Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

HealthSpan Chicago is a membership-based longevity medicine practice located in Deerfield, Illinois serving the greater Chicago and North Shore area. Founded by Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, the practice is built around prevention, lifestyle, and optimization — giving patients the time, attention, and individualized care that the traditional healthcare system simply doesn't allow.

Longevity refers to how long you live. Healthspan refers to how well you live — the number of years you spend in good health, with energy, strength, and mental clarity. At HealthSpan Chicago we believe that the goal isn't simply a longer life, but a longer healthy life. Our entire practice is built around extending your healthspan — so that the years you gain are years you actually want to be living.

Direct primary care is a membership-based healthcare model where patients pay a flat annual fee directly to their physician — no insurance middlemen, no co-pays, no surprise bills. This model allows the physician to keep their patient panel small and spend meaningful time with each patient rather than rushing through 15-minute appointments.

Longevity medicine is an evidence-based approach to healthcare focused on extending not just how long you live, but how well you live. It combines advanced diagnostics, lifestyle intervention, functional medicine, and personalized care plans to address the root causes of aging and chronic disease — before they take hold.

Concierge medicine and direct primary care both offer smaller patient panels and more physician access than traditional practices — and that's a meaningful improvement. Where HealthSpan Chicago goes further is in what we do with that time. Most concierge practices still operate within a traditional reactive model — seeing you when something is wrong and managing existing conditions. At HealthSpan Chicago the entire focus is proactive — advanced longevity testing, root cause functional medicine, lifestyle intervention, and a 30-year health roadmap built around your personal goals. We're not just giving you more access to the same medicine. We're practicing a fundamentally different kind of medicine.

The longevity medicine space is growing rapidly and many clinics offer impressive one-time testing panels and detailed reports. What often gets lost is what happens next. At HealthSpan Chicago longevity medicine is delivered within a true continuity of care model — meaning Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, knows you, tracks your progress over time, adjusts your plan as your health evolves, and is directly accessible when you need him. A single snapshot of your biomarkers is only as valuable as the ongoing relationship that turns those results into meaningful, lasting change. That's what we're built to provide.

Most primary care physicians manage panels of 1,500–2,500 patients, leaving little time for the kind of deep, personalized care that actually moves the needle on long-term health. At HealthSpan Chicago we keep our practice intentionally small, offer same-day and next-day appointments, direct physician access, and quarterly check-ins — focused entirely on your long-term goals, not just your immediate symptoms.

No. HealthSpan Chicago is 100% independently owned and operated by Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO. We have no affiliation with any hospital system, insurance company, or private equity group. This independence is intentional — it ensures that every decision we make is driven entirely by what is best for our patients, not outside financial interests.

HealthSpan Chicago is located at 707 Lake Cook Road, Suite 340, Deerfield, Illinois 60015, serving patients throughout the Chicago North Shore suburban area including Deerfield, Northbrook, Glenview, Highland Park, Winnetka, and the greater Chicagoland area. Virtual appointments are also available.

HealthSpan Chicago membership is $5,000 per year for an individual — less than $14 per day to invest in the one body you have. Couples and family pricing is available upon request. Payment plans are available including annual, semi-annual, quarterly, and monthly options.

HealthSpan Chicago is a direct primary care practice and does not accept insurance for membership fees. This is intentional — by removing insurance from the equation we can focus entirely on your care rather than on billing codes and reimbursement schedules. We do require all members to maintain active health insurance coverage for specialist care, hospitalizations, emergencies, and any services outside the scope of membership.

Yes. While membership fees are not covered by insurance, many services outside of your membership may be billed through your insurance. Labs ordered outside of your comprehensive longevity panel, imaging studies, and any additional testing or referrals outside the scope of the practice are all eligible to be billed through your insurance plan. We will always be transparent about what is included in your membership and what may involve your insurance.

Membership includes unlimited virtual and in-person visits, direct physician access, same-day and next-day appointments, a comprehensive longevity lab panel, annual DEXA body composition scan, VO2 max cardiovascular testing, a personalized health roadmap, quarterly check-ins, discounted osteopathic manipulative therapy sessions, and members-only webinars and educational content. One transparent price — no hidden fees, no surprise bills.

Direct primary care membership fees may be eligible for payment using a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account depending on your plan. We recommend checking with your HSA or FSA administrator to confirm eligibility before enrolling.

Membership is structured as an annual agreement with flexible payment plan options. Please contact us directly to discuss the specifics of our membership terms and cancellation policy.

Beginning June 2026, HealthSpan Chicago will offer a standalone initial consultation for individuals who want expert longevity and lifestyle guidance without committing to a full membership. This is a purely advisory service and does not replace primary care. Follow-up sessions are available at the physician's discretion for those who wish to continue the conversation after their initial visit. Initial consultation: $750. Follow-up sessions: $350.

Members have direct access to Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, during regular business hours. For true medical emergencies outside of business hours, Dr. Saunders can be reached directly. Please note that after-hours contact is reserved for genuine urgent medical situations — not routine questions or prescription refills, which are handled during business hours. Our membership agreement outlines the specific terms of after-hours access in detail.

HealthSpan Chicago has partnered with Baxley Family Medicine to provide coverage when Dr. Saunders is unavailable or traveling. Dr. Baxley is a trusted physician colleague who shares our office space and is available to assist members when needed. Dr. Baxley's involvement in your care is limited exclusively to periods when Dr. Saunders is unavailable — your primary relationship remains with Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, at all times.

No. Baxley Family Medicine and HealthSpan Chicago are separate, independent medical practices. We operate as a cooperative sharing office space and certain administrative resources, but each practice maintains complete independence in patient care and medical decision-making. Dr. Baxley will only be involved in your care in the event that Dr. Saunders is unavailable.

Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician, former Chief Resident, and former core faculty member of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Swedish Hospital — Endeavor Health in Chicago. He completed his medical training at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and conducted pancreatic cancer research at the Johns Hopkins Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center prior to medical school. He is also a certified practitioner through the Institute for Functional Medicine.

A DO, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, is a fully licensed physician who completes the same medical training and board certification requirements as an MD. In addition, DOs receive specialized training in osteopathic manipulative medicine, which focuses on the relationship between the body's structure and its function. Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, is board-certified in Internal Medicine through the American Board of Internal Medicine — the same certification held by MD internists.

The Institute for Functional Medicine is a leading organization dedicated to advancing the practice of functional medicine — an evidence-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease rather than simply managing symptoms. Certification through the IFM requires completing a rigorous training program and demonstrating competency in applying functional medicine principles to patient care.

Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, has been featured in leading media outlets covering health, longevity, and lifestyle medicine including CBS Chicago, WGN Chicago, Food & Wine Magazine, Veranda Magazine, The Chicago Botanic Garden  —  Garden Stories, and Peloton — The Output. He also regularly appears as a guest on podcasts and delivers community lectures and corporate wellness presentations across the Chicago area.

Yes. Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, offers both in-person and virtual appointments. Virtual visits are available at the physician's discretion depending on the nature of the visit. Some appointments require an in-person physical examination and cannot be conducted virtually. The practice is located at 707 Lake Cook Road, Suite 340, Deerfield, Illinois 60015 and serves patients throughout the Chicago North Shore area.

Most standard annual physicals include basic cholesterol and blood sugar — markers that often don't change until disease is already present. At HealthSpan Chicago we go significantly deeper. Our comprehensive longevity lab panel includes ApoB, advanced lipid testing, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, Cystatin C, a full thyroid panel, complete hormone panel, and inflammation markers — giving us a much earlier and more accurate picture of your long-term health trajectory.

A DEXA scan is a highly accurate body composition test that measures bone density, muscle mass, and visceral fat. Unlike a standard scale or BMI measurement, a DEXA scan tells us exactly what your body is made of — information that is critical for understanding your metabolic health, injury risk, and long-term vitality. Visceral fat in particular is one of the strongest predictors of chronic disease and is invisible without this kind of testing. Please contact us directly for details on how and where DEXA scanning is currently available to our members.

VO2 max measures how efficiently your body uses oxygen during exercise and is the single strongest predictor of all-cause mortality we have in medicine — more predictive than blood pressure, cholesterol, or smoking status. Individuals in the bottom 25% of VO2 max for their age have roughly five times the risk of early death compared to those in the top 25%. At HealthSpan Chicago, VO2 max testing is part of every member's baseline evaluation because if we don't know where you're starting, we can't build a meaningful plan to improve it. Please contact us directly for details on how and where VO2 max testing is currently available to our members.

ApoB is a protein that surrounds every particle of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream. Research shows that the number of ApoB particles — not just the total amount of cholesterol — is the most accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease risk. A standard cholesterol panel can look normal while ApoB is dangerously elevated. Testing ApoB gives us a significantly more accurate picture of your true cardiovascular risk.

Fasting insulin is one of the earliest markers of insulin resistance — a metabolic condition that can develop years or even decades before a diabetes diagnosis appears on a standard blood test. By measuring fasting insulin alongside HbA1c and HOMA-IR, we can identify metabolic dysfunction early and intervene with lifestyle changes before it progresses to pre-diabetes or diabetes.

Yes. Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, is a fully licensed Internal Medicine physician and can prescribe medications when clinically appropriate. However, the philosophy at HealthSpan Chicago is to address root causes through lifestyle, nutrition, and targeted interventions first whenever possible. Medications are a tool in our toolkit — not the default first step.

Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy is a hands-on treatment approach used to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal conditions, improve mobility, and support the body's natural healing processes. It is a core part of osteopathic medical training and something Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, incorporates into patient care when clinically appropriate. OMT sessions are available to members at a discounted rate as part of their membership benefits.

Yes. Care coordination is an important part of what we do. When specialist referrals, imaging, or additional testing is needed, Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, will advocate on your behalf to connect you with the right providers and ensure continuity of your care throughout the process.

The first step is scheduling a free 20-minute Discovery Call with Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO. This is a no-obligation conversation to learn about your health goals, answer your questions, and make sure HealthSpan Chicago is the right fit for you. From there we'll walk you through the enrollment process and get you started on your personalized health journey.

The Discovery Call is a free 20-minute conversation directly with Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO — not a scheduler, not a nurse line. We'll talk about where you are with your health, what your goals are for the long term, what's been frustrating you about your current healthcare experience, and whether HealthSpan Chicago is the right fit. There is no obligation and no pressure — it's simply a conversation.

HealthSpan Chicago is built around same-day and next-day appointment availability. Once you become a member you will have direct access to Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, and can expect to be seen quickly when you need care — not weeks from now.

Yes — membership at HealthSpan Chicago is intentionally limited. We keep our patient panel small so that every member receives the time, attention, and quality of care they deserve. We open a limited number of membership spots as the practice grows. If you are interested we encourage you to schedule a Discovery Call sooner rather than later.

HealthSpan Chicago will begin seeing patients in Spring 2026 with full in-person care launching in Summer 2026. Virtual appointments and consultations may be available prior to that date. Please contact us directly for the most current information on availability and scheduling. Discovery Calls are available now — we encourage you to schedule yours today to be among the first to join.

Before your first appointment you will complete a comprehensive health history and intake forms so Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, arrives already familiar with your background, concerns, and goals. We recommend bringing any recent lab results, imaging reports, or records from previous physicians that you feel are relevant to your care. The more context we have, the more productive your first visit will be.

Not necessarily — membership at HealthSpan Chicago can serve as your primary care relationship, but it doesn't have to. Some members choose to maintain their current primary care physician while using HealthSpan Chicago for longevity medicine, functional health, and optimization. If this is your plan we simply ask that you let us know so we can coordinate your care appropriately and make sure nothing falls through the cracks. Our consultation service — launching June 2026 — is purely advisory and does not establish a primary care relationship. If you have questions about how membership fits into your current healthcare setup we are happy to discuss this on your Discovery Call.

HealthSpan Chicago is an adult medicine practice. All members must be 18 years of age or older.