Is direct primary care the same thing as insurance?

NO. Direct primary care is NOT the same thing as insurance. Our practice does not bill insurance for our services nor do we provide bills for you to submit to your insurance company. We recommend that you have insurance to cover necessary emergency care, hospitalizations, serious injury, specialty care, diagnostic studies, and other unanticipated major medical costs. We offer discounted rates on labs, radiology, and medications, but depending on your insurance, it may be more economical to go through your insurance plan. Unfortunately, for certain HMO-type insurance plans or Medicare Advantage plans, the DPC model may not be compatible. We can help determine whether your insurance plan will work with our type of practice.

Why would I pay an additional fee if I already pay for health insurance?

Is it easy to reach your primary care doctor’s office or to get an appointment? Do they call you back in a timely manner? Does your doctor sit down with you and LISTEN and thoroughly discuss your medical history and concerns? Do you see your regular doctor for most of your appointments? If yes, then great - you don’t need direct primary care! But if you are like many patients who struggle to find a stable, reliable relationship with your doctor, direct primary care may be for you.

What’s the difference between direct primary care and concierge medicine?

Direct primary care is a movement started by mostly primary care physicians who were overwhelmed and exhausted by the current fee-for-service system of assembly-line medicine. These doctors wanted to return to the only relationship that is important to them: the one between doctor and patient. They also wanted to make their care accessible, so their fees are generally lower than those charged by concierge practices. Direct primary care doctors also do not bill insurance, while most concierge practices do.

What if my doctor is on vacation?

Dr. Iser will make every effort to find in-person coverage when she travels, but in the case this is not possible, she will be available by phone, text, and/or telemedicine.

What if I have Medicare?

Dr. Iser has “opted out” of Medicare, which means that the services she provides cannot be billed to Medicare either by her or by you. However, if you have certain types of Medicare coverage, you can use your Medicare insurance to cover medical services such as labs, radiology, specialty care, etc. We can determine whether of not your Medicare plan will work with our office model.

What if I have an emergency?

If you have a medical emergency, please call 911.

We are not an emergency department nor an urgent care center, but we can help triage urgent needs you may require.

What if I am admitted to the hospital?

Most patients admitted to the hospital in Lexington are cared for by hospitalists, who are experts in hospital care. Dr. Iser will stay informed of what occurs during your hospital stay and be able to facilitate your follow up care.

What if I don’t have insurance?

We recommend that you have insurance to cover significant costs, such as emergencies, hospitalizations, surgical procedures, specialist visits, and other medical costs outside the venue of primary care. However, if you don’t have insurance, you can still be a patient.

What if I want to cancel my membership?

You can cancel your membership at any time, but you may want to give your membership an adequate “trial run.” There is no minimal membership duration.

What if I am healthy and rarely go to the doctor? Is this worth it for me?

Each person’s medical needs vary, so you have to decide if the practice is right for you. We offer preventive care and wellness visits as well as more acute care needs.

I’m interested. How do I learn more?

Contact our office to set up a no-obligation, 15-minute meet and greet and tour of the office.

I want to join. What’s my next step?

Connect with us via our website contact section, email hello@wiserprimarycare.com, call 859.414.6575 , or enroll directly from this website and start the path to wIser primary care.