There’s a new trend in Delaware for physicians to charge a straight yearly membership fee to cover certain basic health care like physicals and between two and four office visits.
In essence for a cost of around $75 a month for adult patients skip the normal insurance co-pays and paperwork.
For children under 18 the cost is up to $360 a year.
The Wilmington News Journal reports that Dr. Christina Bovelsky in Middletown has opened such a unique practice.
The paper says that a survey by Physicians’ Foundation last year discovered that around 7 percent of doctors are now using the direct-pay system while another 13 percent are transitioning to some form of one.
Patients still have insurance for procedures and tests not covered by the direct fee practice.