Do you take insurance?

No, and we don't have any desire to reconsider taking insurance at this time. We believe that insurance companies shouldn't dictate your medical care or deny coverage for imaging, medications, labwork, procedures, or consultations. Unfortunately it's become commonplace for insurance companies to create more barriers to care than access, particularly in primary care. For those with Medicare or Medicaid, a separate contract is required, stating we at Virtue Medical won't bill your insurance, AND that the Medicare or Medicaid recipient won't bill for their services either.

Can I use my insurance for labs / imaging / prescriptions / consultations / equipment / etc.?

Of course! In fact, in some instances, using your insurance makes more sense cost-wise. For example, some insurance policies cover annual wellness labs, preventative medications, or other services. It's important to understand your insurance to know where you can get the best deal possible.

How do I contact my provider?

Your provider is available 24/7. The only time your provider is NOT available is when they are on vacation or have an emergency. In this case, a backup will be available. Members have exclusive access to their provider by email and phone.

What's the difference between DPC and typical primary care?

DPC focuses on quality and availability. This is managed by limiting the total number of patients we take so we can efficiently offer these needs. It helps that we aren't driven by codes that drive up costs of care, unlike traditional or hospital-based clinics. This means we don't have to limit you to a "set number of complaints" you're allowed to discuss, or have a rushed appointment. Our patients enjoy an hour-long appointment, so there's plenty of time for discussion. Access to your provider by text and email gives another dimension to care so that you and your provider can work together quickly, rather than punt your care until you make an appointment weeks, even months away.

What if I want to cancel my membership?

We always want what's best for our members, and we strive to do our best at Virtue Medical. While we never like to see a member go, thankfully it's pretty rare that we see people cancel their membership. Nonetheless, we make cancelling a very simple process - members just need to let us know via email, regular mail, or in-person. Cancellation is completely free, and does not require any explanation (we would like to know why, but we leave that up to the person cancelling to tell us, if they want to).

Do you help patients obtain medical marijuana (Missouri residents)

Yes!  Medically appropriate use of marijuana can help treat the symptoms of (not cure) quite a few conditions.  Unlike medications that treat the underlying condition, marijuana does not slow progression of a disease process.  And we're still learning about all of the positive effects of marijuana use today.  Common uses of medical marijuana include chronic pain management, insomnia, anxiety, depression, PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, and possibly even ADHD.  It is important to note that the state of Missouri does require that a patient see a psychiatrist for the qualifying conditions of anxiety, depression, and/or PTSD when pertaining to medical marijuana use.  Virtue Medical does not dispense or have any financial ties to the marijuana, THC, cannabis, or CBD industries.  We only assist our members in obtaining their medical marijuana card and renewals as deemed medically appropriate.

What methods can I use to pay my bill?

We take credit, debit, cash, or check.  HSA, HRA, and FSA cards are a tricky matter and the bottom line on those in my personal opinion is that they are acceptable means of payment.  However, we do come across instances where these cards are not acceptable except by a specialized receipt that explains the charges in a more precise manner.  We are happy to comply on your behalf - often times when these cards do not work, it's best to discuss the matter with your HR department or whoever does the insurance from your company.  Sometimes this is a tricky situation, but often times we are able to make this work.

What's the difference between DPC and Concierge Medicine?

If I'm being honest, it's easiest to think of DPC as a "cheaper" version of "Concierge Medicine."  Several definitions are circulating around the web.  The basic idea (from my own point of view) is that Concierge is more expensive generally, and either charges for every type of service done on behalf of the patient in addition to a monthly or yearly membership fee (whether by a finite dollar amount, or through charging insurance).

What do I do if I can't pay my bill on time?

Money gets tight sometimes.  We understand that too.  The most important thing you can do is let us know if you're having difficulty or suspect that you might begin to have difficulty paying your bills.  We want to help in any way we can; while there are late fees and re-registration fees, we rarely charge those when people communicate with us and develop a payment plan to get back up to speed (even if it takes a long time!).