What?! Is this for real? I get to see and talk to my doctor when I want, for a couple of bucks a day?
Yes, absolutely. We want to make healthcare accessible and as affordable as possible. We really do want you healthy.
What sets Altucare apart from other practices?
We close the gap between patient and doctor. The freedom of this model encourages collaboration and personalized care with the focus on making you healthy. People can easily access the doctor by phone, in office visits, email, and online visits. We have returned family medicine to its root values of clinical excellence and compassionate care for every patient.
Why charge a membership fee?
The membership fee allows us to provide the vast majority of a person's primary care in an innovative way for a simple, fixed price. Much like Netflix or a gym membership, it allows members to just see the doctor; without worrying about extra costs, co-pays and deductibles for routine care.
What if I am healthy and rarely go to the doctor?
That's great! (HIGH FIVE) Our primary focus is to keep members well and avoiding lots of "medical" care. As such, we can dedicate more time to prevention and lifestyle issues to continue to keep you away from the expensive, cumbersome health care system. However, when you do need care, we are available 24/7 to help get you back on track and avoid trips to the Emergency Room or urgent care.
Does Altucare accept health insurance?
No. By not billing insurance, we are able to focus more time on you and spend less on processing bills and dealing with insurance companies. Since you pay us directly, you never have to worry about changing doctors if your insurance changes.
Can I afford membership in Altucare?
Yes! Most direct primary care patients save money compared to what they have traditionally paid for healthcare. The monthly fee is very reasonable, usually about the same as a cable or cell phone bill. Patients typically (and are encouraged to) carry catastrophic or “wrap-around” health insurance which ends up costing much less than their previous policies.
Best of all, there are no hidden costs at Altucare.
As a patient of Altucare, will I still need health insurance?
Yes. We recommend that our patients continue to carry both a major medical plan and a health savings account to ensure financial help should hospitalization or referral to a specialist be necessary.
Do you have great insurance? Does it pay for visits after your yearly physical?
Altucare compliments all insurance plans, especially those with high deductibles and out of pocket expenses.
Traditional care with high deductible insurance:
7 - 15 minute visits
$75 - $250+ each time you see your doctor, until you hit your deductible.
Altucare:
30-60+ minute visits
Flat membership fee ($35-$109) for the month and you can see and talk to your doctor. Avoid the hassle and address things before they turn major.
If I have Medicare/Medicaid, can I still join Altucare?
Yes. You need only sign a one-time waiver declaring that neither you nor your doctor will directly bill Medicare/Medicaid for our services. Medicare/Medicaid will still cover any laboratory testing, imaging, medications, or hospitalizations prescribed by our offices.
What happens if I need to go to the hospital or see a specialist?
In providing superb care with unprecedented sorts of access, we seek to prevent or reduce hospitalizations and specialty referrals. In instances where those types of care are required, we will certainly continue to treat you during your hospital stay or work closely with any specialist. In some cases, depending on the level of care and the sorts of expertise required, we may rely on those specialized caregivers to manage your treatment.
Can children become members of Altucare?
Yes. We are happy to accept the children beginning with newborns! If you are currently pregnant, set up a free consultation before the new addition arrives!
Can I contact my physician after hours? And how?
By all means, yes! Because illness and injury do not respect regular office hours, you may call the office to reach your doctor any day, at any hour (dial the office and it will ring directly to doctor if the office is closed). If you prefer, or for matters that are not urgent, you may also use our secure patient portal to access your medical record and then message your doctor. Those messages will be responded to within 24 hours.
What if I need medical attention while I’m away from home?
Because we know you well, we can streamline your care when you’re sick away from home. Many illnesses can be diagnosed and treated with a simple conversation by phone, email, or video conference. We’ll locate the nearest pharmacy and order the medications most appropriate for your circumstances. In a few circumstances, you may need to seek care from an urgent care center.
What happens if the doctor is not available or on vacation?
Because much of what we do can be handled by phone or internet, the doctor will likely be able to handle the problem without having to see you. In the rare event that the doctor is not readily available and it requires you to be seen, then a visit to urgent care may be required. You should always call the doctor first. For planned vacations where the doctor will not be available, all patients will be notified in advance so that they can arrange to be seen or have medication refilled while the doctor is still available. No office hours will be available while the the doctor is away, but coverage will be arranged with a local physician for all other urgent matters.
Are my medical records ever shared with insurance carriers or pharmaceutical companies?
We maintain scrupulous standards of privacy. We are never obligated to provide any third party with a copy of your records, unless you specifically ask that we do so.
I’m very healthy. Can I pay per visit?
No. Currently we can only accommodate a membership model. We are delighted when our members enjoy good health and do not need to see a doctor very often. If this applies to you, look at the membership fee as a means of maintaining your good health, having a doctor available for questions or concerns.
Are there any contract commitments? Can I cancel?
There are no commitments and you can cancel at any time. We will ask you to pay a one-time enrollment fee and then charge the monthly fee at the end of the month. You can cancel at any time, but the fee will still be charged for the last month that you participate with us. If you cancel and then want to rejoin there is a $400 re-initiation fee.
How will I know if Altucare is right for me?
Altucare is accepting patients off a waitlist. We invite you to schedule a free Meet & Greet visit* when joining the waitlist to discuss your health care needs.
*We are unable to give medical advice, perform procedures, provide prescriptions, order lab tests or provide any medical treatment until you are established with Altucare.