Family practice
May 22, 2007
An Affordable Alternative to High Health Insurance Premiums. Val Lego WZZM-13
The rising cost of health insurance ranks as the number two complaint among Americans. Now, a Grand Rapids doctor's office is offering full coverage for half the cost and it's available to everyone, "This is where we do some testing nurses station area.” Beth Boltinghouse started the West Michigan Center for Family Health four years ago, “We really do believe it's the right way to provide primary care for anyone and it works for anyone."
For $500 a single person can get primary healthcare for an entire year, Boltinghouse says there's no additional co-pay and you don't have to qualify financially, "We have people who probably make anything from six figure incomes down to people who are just above qualifying for Medicaid." And they are all entitled to a yearly physical and unlimited office visit, "We'll take anybody no matter what their age no matter what their income no matter what their pre-existing conditions are it doesn't matter."
The Center for Family Health eliminates the health insurance companies and the paperwork that goes with it, Boltinghouse says that's how they can provide affordable primary health care, "We just took all of that money that would be spent on insurance companies and put it into patient care."
National statistics show employer-sponsored health insurance premiums cost the average single American about $731 dollars a year and the average family about $2,713, with West Michigan center for family health - the upfront fee for singles is $500 and for a family of 3 is $1250. Only $350 additional per person. But Boltinghouse says that doesn't just include your medical care, "We use Bill's Pills and it's in our lobby and all their medications are at cost."
It's one way medical providers in West Michigan are working to make sure everyone has access to affordable health care.
Article courtesy of WZZM-13 Grand Rapids, Michigan