Advocate Direct Care

Membership fees at Advocate Direct Care follow an age-based structure. Children ages 0-18 pay $50 per month when paired with an adult membership. Adults ages 19-44 pay $90 per month, with a reduced rate of $65 for full-time college students. Adults ages 45-64 pay $100 per month, and members 65 and older pay $120 per month. All new members pay a one-time $100 registration fee per individual or family household. The membership covers unlimited visits with no copays and no coinsurance.

The membership covers unlimited in-person and virtual visits for as long as each visit requires. It also includes in-office procedures at no extra charge, such as EKGs, spirometry, laceration repair, joint injections, cryotherapy, skin biopsies, cyst removal, ingrown toenail removal, osteopathic manipulation, and Botox at wholesale cost. Annual wellness exams, well-woman exams, well-child visits, sports physicals, pre-surgical clearance, and mental health visits all fall under the membership as well. Labs through LabCorp are available at wholesale cost.

Yes. Members have 24/7 access to Dr. Shelton by phone, text, or video chat. The practice guarantees same or next-day appointments during regular hours. For situations where an office or telehealth visit is not appropriate, Dr. Shelton also makes house calls at her discretion.

Advocate Direct Care does not bill insurance for membership fees or in-office services. Members can still use their insurance for labs, imaging, specialist visits, and hospitalizations outside the practice. The practice works with major lab companies and local imaging centers to offer wholesale and discounted rates, often well below what insurance typically reimburses.

Yes, Advocate Direct Care accepts Medicare-eligible patients. To comply with federal law and prevent fraud, the practice asks members to sign a straightforward waiver as part of the patient agreement. Members can continue to use Medicare and any supplement plans for services, labs, and imaging performed outside the clinic.

Prospective members can sign up directly through the Advocate Direct Care website by selecting the appropriate enrollment link for individuals, couples, or families. After completing the form, the practice sends a welcome email and follows up to discuss the start of your care. Dr. Shelton reviews the terms of the patient-doctor agreement before membership is confirmed. The practice does not charge until membership is confirmed and the agreement is accepted.

Yes. Members can connect with Dr. Shelton via phone, text, or video chat around the clock. Telehealth visits carry no additional cost and count as part of the unlimited visit membership.

Yes. The practice asks for 30 days notice as a courtesy when cancelling. If a member cancels and later decides to re-enroll, a $200 re-enrollment fee applies.

Yes. The practice provides care for patients of all ages, from infants through older adults. Children ages 0-18 pay $50 per month with an adult membership. Dr. Shelton also offers pediatric home visits at her discretion, a service that does not exist in most traditional primary care settings.

The answer is not fully settled at the federal level. The IRS and the Affordable Care Act currently define qualified medical expenses differently, which creates ambiguity for DPC memberships. The practice recommends consulting a tax or financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation. Federal legislation on this issue remains ongoing.