Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is membership medicine?

Membership medicine (sometimes called concierge medicine) is a model of primary care that prioritizes time, access, and relationship. At Coastal Care Vitality, members pay a monthly or annual membership fee that supports extended visits, proactive health planning, and enhanced communication with their care team — while still using insurance for eligible medical services.

2) Do I still need health insurance?

Yes. Coastal Care Vitality works alongside your insurance — including Medicare. Eligible medical visits, labs, imaging, and specialist services are billed to your insurance. The membership fee supports the enhanced experience of care and is not billed to insurance.

3) How is this different from traditional primary care?

Traditional primary care is often built around high patient volume and short appointments. Coastal Care Vitality is structured to allow longer visits — typically 45 minutes to an hour or more — so your physician can truly understand your health history, goals, and long-term needs. The result is more thoughtful planning and less rushed decision-making.

4) What does the membership fee include?

Your membership supports:

• Extended, unrushed appointments
• Same- or next-day availability when appropriate
• Proactive health planning
• Care coordination and specialist communication
• Secure messaging access through our dedicated communication platform
• A relationship-centered model of care

Medical services themselves are billed to insurance when eligible.

5) How do I communicate with my care team?

Members at Coastal Care Vitality benefit from secure messaging access through the Spruce app. This allows convenient and confidential communication with your care team for follow-up questions, updates, and clarification — without always needing an office visit. Most messages and calls are returned within an hour — usually a few minutes.

6) Is Coastal Care Vitality only for seniors?

No. We care for adults of all ages. While many of our members are navigating midlife and beyond, our model is designed for any adult seeking more personalized, proactive primary care.

7) What conditions do you manage?

We provide comprehensive primary care, including preventive care, chronic disease management (such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease), acute sick visits, medication management, and long-term health planning.

8) How quickly can I be seen?

Our membership model is designed to improve access. While availability varies, members often benefit from same- or next-day appointments when clinically appropriate — something that is often difficult in traditional high-volume practices.

9) What is the cost of membership?

Membership at Coastal Care Vitality is:

$225 per month

or

$2,500 annually

A one-time $150 registration fee applies.

Insurance, including Medicare, is billed separately for eligible medical services.

10) Is this the same as Direct Primary Care?

No. Coastal Care Vitality operates under a hybrid membership model. Unlike Direct Primary Care practices that do not accept insurance, we bill eligible medical services to your insurance while your membership supports enhanced access and experience.