About Direct Primary Care

  • Direct Primary Care (DPC), is a model of healthcare that prioritizes patients by eliminating the middleman. We do not accept insurance, allowing us to focus soley on your health needs. By contracting directly with you, we reduce office expenses and pass those savings directly to you.

    For one flat monthly fee (plus an enrollment fee), get unlimited appointments without extra copays, as well as access to reduced prices on labs, imaging, medications and more!

    One of the biggest differences between a Direct Primary Care clinic & traditional family medicine clinic is the number of patients we serve. Most family physicians have around 2,500 patients each, while DPC typically has fewer than 600, meaning more time for you. For this reason, you won’t ever feel rushed through an appointment or have a question you don’t have time to ask. Additionally, we can usually offer same-day & next-day scheduling with little to no waits, as well as extended visits.

  • You won't have to pay a co-pay for office visits or routine physicals. You'll be able to avoid many visits altogether by sending your questions directly to us via email and text – something you won't get from a traditional practice. We've negotiated amazing deals for prescription medications, blood tests, X-rays, and MRI/CT scans on your behalf. If we had contracts with insurance companies, we would be legally obligated to charge higher prices.

    More importantly, since you're getting all of this amazing care from us, you can cut way back on your insurance premiums. Most DPC patients find a high-deductible, low-premium insurance plan so they're covered in the case of a major health issue. But leave the rest of your healthcare to us.

  • Of course. Everyone benefits from a service tailored directly to them. That’s why we offer truly custom healthcare. We’re here for you if you're sick or hurt, but we also help you proactively maintain good overall health & physical well-being through lifestyle medicine coaching. Every visit with us will be thorough, relaxed, and as long as you need to address your health concerns. The longer you're our patient, the more we learn about your health and lifestyle, and the better we can help you maintain and even improve your health.

  • The terms are often mistakenly used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Both DPC and concierge practices charge a subscription fee. However, in the concierge model, this fee only grants access and does not cover care, as visits are still billed to insurance. In contrast, DPC includes visits and care in the subscription fee, along with benefits like wholesale pricing for labs and radiology, discounted prescriptions, direct digital communication with your doctor, and more.

About Membership

  • See our prices on our pricing page. We charge a flat monthly fee, and in exchange you get unlimited office visits, wholesale prices on labs and imaging, your doctor's cell phone number, and a whole lot more. There is also a one-time enrollment fee at the time of sign up.

  • The membership fee covers comprehensive primary care with no copay, including annual wellness exams, sports and school physicals, chronic care visits, follow-up visits, basic procedures, and treatment of acute illnesses or minor injuries, all with minimal wait times. It also includes direct communication with your doctor via phone, text, video chat, or email.

    Additionally, patients receive access to discounted labs, imaging, prescriptions, and special procedures not included in the membership fees.

  • Yes. We are happy to accept the children of our enrolled clients. See our pricing page for details.

  • To join Good Steward Health, you will first pay a one-time enrollment fee when signing up. Your prorated first month's fee will also be due at that time, covering the remainder of the current month. After that, your monthly membership fee will be charged on the first of each month going forward.

    For example, if you enroll in the middle of the month, you will pay the enrollment fee plus a prorated fee for the remaining days of that month. Then, your regular monthly fee will begin on the first of the following month.

    This ensures a smooth transition into your membership with no gaps in care!

  • The first thing you can expect is that we will listen—carefully. Initial appointments are 45-50 minutes long. Your health is personal, and we take the time to understand your medical history, lifestyle, and symptoms. We won’t dismiss your concerns or overlook how your health challenges impact your life.

    At Good Steward Health, we combine our medical expertise with advanced lab testing and evidence-based approaches to get to the root cause of your condition. Our focus is on prevention and healing through whole-food nutrition, lifestyle changes, and minimizing toxic exposures. If needed, we will incorporate supplements and medications thoughtfully, with the goal of optimizing your health while reducing reliance on prescriptions whenever possible.

    Together, we will create a personalized plan to help you feel your best—because you deserve care that empowers you to live a full, healthy life.

  • We provide comprehensive care for a wide range of health concerns.

    We treat common acute conditions, including respiratory infections, ear infections, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal issues, rashes, allergies, minor injuries, and more.

    We also specialize in managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, thyroid disorders, asthma, arthritis, COPD, and kidney disease. Our approach goes beyond symptom management—we focus on addressing root causes through nutrition, lifestyle, and evidence-based care to help you achieve long-term wellness.

  • In Direct Primary Care (DPC), having direct and frequent access to your doctor often helps prevent the need for hospitalizations and specialty referrals. However, when such care is necessary, we work closely with hospitalists and specialists to ensure seamless coordination of your care. In many cases, your doctor may continue to be involved and collaborate with the hospital or specialist team to provide comprehensive support throughout your treatment and recovery.

  • Absolutely! One of the greatest benefits of the Direct Primary Care model is the enhanced access to your physician. You can call, text, or email your doctor anytime, including after hours. While your doctor will respond as quickly as possible, that response may be slightly delayed outside of regular office hours. In case of a medical emergency, call 911.

  • Yet another freedom of DPC! Many illnesses can be diagnosed & treated with a simple conversation by phone, email, text or webcam. We’ll locate the nearest pharmacy & order the medications most appropriate for your circumstance.

  • Charges will be applied to your account and billed to your preferred payment method on your next billing cycle.

  • We strive to maintain an open, honest, and respectful relationship with all our patients. If you decide to cancel your DPC membership, we will honor your request. Please let us know if you have any concerns or issues we can address before making this decision.

  • Unfortunately, no. Currently, DPC membership fees are not typically classified as "medical expenses" eligible for tax deductions in most states. We recommend consulting with your tax advisor to understand the specific tax implications for you.

  • Yes! With Direct Primary Care (DPC), you can streamline healthcare for your employees and save money. By eliminating the middleman, DPC offers a discounted price for corporate health plans. Our approach emphasizes prevention and lifestyle modification, which keeps employees healthier and more productive.

    Employees benefit from same or next-day appointments, reducing wait times and minimizing missed workdays. This efficiency helps lower absenteeism and boosts productivity. Additionally, our disease management strategies enhance the quality of life for employees with chronic conditions.

    Overall, employers typically save 30-50% compared to traditional primary-care insurance plans, making DPC a cost-effective solution for corporate healthcare.

  • Unfortunately, Texas is one of only a few states that do not currently allow in-house pharmacies. The Texas Medical Association is actively pushing for policy change, but in the meantime, we will work with you to find the best cash-priced pharmacies out there if you do not have insurance.

  • We can help address acute pain and work with you on lifestyle-based approaches to manage chronic pain, focusing on nutrition, movement, and other wellness strategies. However, we do not prescribe opioids or controlled substances. Patients requiring opioid-based pain management should seek care at a specialized pain clinic.

About Insurance

  • No, we do not accept insurance, including Medicare. Perhaps the most critical distinction of DPC is that the patient & doctor are front & center. This allows us to prioritize you without the constraints of insurance networks, medication formularies, or prior authorization requirements.

    By working directly with you, we can also offer wholesale prices on lab tests, imaging, and medications. Some blood work testing might be covered/reimbursed through your insurance, which we will discuss during your visit.

    We do recommend having health insurance for unexpected, high-cost events such as surgeries, ER visits, or hospitalizations, such as a high-deductible plan. And let Good Steward Health take care of the rest!

  • Yes, we recommend that our patients maintain a major medical plan with a high-deductible and a health savings account. While Direct Primary Care covers your primary care needs and offers significant savings on labs and medications, having insurance can be helpful for covering major health issues and unexpected expenses. This way, you'll have comprehensive protection for both routine care and significant medical events.

  • No, at this time, due to current Medicare regulations, we are unable to provide DPC services to Medicare beneficiaries.

    However, we understand the importance of offering flexible and comprehensive care options to all of our patients. We are actively exploring ways to extend our services to Medicare patients in the future.

    If you would like to be notified when we are able to include Medicare beneficiaries in our DPC practice, please let us know, and we will gladly add you to our notification list.

  • You may want to check with your HR department about using Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for DPC membership fees. Generally, these accounts cannot be used to pay the membership fee directly in Texas (though this is currently part of a New House bill). However, you might still be able to use HSA/FSA funds to reimburse yourself for certain medical services provided through our office.

  • Unfortunately, no. The membership fee is not typically classified as a "medical expense" in most states and therefore is not deductible. Please consult with your tax advisor to understand how this may apply to your specific situation.

  • If you have an HMO or PPO and are considering joining our DPC practice, here’s how it can benefit you:

    • PPO Patients: PPO plans do not require referrals for specialists or tests, so we can directly order any necessary referrals or tests just like any other doctor would. This flexibility allows us to provide comprehensive care without additional hurdles.

    • HMO Patients: HMOs do require you to have an in-network primary doctor for access to other services. However, you can still benefit greatly from our DPC services, including lifestyle medicine coaching, preventive care, & weight loss programs. These services can complement your HMO coverage and enhance your overall health and well-being.

    Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about how our DPC practice can work with your current insurance plan!