FAQ
Do I need insurance coverage?
At Scarborough DPC, you don’t need insurance to be a member. We don’t bill insurance companies as this allows us to focus on your care without the distraction of paperwork and to keep costs low by providing you with direct services. However, we do recommend having insurance coverage just in case of unforeseen serious illnesses or events that require hospitalizations, major surgeries and other specialized care above and beyond primary care.
Additionally, if you have a chronic condition that requires specialists and specialty medications, insurance can be very helpful with cost.
Is this concierge medicine?
We think it’s better than concierge medicine! It’s more affordable yet you get similarly enhanced services like direct access to your doctor — whose patient panel is much smaller than the traditional medical office so she has more time to focus on you! Concierge medicine still utilizes insurance for payments in addition to monthly membership fees. With DPC, we don’t take any payments from the insurance companies so that we can simplify the delivery of healthcare, minimize its cost to you while maintaining transparency and patient trust.
What if I decide to cancel my membership?
We understand that your needs and circumstances may change. If you need to cancel, we request a 30 day notice.
What if I need care after hours?
If you have a medical emergency, please call 911 immediately. If you have an urgent after-hours concern that you believe cannot wait for routine business hours, we will be available by phone to assist you. On weekends, we are not available for routine needs or matters that can wait until normal business hours.
Do you treat children?
Throughout my career I have thoroughly enjoyed taking care of entire families! However, the practice is not currently set up to serve children below the age 6 years old. Older children who join the practice and need immunizations will need to get them at a local pharmacy (price not included with membership fee)
How does this work with my current insurance?
DPC membership can co exist with most insurance plans but we will not bill them for our services. You can still use your insurance for emergencies and catastrophic events. And you can still use it to pay for medications and regular visits to your specialist if you see one (cardiologist, rheumatology, etc)
We offer steeply discounted imaging and lab fees but you may choose to use your insurance to pay the standard prices.