Let’s Do the Math: Is Wellspring Worth it?
Starting a direct care clinic, I’ve had a lot of conversations about money over the past six months. How much is membership? What about the cost for labs or medications? What about imaging -- how much will that cost me? Do I still pay for insurance too? Great questions!
They’ve also brought to light how much we really pay for our healthcare in a traditional fee-for-service system (bearing in mind our national healthcare expenditure in the U.S. now exceeds $3.7 trillion). While these conversations have taken many forms, one of the best explanations I’ve heard came from an interview conducted while filming our promotional video. I hope you find the transcription below both informative and helpful!
Yours in health,
Wes
An Interview with Wellspring Member Sam Shirey
I've been in the financial industry for over 20 years. I have carried lots of insurance licenses. I've been an investment banker. One common question in these industries is “What’s the WIIFM?” Or “What’s in it for me?”
When deciding whether or not Wellspring is worth it, sit down and do your own math. Look at your medical expenses over the last year, or ten years, and then divide by the minutes you have with your doctor. Figure out what it's costing.
Then review your monthly Wellspring membership cost, and look at the difference. You also have to consider the value Dr. Hite will add to your life (he’s not just a doctor giving you a pill when something goes wrong). Factor in how Dr. Hite makes your life better, your lifestyle better, your diet better, and how he helps you consider what you do with your time. Then divide that value by the amount you paid. I guarantee your investment -- your “What's in it for me?”-- is better with Direct Primary Care.
A Value Metaphor
Look at buying organic foods as an example. You don’t have to be medically trained to find out the number of diseases that come from conventional food due to pesticides. The cost of healthcare to treat those diseases far outweighs the increased monthly grocery bill for organic food.
That's the kind of exchange in value you get paying for a Direct Primary Care doctor on a monthly basis -- a physician who cares about your entire lifestyle rather than someone you see for just a couple minutes. The value far outweighs the cost.
The Big Picture: An Investment Over a Lifetime
In the grand scheme of all of your money you will spend in your lifetime, this is a better investment. Let’s say I'm going to spend $100,000 on healthcare over the course of my life. Consider the amount of time I get in exchange for that $100,000: Am I only getting seven minutes per appointment, or am I getting a half hour or an hour of the doctor’s time?
When I get more time with the doctor and I’m spending the same amount of money, I’m getting a better investment. And here's the thing: You go to somebody who cares more about you than that medical issue you came in for. And, if you’re getting that extra time with your primary care doctor, you likely won’t spend that $100,000 because you will be healthier.
Anybody who is questioning the dollars and cents of Wellspring needs to look at the whole picture. With Wellspring, you get more value for your dollar, and you get a healthier life in the long run.