1
Free intro call
Fifteen minutes with the doctor you’re considering, by phone or video. No card needed. Ask anything.
The model, in plain English
You pay us a flat monthly fee. We take care of you. That’s it.
We never bill insurance — no claims, no codes, no billing department. That’s why our doctors can carry 450 patients instead of 2,400, and why your visits run 30–60 minutes instead of 7. Oregon regulates clinics like ours as “retainer medical practices” (we hold state certificate RM-2019-0417).
2
Enroll online — 10 minutes
Pick your clinic and doctor, sign a one-page agreement, pay the $99 household enrollment. Done.
3
One-hour first visit
Full history, medication review, labs if due — usually within two weeks. Then save the text line and use it freely.
What membership is not
It’s not insurance — and we’re direct about that
Membership covers your primary care: visits, sick care, procedures, coordination, text access. It does not cover hospitals, surgery, imaging like MRI, or specialists.
So keep a health plan for the big stuff — most members pair Fernwell with a high-deductible plan and come out ahead. We published the math for a family of four.
Questions
The details people ask about
Is Fernwell insurance?
No. Fernwell is a retainer medical practice (the Oregon term for direct primary care) — a flat monthly membership that covers your primary care directly, with no copays and no claims. It is not insurance and not a health plan. We recommend pairing membership with at least a high-deductible or catastrophic plan to cover emergencies, hospitalization and specialty care.
What does the membership actually include?
Unlimited office and virtual visits with your own clinician, same- or next-day sick visits, 30–60 minute appointments, direct text and phone access to your care team, an annual physical, basic office procedures, care coordination, at-cost labs, and access to our wholesale medication program. There are no copays and no per-visit bills for included care.
Do I still need health insurance?
Yes — we are clear about this. Membership covers primary care, which is most of what most people need in a year, but it does not cover hospital stays, surgery, imaging like MRI, or specialists. Most members pair Fernwell with a high-deductible plan, a marketplace bronze plan, or a health-sharing arrangement.
Can you bill my insurance for visits?
No. We do not bill insurance at all — that is what keeps our overhead (and your monthly price) low and your visits long. Your insurance still works normally everywhere else: pharmacies, imaging centers, specialists, hospitals.
I’m on Medicare. Can I join?
Yes. Our physicians have opted out of Medicare, so members 65+ sign a simple private contract for primary care (required by federal law, 42 U.S.C. §1395a(b)). Medicare is never billed for our care — but it continues to cover your outside labs, imaging, specialists and hospital care exactly as before.
Can I pay with my HSA?
Under current IRS guidance, direct primary care fees are generally not a qualified HSA expense, and paying with HSA funds may affect HSA eligibility if you have an HDHP. Many members simply pay by card and use the HSA for everything else. Please talk to a tax professional — we are doctors, not accountants.
What if I need a specialist or the ER?
We refer you, send your records ahead, and stay involved — many issues that would normally become referrals get solved in-house first. Emergencies still mean 911 and the ER; that is exactly what your insurance is for. Afterward, we handle the follow-up so nothing falls through the cracks.
How fast can I be seen when I’m sick?
In 2025, 92% of sick visits were seen same or next day. Start with a text — often the reply solves it, and if not, we hold same-day slots at both clinics every morning.
Become a member in about 10 minutes
Start with a free 15-minute intro call with the doctor of your choice. No card needed. No contracts — cancel any time with 30 days’ notice.
Memberships from $39/month · Household cap $299/month · 4.9★ on Google