Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need health insurance to become a member?

It is not required that patients carry or obtain health insurance in order to become a patient at Burkhart Direct Family Care.

D0es my insurance pay for my visits?

We will not bill your insurance company for your visits or charge you a co-pay. Your monthly membership fee covers all visits, anytime.

Does my membership count toward my deductible?

Monthly membership fees cannot be claimed as expenses against your yearly deductible if you have one.

Can I pay with Medicare/Medicaid?

No. We accept Medicare and Medicaid patients, but we will not bill either payer. Patients also may not bill Medicare or Medicaid to claim reimbursement for our services. Dr Burkhart has opted out of Medicare in order for this to be legal.

Can I pay with my HSA?

Patients can use money from HSAs and other similar plans to pay for medications, labs, imaging, or other healthcare-associated costs. It is not currently legal to use HSA funds to purchase supplemental healthcare plans. A DPC membership is a healthcare service, NOT a healthcare plan.

Are there alternatives to traditional health insurance carriers?

Yes. For uninsured patients we have recommendations to make for health sharing networks (HSNs). The cost of DPC membership + HSN membership is often less than the cost of commercial health insurance alone.

Can I buy memberships for my employees?

Yes. Buying DPC memberships for employees is tax-deductible and has a superior benefit-cost ratio compared to traditional health insurance plans.

What if I need to cancel?

Members may cancel at anytime without penalty. Please keep in mind the following:

- Cancellation of membership is effective immediately.
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- Membership fees will not be reimbursed if billing for the calendar month occurs within one business days of the cancellation notice or has already occurred.
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- Patients will be charged a re-enrollment fee of $275.00 to re-establish membership. The purpose of the re-enrollment fee is to discourage abuse of our services.
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- Re-enrollment fees will not apply in cases where it would be unreasonable or unnecessarily punitive to apply them (previously deployed spouse returning from active military duty, for example).
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- We reserve the right to determine what is reasonable on a case-by-case basis.

- We understand life happens and can be complicated. Let us work with you to meet your needs, whatever they are.

Is there a registration fee?

Yes. Our registration fee is $175 and covers all members of the household registering within a 30-day period. It is charged at the time of the initial office visit.

When do regular membership fees begin?

Regular fees begin one calendar month after the date of the first office visit.

What if after the first visit I decide not to become a member?

DPC memberships aren’t for everyone, so we understand. In this case the registration fee will be treated as a consultation fee and will remain the same price at $175.

Do you offer one-time consultations for people who aren’t interested in becoming members of Direct Primary Care?

Yes. The Consultation fee is the same as the registration fee: $175. It includes a full patient history and physical exam.