Frequently Asked Questions

Direct Primary Care is a fast growing membership model of primary care that puts patients first. We work  directly with patients to provide primary care services in our office. We charge a low monthly fee for membership. Because we do not bill insurance for our services, we can eliminate a lot of the red tape that restricts traditional practices. This allows us to provide affordable, personalized and transparent care for our patients. 

Membership gives you an elevated primary care experience and the peace of mind that comes with having direct contact with your personal physician. 

Our practice limits the number of members to allow your doctor to focus on providing the best care possible to a smaller group of patients. This means  little to no wait time, more time with your doctor, better coordination with specialists and same or next-day availability.*

You can read more about the benefits of membership and the services covered here. 

Although we provide a level of care similar to concierge medicine, EmpowerMed is NOT a concierge practice. We are a direct primary care (DPC) practice. 

The primary difference between these two models is that concierge practices still bill your insurance and collect copays in addition to their "retainer" or membership fee. Concierge practices are generally not an option for patients who are between insurances, under-insured, or uninsured. Concierge fees are typically higher and paid annually rather than month-to-month. Concierge practices have higher membership fees which  typically guarantees availability of access to a physician at all times.

DPC practices are open to both insured and uninsured patients. We are not contracted with any insurance carriers, therefore we do not bill health insurance or collect copayments. Your monthly membership fee covers the cost of your primary care for the month. Monthly fees are usually lower than expected with a concierge practice. We are  available to our patients primarily during office hours. DPC does prioritize the patient-physician relationship, so a direct line of communication is available for acute or urgent matters outside of business hours to help guide and support members.

Dr. Alvarez likes to refer to Direct Primary Care as "Blue Collar Concierge Medicine". It's an affordable membership-based program for our community members who know they deserve attentive and quality medical care.

EmpowerMed DPC was founded on the principle that a primary care physician can manage most of your health needs. We know that establishing a long-term relationship with your primary care doctor leads to improved general health and lower cost of care in the long term.

Your monthly membership allows you to have unlimited visits with your personal doctor. You will have a direct line of communication to Dr. Alvarez. You can text or call her with follow up questions. You can schedule a phone or video visit with her if you need further support. Your doctor can accomodate same day or next day visits*, especially when medically necessary. 

Most importantly, you will have time with your doctor. Dr. Alvarez intentionally schedules longer visits with you. This means that Dr. Alvarez can really get to know you and provide you with the type of holistic and patient-centered care you deserve. 

Primary care doctors can manage most of your chronic and acute health issues.  

There may be costs of your care that are not covered by your membership. For medications we will help you find the best prices possible. For labs, imaging, and specialist visits we can refer you to local providers that have discounted cash prices. 

Keep in mind that EmpowerMed does NOT replace health insurance. We still recommend that patients should have some form of health insurance for costs associated with expensive medications, catastrophic events such as urgent care visits/emergency room visits/hospitalizations, and for care of serious or life threatening illnesses.  It is not a requirement to have health insurance to be a member of EmpowerMed but it is certainly a general recommendation for all patients. 

No. We initially bill an enrollment fee plus your membership fee. After that we bill our membership fee once a month.

 You can cancel your membership at any time with a written 30-day notice. 

When you initiate your membership, we do charge a one-time enrollment fee. This  is a one-time charge applied to your account when you initiate care with EmpowerMed DPC. This charge is in addition to your monthly membership for your first month. 

 If you are an enrolling for the first time, the individual enrollment fee is $100. If you are enrolling more than one member of a couple or a family on the same day, the enrollment fee is $150. 

For example, let's say you are an individual patient age 18-65. When you decide to enroll as a patient of our practice, your account will be charged a $100 enrollment fee. You will also be charged a $130 fee for your first month. That is a total of $230. 

After your first month, you will only be charged a $130 membership fee each month you remain a member of our practice. 

No. We are not contracted with any insurance companies and we are not “in-network” with any insurance carriers. In our experience the insurance-based system leads to delays in care, rushed appointments, and lower quality primary care. Patients deserve better; YOU deserve better. 

We believe in working directly with our patients in a membership-based model incentivizes us to keep you healthy by providing unrushed, personalized care. We make our decisions based on what is best for the patient, not what insurance companies are willing to reimburse. 

Yes! Of course!  Deciding to pay a monthly membership for your primary care is an investment in your health. 

The primary care doctors in your insurance network are working in a system that interferes with their ability to provide the care you need when you need it. In a traditional insurance-based practice, you don’t have a direct line of contact to your doctor. You may not be able to get an appointment when you need one. The office may not return calls. You may not know the prices of the tests they order and may even get surprised by a bill in the mail for something you thought was covered.

At EmpowerMed DPC you’ll have a direct line of communication to your doctor through calls or text. You’ll be seen by your doctor, in person or virtually, in a timely fashion. You can text your doctor with follow up questions. You will have price transparency from the outset. These are all things that insurance-based primary care simply can't provide. This is what your monthly membership affords you at EmpowerMed. 

Your health insurance can still help cover the costs associated with medications, labs, imaging, specialist visits, catastrophic events, physical therapy, surgery, etc. 

Yes! Of Course! Primary care doctors can manage most of your chronic and acute health issues. You can learn more about what your membership can get you on our "Services" page. 

There may be costs of your care that are not covered by your membership. For medications we will help you find the best prices possible. For labs, imaging, and specialist visits we can refer you to local providers that have discounted cash prices. 

Keep in mind that EmpowerMed does NOT replace health insurance. We still recommend that patients should have some form of health insurance for costs associated with expensive medications, catastrophic events such as urgent care visits/emergency room visits/hospitalizations, and for care of serious or life threatening illnesses.  It is not a requirement to have health insurance to be a member of EmpowerMed but it is certainly a general recommendation for all patients. 

Primary care doctors can manage most of your chronic and acute health issues when we have the time and energy to do it right. The traditional insurance-based practice has to care for a large number of patients daily to keep their doors open. You may be scheduled for a 15 minute visit with your doctor, but only getting about 5 minutes with them in the room. This is what you’ve probably come to expect from your health insurance, in addition to whatever copay they require. 

At EmpowerMed DPC we have a limited number of patients. We schedule longer visits intentionally in order to make sure we can personalize your care and dedicate the time you deserve. Managing your health requires consistent support and accountability. Membership makes this easy. Joining EmpowerMed is an investment in your long-term wellbeing, and you can use it as little or as often as you choose.

Medications, lab tests, imaging tests, and specialist visits are not included in the price of membership at EmpowerMed DPC. If you have insurance, prescriptions will still be covered according to your insurance plan. If you don't have insurance, we will help you find the best price for your medications. 

For other services we can refer you to local partners that have discounted cash prices which are often dramatically cheaper than rates negotiated through health insurance. 

Even if you haven't been diagnosed with any serious medical issues, almost all of us have things we want to improve about our health. Perhaps your doctor has told you that you’re disease-free, but you still don’t feel healthy. The reality is that meaningful improvements in health don't happen in a single 15 minute visit - they require detail-oriented personalized care, and consistent follow-up. Our membership model is designed to foster long-term health. We want there to be a comfortable, trusting relationship between you and your doctor. 

Currently, we do not offer non-member consultations/visits. However, membership does not require any long-term commitment and can be terminated with 30-days notice if you feel your healthcare needs have been met and you do not need ongoing care.

EmpowerMed membership does NOT replace your health insurance. Although we see patients regardless of their insurance status, we strongly recommend you maintain some level of coverage in order to cover larger medical expenses that are outside of the scope of primary care (surgeries, hospitalizations, specialist care, costly tests, etc.). Your insurance can also help cover your prescription medications.