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Let’s talk about what healthcare really costs—and what you're actually paying for.

It’s a question we hear now and then:

“Why does a new patient visit cost $498?”

Or

“Why do brief follow-ups still cost more than my $20 copay?”

The real answer is simple: you’ve been sold a false idea of what healthcare costs. And when you finally see the true numbers, our pricing doesn’t look expensive—it looks honest.

The Hidden Cost of Conventional Healthcare

If you’re covered through work, your insurance premiums for a family of four average about $24,000 per year.

Roughly $7,500 of that comes out of your paycheck directly. The rest is covered by your employer—but don’t be fooled. That’s part of your compensation too. If it weren’t going to the insurance company, it could be going to you.

Now, how often do most families actually use that coverage?
According to national data, the average family of four uses healthcare about 13 times per year.

$24,000 ÷ 13 visits = ~$1,850 per visit.

That’s what you're actually paying—even if it doesn’t feel that way when you swipe your card for a $20 copay.

And what does that $1,850 visit typically include?

• 7–15 minutes with a doctor
• A prescription, a referral, or “watch and wait”
• Rarely a conversation about nutrition, toxins, sleep, trauma, or stress
• Almost never a root-cause investigation
• No ongoing support, coaching, or prevention plan
• And likely, very little continuity of care

What You’re Paying For In My Clinic

Let’s break down what your $498 (for a new patient visit) actually supports in a cash-based, Functional Medicine practice:

• 60 minutes of dedicated face-to-face physician time
  You’ll spend a full hour with me—not rushed, not interrupted, not limited to one concern. We’ll explore your symptoms, your history, your labs, your environment, and your goals—because that’s what it takes to get to the root of what’s going on.
• 30 to 60 minutes of preparation before you ever walk in
  Before we even meet, I spend time reviewing your intake forms, medical records, lab results, and health history so we can use our hour together efficiently and meaningfully. You’re not starting from scratch—I’m already familiar with your story when we sit down.
• A highly skilled, compassionate team
  Your visit helps support:
• A receptionist who treats you like a person, not a number
• A registered nurse for IV therapy and clinical care
• A health coach and patient navigator to help you follow through
• A bookkeeper and marketing team who keep things running behind the scenes
• All paid a living wage, because valuing health starts with valuing people
• The physical space that supports your healing
  Your care also helps cover the building, utilities, insurance, compliance costs, and local/state taxes needed to operate a safe, clean, and welcoming clinic.
• True transparency
  There are no hidden fees. No surprise bills. No confusing explanation of benefits. What you see is what you pay—for time, presence, listening, planning, and genuine care.
• Freedom from insurance restrictions
  We don’t answer to a billing algorithm. We answer to you. Every decision is made for your benefit, not for network compliance.

But Let’s Be Honest—This Isn’t the Lucrative Path

Just to name what’s often left unsaid:

I could be making nearly twice as much working in urgent care—seeing 30 patients a day and writing quick prescriptions for blood pressure meds or antibiotics.
That model is rewarded in our current system: short visits, high volume, minimal depth.

But I chose this path because I believe you deserve more. More time. More listening. More thinking. More partnership. You deserve someone who will look at the whole picture and walk with you—not just hand you a script and move on.

This model isn’t built for maximum profit—it’s built for maximum healing.
And while that may come at a financial cost for me, it comes with something more valuable: meaning, connection, and the chance to truly help people heal.

Root-Cause Medicine Isn’t Expensive. It’s Just Not Subsidized.

Functional Medicine isn’t part of the standard insurance model—not because it doesn’t work, but because it doesn’t fit the 7-minute-visit, pharmaceutical-first structure.

So yes, we’re out-of-network.

Not because we won’t take insurance—but because insurance won’t take us.

And that’s okay. Because we’re not here to manage symptoms. We’re here to help you heal.

Two Systems. One You.

Let’s be clear: everyone should have insurance—not for colds or wellness visits, but to protect you from the unexpected:

• Emergency surgeries
• ICU stays
• Advanced cancer treatment
• Accidents and trauma

That’s what insurance is for.

But if your goal is to prevent disease, build resilience, and stay out of the hospital in the first place—you need a second system:

• One that works upstream, not downstream
• That treats root causes, not just symptoms
• That gives you time, attention, and education
• That puts you back in charge of your health

So… Is It Really That Expensive?

If you're already paying $24,000 per year for a system that’s designed to rescue you from crisis—not build real health…

And you could spend a fraction of that on personalized, root-cause care that helps you stay vibrant, strong, and present in your life…

Ask yourself:

Which system is actually expensive?
Which one is truly valuable?

In our practice, we don’t just manage disease—we help you understand your body, transform your health, and reclaim your story.

We are not an alternative to insurance.

We are the missing piece that can help you stay out of the system you’re already paying for.

And that’s not expensive.

That’s essential.

-Dr. Sult

Call or message us to book your appointment: https://www.justbewell.info/contact