Direct Primary Care is a membership-based approach to primary care. Instead of billing insurance for each office visit, members pay a predictable monthly or annual fee for primary care provided directly by AIK Family Health.Your membership includes unlimited visits for covered primary care services, longer appointments, direct access to Dr. Patel, preventive care, acute and chronic disease management, and telehealth when appropriate.The goal is simple: fewer barriers between you and your family doctor, more time together, and easier access when you need care.

True concierge practices typically charge patients a monthly or annual membership fee in addition to billing insurance for visits and services. While this model may improve access to physicians, it still operates within the insurance system, which can influence care decisions and require insurance approvals for certain treatments or services.Direct Primary Care practices generally charge a straightforward membership fee for primary care and typically do not bill health insurance for the primary care services included in membership, allowing physicians to focus entirely on patient care without insurance-related restrictions.At AIK Family Health, our goal is to provide concierge-level access and personalized care without the high cost, delivering high-quality care that is accessible whether or not you carry insurance.

AIK Family Health was created with a simple vision: healthcare should feel personal again. Our practice is built on the idea that every patient deserves time, attention, and a trusted relationship with their physician. Through our Direct Primary Care model, we remove the barriers of insurance so your doctor can focus entirely on your care. This allows care to be more accessible, more personalized, and centered on the relationship between patient and physician, bringing back what true family medicine is meant to be.

Yes. Many AIK members have health insurance.Your AIK membership covers the primary care provided directly by our practice, while your insurance can still be used for services outside AIK, such as hospital care, emergency services, specialists, imaging, and other medical expenses depending on your plan.For many patients, DPC complements their health insurance by giving them easier access to their family physician and more time during visits.

AIK Family Health provides comprehensive family medicine for patients throughout life, from newborns and children to adults and older adults.Having one family physician can also make it easier to understand your family's medical history and coordinate care across generations.

Yes. AIK Family Health is designed to care for the whole family.Household membership options are available for two, three, four, or more members, making it possible for children and adults in the same household to receive their primary care through one practice.Minors cannot enroll independently and must have a responsible adult or Primary Account Holder.

Health insurance and Direct Primary Care serve different purposes.Insurance can help cover larger or less predictable medical expenses such as hospitalization, emergency care, specialists, surgery, and advanced testing. Your AIK membership focuses on the care you use most often & your relationship with your family physician.Membership gives you longer appointments, easier access to Dr. Patel, unlimited visits for included primary care, and no copays for those visits.For patients who value easier access, more time with their doctor, and continuity of care, DPC can complement their existing health insurance rather than replace it.

Membership is a simple monthly or annual fee with transparent pricing. You will never pay copays, facility fees, or receive any unexpected bills for services covered under your membership.Membership starts at $100 per month for an individual.Household memberships are:2 members: $180/month3 members: $260/month4 members: $340/monthEach additional member: $25/monthAnnual memberships receive one month free compared with paying monthly.There is no enrollment fee.You can view all membership options on our Services & Pricing page.

Your membership covers most of your primary care needs, including:Unlimited VisitsSame/next-day appointments, with longer 30-60 minute visitsDirect access to Dr. Patel via text, phone, and video accessPreventative & Wellness CareChronic condition managementNewborn/pediatric careAccess to discounted rates for labs and imagingMinor in-office proceduresOngoing support whenever something comes upNo copays, no surprise bills, and no insurance obstacles.

No. There are no copays or per-visit charges for primary care services included in your membership.Your monthly or annual membership covers those visits regardless of how often you need to see Dr. Patel.Services outside the membership, such as outside laboratory testing, imaging, medications, specialty care, or hospital services, may have separate costs.

The cost of outside laboratory testing, imaging, and medications is generally not included in the membership fee.However, at AIK Family Health, labs and Imaging are offered at significantly discounted, transparent prices. You’ll know the cost upfront, no surprises, no hidden fees. Select commonly used medications may also be available directly from the office at transparent prices.We'll discuss costs with you whenever possible so you can make an informed decision before obtaining outside services.

No. AIK Family Health does not charge an enrollment fee to become a member.Your membership begins according to the terms of your membership agreement.

Yes. There is no minimum commitment. When you sign up, your first month is prorated, and you can cancel whenever you need to—no pressure, no long-term contracts. Monthly membership payments are generally non-refundable once paid. Annual memberships may qualify for prorated refund according to the terms of the membership agreement and services already provided.Please refer to your membership agreement for the complete cancellation and refund terms.Should you choose to return after cancellation, we would be happy to have you back, however, there will be a re-enrollment fee.

You may request to rejoin AIK Family Health, subject to membership availability.A re-enrollment fee may apply. Current re-enrollment fees areUnder certain circumstances, the re-enrollment fee may be waived if membership is reinstated within 90 days and applicable missed membership payments are made.

Yes.Annual membership is available for patients who prefer to pay for the year in advance and is priced at the equivalent of 11 months of membership, giving you one month free.For example, an individual membership is $100/month or $1,100 annually.

You can still receive care at AIK Family Health through a $200 one-time visit, subject to availability.The visit is intended to address one primary medical concern and includes follow-up related to that concern within 14 days.If you decide to become a member within 14 days of the visit, the $200 visit fee can be applied toward your membership.You can also schedule a free Meet & Greet if you simply want to meet Dr. Patel, learn about the practice, and ask questions before deciding.Add Button for One-time visit

AIK Family Health does not bill health insurance for the primary care services included in your membership.Instead, members pay AIK directly through their monthly or annual membership. Additional services needed outside of your membership that may require additional fees such as labs, imaging, and medications will be offered with transparent, upfront pricing, so you know the cost before moving forward.You may still use your health insurance for covered services obtained outside AIK Family Health, such as hospital care, specialists, imaging, prescriptions, and other medical services according to the terms of your insurance plan.

AIK Family Health membership is not health insurance.Yes, we recommend maintaining appropriate health coverage for medical expenses that occur outside our clinic—like ER visits, hospitalizations, specialist visits, and major medical events. Your DPC membership covers your primary care needs, while insurance covers the rest. Many members pair their DPC membership with a lower cost High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), a catastrophic health plan, or a health sharing ministry (healthshare) plan. In this arrangement, your DPC membership covers most everyday primary care needs, while the insurance or healthshare plan acts as a financial safety net for unexpected or major medical expenses.

Yes! Beginning January 1st, 2026, federal law allows Direct Primary Care memberships to be paid for using tax-free HSA funds. Click here for more information.Monthly DPC membership fees are now considered qualified medical expenses, allowing individuals with an HSA to use those funds towards their membership. Current limits allow up to $150 per month for individuals and $300 per month for families to be paid using HSA funds.This update also confirms that a DPC membership does not count as insurance, meaning patients can maintain a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and continue contributing to their HSA while enjoying the benefits of Direct Primary Care.This combination allows many patients to pair their DPC for every day primary care with their insurance for major medical events, while using pre-tax HSA dollars to help cover the cost of their membership.

At this time, AIK Family Health is unable to enroll individuals who are Medicare or Illinois Medicaid beneficiaries. This policy may change in the future.If you are interested in joining the practice in the future, we invite you to join our waitlist, and we will reach out with additional information if we become able to welcome these patients.

AIK Family Health provides comprehensive family medicine for patients of all ages.Your membership covers most of your primary care needs, including:Unlimited VisitsSame/next-day appointments, with longer 30-60 minute visitsDirect access to Dr. Patel via text, phone, and video accessPreventative & Wellness CareChronic condition managementNewborn/pediatric careAccess to discounted rates for labs and imagingMinor in-office proceduresOngoing support whenever something comes upOur goal is to handle as much of your everyday primary care as possible within our practice.There are no co-pays, no surprise bills, and no insurance obstacles.

Many common primary care procedures can be performed at AIK Family Health when medically appropriate.These may include wound evaluation and care, earwax removal, simple skin procedures, joint injections, abscess I&D, and other minor office-based procedures.Some procedures or supplies may involve an additional charge. If so, we'll discuss that with you beforehand whenever possible.

AIK Family Health offers select point-of-care testing and basic diagnostic services appropriate for a primary care office. (i.e. Rapid Strep, Flu, COVID, RSV, Urine Pregnancy Testing, EKG)Available testing may vary based on clinical need and the tests currently stocked by the practice. When testing needs to be performed by an outside laboratory or imaging center, we'll help coordinate it.

When Dr. Patel determines that laboratory testing or imaging is needed, we'll help arrange the appropriate testing.Members may use their insurance for outside testing when appropriate, or we may be able to help identify transparent or discounted cash-pay options for certain laboratory tests and imaging studies.The cost of outside labs and imaging is not included in your AIK membership.

Although we seek to provide thorough, conscientious care, and seek to reduce the need for specialty referrals, when specialty services are required, Dr. Patel will help you find the right specialist, and coordinate the referral.Your relationship with AIK doesn't end once you're referred. We review specialist recommendations, help coordinate follow-up care, and incorporate those recommendations into your overall treatment plan.Specialist services are not included in your AIK membership and may be billed separately by the specialist.

No. AIK Family Health is a primary care practice and does not replace an emergency department or hospital.For a medical emergency, call 911 or seek care at the nearest emergency department.Your membership is designed to make routine and urgent primary care concerns easier to address, but some symptoms and conditions require emergency evaluation.

One of the benefits of keeping a smaller patient panel is improved appointment availability.AIK Family Health aims to offer same- or next-business-day appointments for acute concerns when available.Appointment timing will depend on the medical issue, availability, and whether an in-person or telehealth visit is most appropriate.

Members have direct access to Dr. Patel through the communication options provided by the practice, including phone, text, secure messaging, email, and telehealth when appropriate.The goal is to make it easier to ask questions and determine whether you need an office visit without navigating a complicated phone tree or waiting weeks for an appointment.Communication methods and expected response times are outlined during enrollment.

Yes. Telehealth is available to members when it is medically appropriate for the concern being addressed.Some conditions can be evaluated or followed remotely, while others require an in-person examination, testing, or procedure. Dr. Patel will help determine which type of visit is appropriate.

As a member, you have direct access to Dr. Patel through phone, text, email, secure messaging for concerns that arise outside normal office hours.Depending on the situation, Dr. Patel may provide guidance, arrange appropriate follow-up, or recommend urgent or emergency evaluation.Direct access does not mean 24/7 guaranteed immediate care, and AIK Family Health does not replace an emergency department.For non-urgent concerns you should expect a response within 1-2 business days. However, for medical emergencies, call 911 or proceed to your nearest emergency department.

Regular office hours are:Monday–Thursday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PMFriday: 8:00 AM–12:00 PMVisits are scheduled by appointment. Members should contact the practice for appointment availability and questions about care outside regular office hours.