We do not bill insurance. Rising Tide Family Medicine operates on a simple monthly membership model, which is what allows us to spend more time with you and provide care without the limitations of the traditional insurance system.
That said, we encourage most patients to carry some form of insurance — whether that's a high-deductible plan, a catastrophic plan, or a health-sharing plan — for larger medical needs like hospital stays or specialist care. Your membership covers your everyday primary care, and your insurance serves as a safety net for the unexpected.
We also work hard to help you save on healthcare costs overall by offering transparent pricing and access to discounted labs, medications, and imaging whenever possible.
In many cases, yes. DPC memberships can be paid using HSA or FSA funds, depending on your specific plan. We recommend checking with your plan administrator to confirm eligibility, as rules can vary. We're happy to provide any documentation you may need.
We get this question a lot, and it's a fair one. Direct Primary Care is sometimes compared to concierge medicine, but there are some important differences worth understanding.
Both models offer more personalized, relationship-based care — but concierge practices typically still bill insurance in addition to charging a membership fee, which keeps them tied to the administrative complexity and costs that come with it. That often means higher price tags.
Direct Primary Care removes insurance from the equation entirely. No billing, no overhead passed on to you. The result is more affordable, more accessible care — often comparable to the cost of a monthly streaming subscription — without sacrificing quality or time with your doctor.
So while we share the same goal as concierge medicine — putting the patient first — DPC gets there differently. It's medicine simplified.
In traditional primary care, your doctor typically sees 20 to 30 patients a day, spends an average of 7 to 10 minutes with each, and bills insurance for every interaction. That model works for the system, but it often doesn't work well for the patient.
At Rising Tide, we keep our patient panel intentionally small. That means same-day or next-day appointments, longer visits, and a doctor who actually has time to know your history and talk through your questions. And because we're not billing insurance, there are no copays, no surprise bills, and no middleman between you and your care.
Yes. As your primary care physician, Dr. Steffes can order labs, imaging, and prescriptions just as she would in any traditional practice. Through our network of discounted partners, we can also help you access lab work and imaging at significantly reduced costs compared to what you might pay through insurance.
One thing worth noting if you carry an HMO plan — HMOs typically require orders to come from your listed primary care physician in their network. If that applies to you, we are happy to work alongside your HMO's designated PCP to coordinate any orders and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Your membership covers primary care only and does not include specialist visits. However, we don't just send you off on your own. Dr. Steffes will help coordinate your care, provide referrals, and make sure your specialist has everything they need to take good care of you. We stay involved every step of the way.
One thing worth noting if you carry an HMO plan — HMOs typically require referrals and specialist orders to come from your listed primary care physician in their network. If that applies to you, we are happy to work alongside your HMO's designated PCP to help coordinate your care and make sure nothing falls through the cracks. The goal is always to make sure you get what you need.
Yes! Medicare beneficiaries are welcome at Rising Tide Family Medicine. Once open, we will operate completely outside of the Medicare billing system. This means Medicare will not cover or reimburse the cost of your membership or visits with us.
To join, Medicare patients will sign a private contract acknowledging that they will not seek reimbursement from Medicare for services received at our practice. Outside of that, everything works exactly the same as it does for any other member — same access, same care, same relationship with Dr. Steffes.
If you have questions about how this works with your specific Medicare plan, we're happy to talk it through. Just reach out through our contact page.
Absolutely — and honestly, that's exactly the kind of relationship we hope to build. Preventive care is at the heart of what we do. Having a doctor who knows you before something goes wrong means you'll be in much better hands when something eventually does. Many of our members find that having easy access to their doctor actually encourages them to address things they'd otherwise put off.
We do not require a long-term contract. You are free to cancel your membership at any time with 30 days' notice. That said, our practice is built around long-term relationships — the kind of continuity that makes a real difference in your health over time.
If you cancel and wish to re-enroll in the future, an enrollment fee may apply and re-enrollment is subject to availability. If our panel is full, you may be placed on a waitlist.
As a member, you can reach us directly by phone or message during office hours. Many questions and concerns can also be handled virtually, saving you an unnecessary trip to the office. For urgent matters that arise after hours, we do offer after-hours phone and messaging access so you're never left without guidance when something can't wait.
For true emergencies, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
We see patients ages 5 and up. At this time we are not accepting patients under the age of 5.
Membership pricing is straightforward:
Adult (18+) — $125/month
Child (5–17, with a parent or guardian membership) — $75/month
Family (up to 4 household members) — $300/month, $75 for each additional member
A one-time enrollment fee of $75 applies at sign-up. This fee is waived for current established patients of Dr. Steffes.
For full pricing details and to join, visit our Pricing page.
Yes. To ensure every patient receives the time and attention they deserve, we intentionally keep our patient panel small. When enrollment opens, founding member spots will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up for our email list to be notified first.
We are not yet open for enrollment, but we'd love to have you. Sign up using the email form on our website and you'll be among the first to know when membership opens. We'll send you everything you need to get started at that time.
Yes! Before becoming a patient, we ask that you schedule a brief meet-and-greet with Dr. Steffes. This gives you a chance to ask questions, get a feel for the practice, and make sure we're the right fit for you. We think you'll love what you find. You can request your meet-and-greet through our contact page.