See below for special options I offer patients who must pay out of pocket for their personal physician.  But, first, I offer some rationale for these options in the context of our current medical system’s problems.  

Background and rationale  

Many of us have no medical insurance. The reasons for this are myriad and include the loss of good benefits at many companies, the loss of jobs, the high costs of medical insurance, and many people changing jobs or going out to work on their own.  

I highly recommend all people have a personal physician they can turn to when sick and work with on health maintenance and disease prevention. That relationship can improve health and lessen the costs of medical care in general; it essentially improves the value of the medical care you receive.  

Health care costs, in general, are high, and insurance premiums are often difficult to pay. But medical insurance should be considered just that, INSURANCE for significant health issues and costs.  It is advisable to have insurance for illness and catastrophic medical care costs. One unfortunate event or diagnosis can lead to financial ruin.  For that security, medical insurance is probably worth the trouble.  But for the relatively inexpensive, but high-value, personal physician charges, medical insurance is not as important.  

In truth, the great increase of medical insurance over the last 3 decades relates to the increased use of advanced medicines and technology in hospitals and in treating severe diseases. The relative cost of outpatient care offered by personal physicians is small, just 3-4% of the total costs of medical care in the USA (prescription medicines by themselves are 7-8%).  But that care, when done right, with patient and doctor working closely together, leads to less cost in other parts of the health care system: more cost-effective use of tests, more appropriate use of prescription medicines, and less need for expensive emergency and hospital care.  

Here at Malia Family Medicine, I respect that the costs of care are worth considering closely, and I am happy to offer two special options for patients with no insurance and who need to pay out of pocket. I believe the value of being a patient here will prove to be well worth it by helping you maintain health and treat disease early, before costs of treatment would be much greater.  

OPTION 1 – P.O.D.S Option = “Pay On Day Seen” & save 25% from standard insurance charge.  

This option is generally the best value for patients who may only have two to five appointments in a year. By paying on the day seen in the office, you are helping me with timely collections and no need to process an insurance claim and then wait for insurance payments to come in.  Due to that benefit, I will cut 25% off of the charge I would typically send to insurance.  With this, a simple appointment, with one or two straight forward issues or about 15-25 minutes with the doctor, would cost $66.  And a more complex appointment, with more serious problems, perhaps 3-4 issues covered, or 20-40 minutes with the doctor, would cost $99.    

OPTION 2 – Partners in Care Option = Quarterly fee and low cost appointments.  

This option is generally the best value for patients who may have four to ten appointments per year.  In this option, the special services provided at Malia Family Medicine, such as same-day attention, 24/7 coverage by your personal physician, extended-time appointments, convenient online scheduling and email access to your physician, are supported by a $20/month charge billed at the end of each quarter. By having covered much of the costs related to your care in the office, the actual charges at appointments are lower, just $30 for simpler appointments and $45 for more complex appointments, for up to six appointments in 12 months.  After six appointments, charges are the same as for the above PODS Option. 

The Partners in Care Option allows you to budget well for physician charges through the year, and you do not have to put off being seen for a sickness that deserves attention because you know the physician costs will be reasonable.    

As a family physician, it is important to me that I provide excellent care to my patients. I am saddened that the current medical system often has barriers keeping patients from benefiting from available services.  My hope is that these options extended to patients paying out of pocket will benefit their health and well being. I look forward to welcoming you to the office and providing the best care and service you deserve.