FAQs

Got a question? We’re here to help.
  • Insurance - what if I have it?

    Our monthly membership fee includes all of your care. There are no office visit copays or additional fees for care provided by us. If your insurance covers labs, pathology, xrays and studies and medications, the provider of those services may bill the charges to your insurance. However, we believe that our cash-pay, negotiated prices for these services will probably be lower than your portion of charges if you have the services billed to your insurance. We do not submit any charges to insurance, including medicare and medicaid. We will not claim your membership fees as office services, or provide "superbills" for you to submit. Our fee schedule is set such that an annual fee will be offset by avoiding one visit to the Emergency Department or to Urgent Care.  Also, since we do not bill insurance, we have greater flexibility in managing your care via email, text, and telehealth visit, saving you valuable time from having to come to the office when it isn't necessary. 

  • Insurance - what if I don't have it?

    We understand that insurance premiums have become unaffordable for many Americans. Our practice membership works well when paired with one of the following: a health ministry cost sharing program such as Liberty, Samaritan Ministries, Medi-Share, Christian Healthcare Ministries or Sedera Health

    a catastrophic health insurance plan, such as a high-deductible plan that covers emergency visits and hospitalizations; or

    patients who self-insure through a savings plan. Whether you have other insurance or not, we will be happy to meet with you to discuss the benefits of joining our practice - lets make sure you have healthCARE!

  • Is this the same as "Concierge Care"?

    Possibly! You will certainly feel like a VIP at our practice. Concierge patients enjoy access to the physician via office and home visits, text, email, and telehealth as well as phone access. However, some concierge practices charge a fee in addition to billing insurance. We do not submit bills or receive payment from insurance.

  • Can I call any time? For any reason?

    We have guidelines about after-hours and emergency calls. One of our goals is to provide outpatient care for you and avoid Urgent Care or Emergency Department visits whenever possible.  We are available outside of office hours, for your urgent care needs. 

  • What if I have to go to the hospital?

    We hope this is a very rare occurrence, and will do our best to help you stay well and out of the hospital. However, if you need emergency services or inpatient care, we will be in communication with your care team. We will make courtesy visits to the hospital when possible.

  • Are you having Emergency Symptoms?

    Chest pain, trouble breathing, the worse headache of your life, or a bone is sticking out of your body, or the equivalent. 


    Yes? Call an ambulance, immediately

    No? Go to the next question

  • Is it Monday - Friday, daytime office hours (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)?

    Yes! Call your physician on the direct line, or the office, for any needs you have! Or, you may text message or email through Atlas MD.


    No: Go to next question

  • The office is closed, and you are considering going to the urgent care or emergency department

    Do you have one of the following, or an equivalent problem:


    • fever that does not decrease with tylenol or ibuprofen
    • uncontrolled vomiting
    • a laceration that needs suturing
    • an acute injury without severe bleeding
    • a migraine
    • urinary tract infection symptoms that are causing severe distress
    • any other problem that CANNOT WAIT UNTIL 7 a.m. THE NEXT DAY

    YES: call your physician

    NO: If you do not have one of the above, or an equivalent problem, go to the next question

  • You are unsure whether to call, text message, or wait until the next day

    Here are some examples:


    CALL if you feel afraid that you may not be okay to wait until the next day and are considering going to the Emergency Department or Urgent Care (after reviewing above)


    EMAIL if you need to be seen the next day. We will call you first thing in the morning, or feel free to simply come straight to our office during office hours


    TEXT if you need to let us know something that will not require a response. An example would be that you have been in a car accident, and are on the way to the hospital. Or you are having chest pain and have decided to go the Emergency Department. Consider that a text message will likely wake us

  • Issues to address only during regular business hours

    • any illness that you have been experiencing chronically
    • appointment or refills
    • questions about alternative treatments
    • friends or family non-members who are sick
    • billing questions
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