These are some of the mostly commonly asked questions about our practice, the care we provide, and the direct primary care model.
DPC is a modern model of healthcare where you pay a flat monthly fee for all your pediatric care needs — no co-pays, no billing surprises. It's ideal for families who want more personalized care, easier access, and predictable costs.
Many Orange County families with insurance still pay $1,000+ per child each year in out-of-pocket costs alone. With us, you get all your care included in a predictable monthly fee, with no hidden costs.
You won't have to pay a co-pay for office visits or routine physicals. Also you'll be able to avoid many visits altogether by sending your questions directly to us via email and text – something you won't get from a traditional practice.
More importantly, since you are getting all this amazing care from us, you can cut way back on your insurance premiums.
The terms are often mistakenly used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Both DPC and concierge practices charge a periodic fee, however, under the concierge model, this fee only gets you access; that is, it doesn't actually cover any of your care. Instead a concierge practice still bills insurance for your visits. Under DPC, your visits and other care are included in your fee, plus you're provided with other incredible benefits like wholesale pricing for labs, direct digital communication with your doctor, and all the rest.
See our prices on our pricing page. We charge a flat monthly fee, and in exchange you get unlimited office visits, your doctor's cell phone number, and a whole lot more.
Of course! Physician access is one of the greatest benefits of the direct primary care model. Because illness and injury do not respect regular office hours, you may call, text, or email your physician whenever you need and they'll get back to you as soon as possible.
We maintain high standards of patient privacy. We will never provide your health information to any third party unless legally required, coordination of care with your consent, or you specifically ask that we do so.
Unfortunately, no. Your retainer is not yet defined as a "medical expense" in most states and as such is not deductible. Please confer with your tax consultant to clarify tax consequences in your particular circumstances.
We believe vaccines are safe, effective, and essential for protecting children and our community. We strongly recommend the CDC’s vaccination schedule and require full immunization for all patients unless there is a valid medical exemption.
We’re happy to discuss concerns and may allow a slower schedule if agreed upon by both the doctor and family. However, we do not accept selective vaccine refusal and do not offer non-medical exemptions.
Our goal is to provide care rooted in science, compassion, and trust.
Yes, we strongly recommend the Vitamin K injection, Hepatitis B vaccine, and erythromycin eye ointment after birth — they are safe, evidence-based, and help protect newborns from serious health risks.
While we can discuss timing for the Hep B vaccine and eye ointment, the Vitamin K injection is required for all newborns in our practice. Oral Vitamin K is not accepted, as it’s less effective and inconsistently absorbed.
These treatments help give your baby the healthiest and safest start possible.
No membership required!
While our Direct Primary Care membership offers the best value and access for ongoing care, we also welcome non-member visits on a fee-for-service basis.
Whether you’re new to our practice, just need a one-time consultation, or want to try us out before committing — we’re happy to care for your child. Visit our Pricing Page for details on individual visit rates and membership options.
No — this is direct care. We work outside the insurance system to provide comprehensive, high-quality pediatric care for a monthly membership fee. For hospitalizations or major emergencies, we recommend maintaining insurance for all your other healthcare needs.
We’ve chosen to opt out of the insurance system so we can focus on what matters most: your child’s care, not paperwork.
By not billing insurance, we’re able to:
We believe the current insurance-based system often adds unnecessary complexity, limits access, and shortens visit times.
You’re always welcome to use your insurance for things outside our clinic — like labs, imaging, ER visits, or specialists — but your care with us stays simple, direct, and focused on your child.
Often yes, especially if our services are categorized under primary care. We’ll provide documentation as needed — check with your HSA/FSA provider to confirm.
If you are unable to use these funds to pay for the membership fee directly, there is a good chance that you can still use your HSA/FSA as reimbursement for certain services provided through our office.
Monthly membership fees are not reimbursable, but fees for individual services or vaccines may be eligible if you have a PPO or out-of-network coverage. While we don’t bill insurance, we’re happy to provide a superbill to help you file a claim.
Please keep in mind:
Not sure what your plan covers? We recommend calling your insurance provider — and we’ll handle the paperwork on our end.
Yes. We recommend our patients continue a major medical plan. If you experience a major health issue, you will still need insurance to help cover it.
While it’s sometimes possible for Direct Primary Care clinics to see patients with Medi-Cal or Medicare, we’ve chosen not to for a few important reasons:
Are you ready to become a member? Great! We’re excited to have you on board. Just fill out the form to get the ball rolling and we’ll be in touch.
Want to learn more about direct primary care or our practice? Click here to schedule Meet and Greet or Check out our FAQ page for answers to many common questions.
Get in touch! We’re happy to chat and answer questions, at no obligation to you.
