FAQs

UNDERSTANDING DIRECT PRIMARY CARE

What is Direct Primary Care?

Most people have experienced what primary care has become — a rushed appointment, a physician stretched thin, a visit that ends before you’ve said everything you came to say. Direct Primary Care (DPC) exists because that doesn’t have to be the standard.

DPC is a membership-based model in which patients pay their physician directly through a flat monthly fee, with no insurance involved in primary care. What you get in return is a physician who has the time to actually know you — unlimited visits, extended appointments, direct access, and care built around your health rather than a billing schedule. No copays, no surprise charges, no administrative layer between you and your doctor. Just primary care the way it was always meant to be practiced.

How is DPC different from concierge medicine?

Concierge medicine charges an annual retainer on top of continuing to bill your insurance, so most patients end up paying twice. DPC is different. There is no insurance billing at all. The monthly membership is the only cost for your primary care — no copays, no per-visit charges, nothing else. At Cimri, you get the access, the time, and the physician relationship that concierge medicine promises, at a price that makes it genuinely accessible.

Why doesn’t Cimri accept insurance?

The conventional primary care system is built around insurance reimbursement — and insurance reimbursement rewards volume. A physician seeing 25 patients a day generates more revenue than one who sees 10 and knows each of them well. The result is rushed appointments, reactive care, and a physician-patient relationship that never has enough room to develop. That is not a failure of individual physicians. It is what the incentive structure produces.

Removing insurance from the exam room was a clinical decision, not a business one. When the only person your physician answers to is you, everything changes — the length of your appointments, the depth of the relationship, the way your care is managed over time.

MEMBERSHIP & COST

What does my Cimri membership include?

Every membership — individual or couple — includes the following at no additional charge:

  • Unlimited in-person and virtual visits with your physician
  • Extended appointments of 30–60 minutes at every visit
  • Comprehensive intake visit upon enrollment, with labs ordered based on your individual clinical picture
  • Preventive care and evidence-based screenings tailored to you
  • Chronic disease management — ongoing, not episodic
  • Urgent and acute care handled by your own physician
  • Medication management and prescription oversight
  • Specialist referral and care coordination
  • Lab ordering and results interpretation
  • Access to wholesale pricing on labs, medications, and cash-pay imaging
What doesn’t membership cover — and what does Cimri recommend for those needs?

Cimri membership covers primary care comprehensively. It does not cover hospitalizations, surgery, specialist visits, emergency care, or other services outside primary care.

Think of it the way you think about car insurance. You don’t use auto insurance to pay for oil changes and routine maintenance — the overhead of filing a claim would cost more than the service itself. You use it for what is unpredictable, high-cost, and potentially catastrophic. Health insurance was designed the same way. DPC handles the routine. Insurance handles the rest.

For specialist visits, hospitalizations, and emergency care, most Cimri members maintain a high-deductible health plan — the same coverage they are already accustomed to using for these services. For labs, imaging, and medications, members have access to significantly reduced wholesale rates, or may use existing insurance if preferred.

How much does it cost?

Individual membership is $150 per month. Couple membership is $275 per month. No enrollment fee, no per-visit charges. Membership begins with a three-month minimum commitment and continues month-to-month after that.

Is the membership fee HSA-eligible?

Yes. Cimri membership fees are HSA-eligible and can be paid with pre-tax dollars. We recommend confirming the specifics with your HSA administrator, as plan rules can vary.

Do I still need health insurance if I join Cimri?

Yes — and we want to be direct about this. Cimri covers primary care comprehensively, but not hospitalizations, surgery, emergency care, or specialist visits. For those needs, coverage matters. Many members pair Cimri with a high-deductible health plan. We encourage you to consult a benefits advisor on what works best for your situation.

Is there a long-term contract? What if I cancel and want to re-enroll?

No long-term contract. Membership is month-to-month and can be cancelled at any time. We do ask that new members commit to an initial three-month period to allow enough time to establish care.

If you cancel and choose to re-enroll, a $250 re-enrollment fee applies. We keep our panel deliberately small, so re-enrollment is subject to availability.

Do you see patients from Philadelphia?

Yes. Cimri Medical is located in Collingswood, NJ – a 15-minute PATCO ride from Center City Philadelphia. We see patients in person from across South Jersey and Philadelphia, and offer virtual visits for members throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. For those driving, ample free parking is available directly at the building.

GETTING CARE

What does direct access to my physician actually look like?

Direct access means your physician is genuinely reachable — not a call center, not a triage nurse, not a portal message that gets answered three days later. At Cimri, you can reach your physician directly by secure message or phone when something comes up between appointments. Many concerns — follow-ups, prescription questions, acute issues — can be handled via a quick virtual visit or message without you needing to come in. When an in-person visit is clinically indicated, same-day or next-day appointments are available. The format adapts to what you need. The access doesn’t change.

What happens if I need a specialist or need to go to the hospital?

Your Cimri physician coordinates specialist referrals directly — speaking with the specialist personally when needed and staying involved throughout. You will not be handed a referral and left to navigate alone.

For specialist visits and hospitalizations, most members use their existing health insurance — the same way they always have. Cimri membership doesn’t change how that coverage works. What changes is that you have a physician who knows your full history advocating for you throughout the process.

What if I need care while traveling?

Your Cimri membership travels with you. Virtual visits are available and your physician knows your full history regardless of where you are or what comes up. If you need in-person or emergency care while traveling outside of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, your physician can help you identify the right local resources and ensure whoever sees you has the context they need. You are never starting over with someone who doesn't know you.

GETTING STARTED

How do I get started?

Schedule a free intro call — a no-obligation virtual conversation. Ask anything and learn whether Cimri is the right fit.

If you choose to enroll, there is no enrollment fee and your first appointment is a comprehensive intake visit where your physician gets to know your full picture. That is where the care begins.


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Book a free intro call to learn whether Cimri is the right fit for you.

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