by Angelique Soenarie

With rising health care costs and unemployment, prepaid visits to the doctor are one way for the uninsured to afford medical care.

A new Mesa company, the No Insurance Club, is leading the trend by enrolling doctors and nearly 700 uninsured individuals who are willing to pay an annual fee that allows them to see a doctor and obtain low-cost prescriptions when needed.

Two years ago, Sam Sannoufi, a Gilbert family medicine doctor, began experimenting with giving his patients an option to prepay a flat fee for office visits. About 400 patients thought it was such a good idea that it has become Sannoufi's new business model.

Since starting the No Insurance Club in January, he has signed up nearly 700 patients through referrals from participating doctors.

"Sam was charging patients in advance to come see him, and he made his own prepaid program. He had 400 patients who loved the program," said co-founder Chad Harris.

In 2007, the uninsured in the U.S. numbered 45 million, according to a study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute in Washington, D.C. That number is expected to grow as more and more people find themselves unemployed and battling the high cost of living.

"We provide to those who can't afford insurance," said Harris, whose company focuses on a network of family and internal medicine practices.

In its first month, the company outgrew its 1,600-square-foot office in Gilbert and moved to a 6,500-square-foot center at Power and Baseline roads in east Mesa.

It grew to a 30-member workforce from 10 people who cold-call doctors and try to get them interested in the program. Already, the company has enrolled eight doctors to become participants. One of them, a Gilbert practice, enrolled 500 of its patients who purchased health packages that allow for up to 12 office visits a year. The No Insurance Club offers health benefit packages focus on preventive care.

About 99 percent of individuals will do office visits, and one percent will go to the hospital, Harris said.

Individuals pay $480 a year for 12 visits, and families pay $680 for 16 visits. There are no premiums, co-pays or deductibles, Harris said. The package includes immunizations and blood work. In-office prescription cost less than $4, which is done through a contract with Pharmalink.

Mesa, Arizona – March 12, 2009 – The No Insurance Club today announced that it has added doctors to it's growing list of participating physicians in Hinsdale, IL, New York City and Atlanta.

Ariston Family Medicine of Hinsdale, IL, Family Practice at Peachwood-Dunwoody in Atlanta, GA and Midtown Primary Care of New York City are the latest of a string of new clinics offering the services and benefits of the No Insurance Club.

“I joined the No Insurance Club because it frees me and my patients from restrictions placed by insurance companies and the high expense of basic medical care,” said Dr. Douros. “Patients are always asking ‘will my insurance cover this’ when it comes to visits, medicines and procedures. As a physician my obligation to them is to do what is best for them, and at times the cost or lack of insurance coverage precludes this from happening or puts patients into debt. This saddens me greatly and has often left me dissatisfied as their medical caregiver,” continued Douros.

The Mesa Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting February 9, 2009 at 11:30 AM to celebrate the No Insurance Club's move into its new office space at 6636 E Baseline Road in Mesa, AZ.

About the No Insurance Club

The No Insurance Club is a members-only prepaid health care program that offers an affordable alternative to traditional medical insurance. Individuals and families without medical coverage now have an affordable option for preventative health care. They can see a board certified physician throughout the year, receive free tests, deep discount prescriptions, free annual full panel blood work all for one low annual fee. No deductibles, co-pays or premiums ever. "The No insurance Club is exactly what patients need. It is a perfect bridge to cross the gap for thousands of patients that have no insurance, who have recently lost their insurance, or have catastrophic coverage and no basic doctor visit services. Patients are raving about the No Insurance Club," said Dr. J Napoleon Ortiz, MD of Higley Family Medicine in Gilbert. "The club is just that, a members-only program that provides affordable services for the basic everyday doctor visits."

Editors Note: For more information please visit Noinsuranceclub.com.

SOURCE: No Insurance Club

Wild West PR Bob Grove, 801-542-9217 bob@wildwestpr.com