Unlimited primary and urgent care: For $83.00 A Month

Of all the people acutely aware of the health care crisis, doctors are in the front of the battle. Here we have an MD who has decided to do things differently.

WHEELING, W.Va. -- Vic Wood's walk-in clinic here sees patients six days a week and logs roughly 15,000 visits a year. Its sparsely furnished waiting room is packed much of the 11-hour day with people seeking care for conditions ranging from sore throats to chest pains.

Despite the booming business, Dr. Wood and his staff -- another doctor and four physician assistants -- have battled strong head winds to keep the clinic going. Rising administrative costs and flat insurance-reimbursement rates make it tough to cover basic expenses. One in five patients lacks insurance; others are saddled with sky-high deductibles. Last year, Dr. Wood even cut his annual salary by half to help keep the clinic afloat.

In an attempt to turn the tide, Dr. Wood is trying a new approach -- one that he hopes will one day sustain his practice.

For a monthly fee of $83 per individual or $125 for a family, the clinic provides unlimited primary and urgent care. Those who enroll in the prepaid plan get office visits, lab work, X-rays and as many generic drugs as the clinic can provide.

Dr. Wood is one of several hundred doctors across the country offering flat-rate, pay-in-advance plans. Though still experimental, proponents argue that the approach tackles two crises in U.S. health care: the rapid decline of doctors practicing primary-care medicine and the growing number of Americans who are either uninsured or underinsured.

I like the idea. A lot. And that's a pretty good bargain if you ask me. I pay more for my health insurance each month. I realize I would have to pick up the so called catastrophic coverage, but I suspect even that wouldn't cost as much as my insurance does right now. I am fairly sure most middle class families could afford a plan like this- for $125.00 a month they get family coverage.

I don't have the link but there is a doctor in Concord NH who is offering this service; for $1500/yr a person gets routine and urgent care coverage 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Most routine meds are included; as are diagnostic tests and lab works. It's less than many of us pay now though our employer. Add the new walk in clinics to the picture, and we see more options for people to take charge of their own health care needs. Without the government meddling and/or paying.