Medicare and DPC

Why I Cannot Accept Medicare Patients Right Now

I want to be open and honest about why I cannot accept Medicare patients into my membership plan right now.

Beacon Family Medicine is a Direct Primary Care practice. That means patients pay a simple monthly membership fee for care like office visits, communication, and ongoing support.

Because Beacon Family Medicine is a direct-pay practice, I do not bill insurance for membership-based care. Most patients with other types of insurance can still choose to be seen by me and pay directly for their care if they wish. Medicare is different. Medicare has strict federal rules, and because I am currently participating in Medicare, I cannot offer Medicare patients my monthly membership plan for primary care services that Medicare covers.

In simple terms, Medicare does not allow me to charge Medicare patients for the same kind of primary care through a separate membership plan while I am still participating with Medicare (Opted-IN).

This is not because Medicare patients are not important to me. It is not because I do not want to care for them. It is simply because I must follow federal rules and make sure my practice is fully compliant.

Medicare works differently. It has very specific rules about how doctors can charge for medical care. Because I am currently participating with Medicare (Opted- IN), I must follow those rules for patients who have Medicare. This means I cannot charge a monthly membership fee for primary care services that Medicare already covers.

Once I formally opt out of Medicare, this will change. At that point, Medicare patients may be able to join my membership plan under a different set of rules. If you have Medicare and are interested in joining in the future, please use the contact form and mention that you have Medicare. I will add you to the waitlist and notify you by email when enrollment becomes available.

I know this may feel confusing or disappointing, and I understand that. My goal is always to be clear, honest, and fair about what I can offer.

Thank you for understanding.