For Individuals

Unorthodoc FAQs

 Membership aligns our incentives with yours – we do better when you do better.

Unorthodoc is your personalized medical hub. Through affordable membership, you and your doctor become partners in your primary care. This not only makes your care safer but more coordinated and accessible.

Primary care is the part of health care you would be using most often … if the healthcare system worked. It should include your wellness visits, chronic disease prevention/management, and most of your sick/urgent visits. It should also contain all your important medical information in a form you can easily access. If done right, it’s the first place you turn for any health issue and reduces your need for specialists and hospitals. If those things are necessary, your trusted physician adviser should become your advocate and coordinator.

It is a new kind of membership-based healthcare model with a contract between you and your doctor that operates regardless of your insurance (but is not a replacement for insurance). In this model, you pay the doctor directly using a predictable fee structure no matter how many visits you need or how much is “done” during your visits. This allows us to stop thinking about how insurance demands and billing will impact your care. Instead, we can focus on providing you with the health care you deserve at a cost that helps your bottom line instead of that of some faceless third party. It returns your doctors to a direct relationship with you, both socially and financially.

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is typically financed by a reasonable monthly or yearly membership fee. In return, you have ready access to your doctor who delivers comprehensive, personalized primary care. It essentially eliminates the growing frustrations with the friction and  bureaucracy in our current system. Over a decade of solid data from DPC practices show excellent health outcomes, greater satisfaction for patients and doctors alike, and overall cost savings of 20-50% for patients, employers, and even the inefficient system itself.

Your membership provides access to your own doctor with two-way secure texting, phone, and video visits, along with an annual comprehensive health assessment and screening labs. Acute or urgent problems can be dealt with the same day or next day (virtually, if appropriate) at no extra cost. Although we charge separately for additional labs and some procedures, we’ve negotiated low-cost cash prices – many of our blood tests cost $10 when they could cost $100+ in the insurance-based office. That really matters when it hits your deductible. Most importantly, you have a long-term relationship with your doctor that can’t be disrupted by changes in insurance, employers, or politics.  Your visits are unrushed, your questions are answered, and your wait times are short.

No. You still need insurance to cover expensive, unpredictable, or catastrophic health surprises. Your Unorthodoc membership doesn’t cover specialty care, trips to the ER, or surgery. But, since so much of your day-to-day medical care is taken care of with your Unorthodoc membership, you may find your health insurance needs change. Most of our patients have discovered that adding an Unorthodoc membership is often less expensive (and more satisfying) than the premium increase needed to purchase the next higher level of insurance coverage (see our cost comparison on our Pricing page.)

Health plans that combine Direct Primary Care with wraparound catastrophic coverage are provisions of the Affordable Care Act (section 1301 a3, page 58, Full Text).

We have no control over costs that you incur outside of Unorthodoc, such as outside labs, radiology, pharmacies, or specialists. However, we are much more familiar with the actual costs of tests, studies and medicines than the average in-system provider and can help you use more money more wisely. When using your insurance is essential, we can refer you to specialists covered by your plan.  If you pick an insurance plan that includes Carrboro Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, located next door to Unorthodoc, you can have the convenience of an in-network practice when it’s required for things like vaccinations, etc.

In the event you or your family member needs to be hospitalized, we will serve as a consulting physician to the team caring for you.  We can speak to you or your family while you are admitted and discuss your medical problems, medications, and test results with the hospitalist providing your in-patient care. We also help to ease the transition back home after your discharge.

We invite you to set up a complimentary meet-and-greet with you to discuss your newest family member’s pending arrival and care. Once your baby is born, the doctor can work with the hospital team to ensure a smooth transition back home followed by regular follow ups for your family.

Routine vaccinations, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, are not included in the membership price, because, by law, they must be covered by all insurance policies or by the State of North Carolina. Our patient care coordinators can help you with options to handle your vaccines. There are multiple affordable and convenient options.

Yes! There is no answering service between us. You may need to leave a voicemail if we are busy with a patient in the office, but we will call you back. The doctor is always carrying a pager for truly urgent issues. We do, for the sake of our own families, ask our patients to save non-urgent questions for business hours or leave them on Spruce to be answered the next business day.

Unorthodoc uses a HIPAA-compliant texting platform that also allows us to share pictures, videos, and documents. SMS (regular unsecured) texts and emails are okay for non-HIPAA compliant communication where personal identifying/health information is not exchanged.

Yes. This can work well for followup of some chronic problems and for informational visits, like discussing lab results. This can work for some sick visits, as well. This can help families save time and provide earlier treatment plans and interventions in the hopes of returning you to health quicker.

Even doctors who love their work need to take breaks to recharge. Our doctors provide coverage for each other when one is unavailable.

One of the biggest problems in healthcare today is fractured, unrelated health information along with services delivered by providers that don’t know you. Retail solutions can significantly worsen that problem if not used in cooperation with your true medical hub. (see Removing Dangers of Mobile Health Care).

At Unorthodoc, we aim to provide more than just a once-a-year checkup. Even if you are healthy, we strive to keep you that way by being familiar with your family history, promoting your health goals, and supporting your general well being. We’re not here to do things to you but to provide care for you, both when you need it and when you wish you had it. Your membership gives you assurance that should a problem arise, we are here for you. And we are also here when you are healthy, cheering you on and serving as a resource for your health questions. The membership practice is the only payment model in health care that actually rewards the doctor for keeping you healthy. For a moment, think about what that says about the rest of our “healthcare” system.

Technology makes it easy for college students to remain in touch with us even though they may be miles away.

Yes!  There is no better gift than the gift of health and peace of mind, whether it is for your family or for a neighbor of limited means. Membership gift certificates are available.

We always recommend talking to your tax professional. HSA funds can’t be used to pay insurance premiums, but Direct Primary Care is not insurance. Bipartisan House Bill 365 will ensure this in the future. Talk to us directly about this since it is a dynamic but not impossible situation.

Unorthodoc has a very strict policy about prescribing controlled substances (strongly addictive or regulated medications). We NEVER prescribe them outside of an actual office visit with our legally established patients and we NEVER prescribe them at the first visit.  We don’t prescribe controlled pain medications chronically, and we are not a chronic pain clinic.  If there is ever a very good clinical reason to prescribe such medication, you will be expected to return to the physical office regularly for evaluations as dictated by the NC Pharmacy Board.  We participate in secure ElectronicPrescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS) monitoring.  Prescriptions for controlled substances cannot be mailed, faxed, or picked up in hard copy, as these are no longer accepted by pharmacies.  We also never replace “lost” prescriptions. No exceptions. No excuses.

We use the North Carolina Controlled Substances Database to check to see if you are being prescribed controlled substances elsewhere. Your life, our licenses and our reputations are too important not to go by the book here. If you are transferring into our practice and are already taking legally prescribed controlled medications, be prepared to provide a copy of your previous prescriber’s record establishing your diagnosis and confirming your medication name, dose, and instructions.

Yes!

Internal Medicine practices that we recommend:

  • In or South of Chapel Hill/Carrboro: Dr. Todd Granger
  • In Durham: Dr. Kenneth Stone
  • In Raleigh: Dr. Inaam Schneider, Dr. Ben Fisher, or Dr. Suji Park-Idler

​Family Medicine practices that we recommend:

  • In Durham: Dr. Taineisha Bolden
  • In Raleigh: Dr. Zane Lapinskes, Dr. Amy Walsh, Dr. Soon Kwark, Dr. Patrick O’Connell,
  • In Cary: Dr. Tammi Waters, Dr. Camtu Karrenbauer
  • In Apex: Access Healthcare

For catastrophes, you need insurance; for primary care, you need assurance.

In the event you or your family member needs to be hospitalized, we will serve as a consulting physician to the team caring for you.  We can speak to you or your family while you are admitted and discuss your medical problems, medications, and test results with the hospitalist providing your in-patient care. We also help to ease the transition back home after your discharge.

We invite you to set up a complimentary meet-and-greet with you to discuss your newest family member’s pending arrival and care. Once your baby is born, the doctor can work with the hospital team to ensure a smooth transition back home followed by regular follow ups for your family.

Routine vaccinations, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, are not included in the membership price, because, by law, they must be covered by all insurance policies or by the State of North Carolina. Our patient care coordinators can help you with options to handle your vaccines. There are multiple affordable and convenient options.

Yes! There is no answering service between us. You may need to leave a voicemail if we are busy with a patient in the office, but we will call you back. The doctor is always carrying a pager for truly urgent issues. We do, for the sake of our own families, ask our patients to save non-urgent questions for business hours or leave them on Spruce to be answered the next business day.

Unorthodoc uses a HIPAA-compliant texting platform that also allows us to share pictures, videos, and documents. SMS (regular unsecured) texts and emails are okay for non-HIPAA compliant communication where personal identifying/health information is not exchanged.

Yes. This can work well for followup of some chronic problems and for informational visits, like discussing lab results. This can work for some sick visits, as well. This can help families save time and provide earlier treatment plans and interventions in the hopes of returning you to health quicker.

Even doctors who love their work need to take breaks to recharge. Our doctors provide coverage for each other when one is unavailable.

One of the biggest problems in healthcare today is fractured, unrelated health information along with services delivered by providers that don’t know you. Retail solutions can significantly worsen that problem if not used in cooperation with your true medical hub. (see Removing Dangers of Mobile Health Care).

At Unorthodoc, we aim to provide more than just a once-a-year checkup. Even if you are healthy, we strive to keep you that way by being familiar with your family history, promoting your health goals, and supporting your general well being. We’re not here to do things to you but to provide care for you, both when you need it and when you wish you had it. Your membership gives you assurance that should a problem arise, we are here for you. And we are also here when you are healthy, cheering you on and serving as a resource for your health questions. The membership practice is the only payment model in health care that actually rewards the doctor for keeping you healthy. For a moment, think about what that says about the rest of our “healthcare” system.

Technology makes it easy for college students to remain in touch with us even though they may be miles away.

Yes!  There is no better gift than the gift of health and peace of mind, whether it is for your family or for a neighbor of limited means. Membership gift certificates are available.

We always recommend talking to your tax professional. HSA funds can’t be used to pay insurance premiums, but Direct Primary Care is not insurance. Bipartisan House Bill 365 will ensure this in the future. Talk to us directly about this since it is a dynamic but not impossible situation.

Unorthodoc has a very strict policy about prescribing controlled substances (strongly addictive or regulated medications). We NEVER prescribe them outside of an actual office visit with our legally established patients and we NEVER prescribe them at the first visit.  We don’t prescribe controlled pain medications chronically, and we are not a chronic pain clinic.  If there is ever a very good clinical reason to prescribe such medication, you will be expected to return to the physical office regularly for evaluations as dictated by the NC Pharmacy Board.  We participate in secure ElectronicPrescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS) monitoring.  Prescriptions for controlled substances cannot be mailed, faxed, or picked up in hard copy, as these are no longer accepted by pharmacies.  We also never replace “lost” prescriptions. No exceptions. No excuses.

We use the North Carolina Controlled Substances Database to check to see if you are being prescribed controlled substances elsewhere. Your life, our licenses and our reputations are too important not to go by the book here. If you are transferring into our practice and are already taking legally prescribed controlled medications, be prepared to provide a copy of your previous prescriber’s record establishing your diagnosis and confirming your medication name, dose, and instructions.

Yes!

Internal Medicine practices that we recommend:

  • In or South of Chapel Hill/Carrboro: Dr. Todd Granger
  • In Durham: Dr. Kenneth Stone
  • In Raleigh: Dr. Inaam Schneider, Dr. Ben Fisher, or Dr. Suji Park-Idler

​Family Medicine practices that we recommend:

  • In Durham: Dr. Taineisha Bolden
  • In Raleigh: Dr. Zane Lapinskes, Dr. Amy Walsh, Dr. Soon Kwark, Dr. Patrick O’Connell,
  • In Cary: Dr. Tammi Waters, Dr. Camtu Karrenbauer
  • In Apex: Access Healthcare

“This practice is what primary care should be. Doctors that are incredibly intelligent, knowledgeable, caring, competent and kind. Communication is excellent.”

–Ray L.

Think we‘re a good fit? Let’s get started.