate the nearest pharmacy and order medication most suited for your circumstance. If you need to go to the hospital or seek other medical attention while away from home, we can advise you on that as well.
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Yes, when you fill out the paperwork, you’ll be able to indicate if you’d like your records sent to a specialist.