A different way to pay

Posted on June 27 2011 by Lily Gilroy

Access Medical works like a co-op. Members pay a monthly fee regardless of whether they see a doctor. This creates a pool that helps cover costs for everyone. Visits to the clinic are never more than $50, and patients don’t receive a bill for costs later on. “There’s just a lot of families that absolutely need this,” owner Cannon Ferrell said. “And we’re proud of offering this to them.” The company opened its second clinic this month, along Oklahoma 66 in Catoosa, and Ferrell hopes to keep expanding. The original clinic is near 61st Street and Sheridan Road in Tulsa. The company has sold about 350 memberships since beginning operation about 18 months ago. Cost is $25 a month for a one- or two-person family or $35 a month for a family of three or more. There is also a $25 one-time setup fee. The clinic accepts Medicare, Medicaid and most major insurance companies, but also prides itself on affordability for people who have to pay their medical costs out of pocket. Most of the memberships are from small businesses and people who have retired but are not yet old enough to qualify for Medicare, Ferrell said. Sharyn Willard, a local Realtor, and her husband, who is also self-employed, use Access Medical for themselves and their two children. They’ve been members for about a year. They also have a Medical Savings Account that would cover major expenses, but use Access Medical for checkups, Willard said. “When you go, you know exactly what you’ll pay,” she said. She’s never had to wait long to see a doctor and has been happy with the medical care, she said. “I would definitely recommend it to everyone even if they have insurance,” she said. Ferrell and his wife, Kelly, began Access Medical after their son, then 3, got sick and had to go to the emergency room. They realized they had no idea how much the medical care would end up costing until they got the $400 bill weeks later. “Once you pay the co-pay, you’re not out of the woods,” Cannon Ferrell said. “The mystery is how much is coming in the mail.” To qualify for membership, at least one person in the household must be employed and have an active checking account. Heather Cagle, who lives in Verdigris and works in Catoosa, came to the clinic on a recent afternoon because of allergy problems that were making breathing difficult. She has insurance through work; the clinic was recommended as a way to keep down costs. “It’s convenient,” she said. Some reader comments for this page were copied from “Monday: Medical company modeled on co-op,” which was published on 6/26/2011. View All

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