HealthSpan Chicago is built around a simple idea: great healthcare requires time, trust, and a physician who actually knows you. Here's exactly what that looks like — from your first conversation to ongoing care.
HealthSpan Chicago operates as a Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice — a membership-based model where you pay a flat annual fee directly to your physician, with no insurance involvement for membership services. This removes the middleman entirely and allows Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, to focus 100% of his attention on your care rather than on billing codes, reimbursement schedules, and administrative overhead.
This is not insurance. Membership fees are a direct payment for primary care services — which is why we require all members to maintain their own health insurance for specialist care, hospitalizations, imaging, and services outside the scope of membership. Think of HealthSpan Chicago as the foundation of your healthcare — the physician who knows you best, advocates for you most, and coordinates everything else on your behalf.
Every membership begins with a free 20-minute conversation directly with Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO — not a scheduler, not a nurse line. This is your opportunity to share where you are with your health, what your long-term goals look like, and what's been frustrating you about your current healthcare experience. It's also Dr. Saunders' opportunity to make sure HealthSpan Chicago is the right fit for you. There is no obligation and no pressure. It's simply a conversation. Appointments are guaranteed within 48 business hours for non-urgent needs, and same-day or next-day appointments are available for urgent concerns.
Once you become a member you will complete a comprehensive longevity lab panel — the most advanced baseline testing available in primary care. This includes ApoB, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, Cystatin C, a full thyroid panel, complete hormone panel, inflammation markers, and more. You will also complete a DEXA body composition scan and VO2 max cardiovascular testing, establishing your personal health baseline and identifying your biggest opportunities for improvement. Payment plans are available — annual, semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly — and HSA/FSA funds may be eligible toward membership fees.
Before your initial visit you will complete a comprehensive health history and intake forms. This ensures that Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, arrives at your first appointment already familiar with your background, your concerns, your medications, and your goals. No starting from scratch in the exam room. No repeating yourself. Your time is spent moving forward — not catching up.
Your initial visit is a comprehensive deep dive — not a 15-minute checkup. Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO, will review your baseline lab results, DEXA findings, and VO2 max data alongside your health history and personal goals to build a fully individualized plan designed around your life. This is where your 30-year health roadmap begins — with clear, evidence-based priorities, targeted interventions, and a shared understanding of where you are and where you're going.
This is where the real work happens. As a member you have unlimited in-office and telemedicine visits with no per-visit fee, direct phone and email access to Dr. Saunders during business hours, quarterly check-ins to track progress and adjust your plan, and after-hours emergency access for genuine urgent medical concerns. You also receive members-only webinars and educational content tailored to your health goals — because informed patients make better decisions, and better decisions compound over decades
Membership at HealthSpan Chicago includes everything below — with no hidden fees, no surprise bills, and no co-pays.
We believe in being completely upfront about what membership includes and what falls outside of it. The following services are not included in membership fees and are the member's financial responsibility — most of which can be billed through your health insurance:
Individual Membership — $5,000/year
Single member. All visits, comprehensive testing, direct physician access, and care coordination included.
Spouse / Partner Add-On — $4,500/year ($9,500/year total)
Same comprehensive benefits for a spouse or partner added to an existing individual membership.
Family Membership — Contact Practice for Pricing
Family tier pricing is available upon request. Please contact us directly to discuss your family's needs.
If you completed an initial consultation with HealthSpan Chicago prior to enrolling in membership within the same calendar year, a credit of $750 will be applied toward your first year's membership fee.
Direct primary care membership fees may be eligible for payment using a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account. We recommend confirming eligibility with your HSA/FSA administrator before enrolling
THIS MEMBERSHIP IS NOT HEALTH INSURANCE. Membership fees are a payment for Direct Primary Care services only. Members are required to maintain their own health insurance coverage for services outside the scope of this membership.
Medicare does not cover Direct Primary Care membership fees. Members enrolled in Medicare (Part A, B, C, or D) may still use their Medicare benefits for services outside this membership — including specialist care, hospitalizations, and imaging. Members who are enrolled in Medicare will be required to complete a separate Medicare opt-out agreement. Please contact us directly if you have questions about Medicare and membership.
As a HealthSpan Chicago member you have the right to receive care that is respectful, considerate, and non-discriminatory. You have the right to participate in all decisions regarding your healthcare, refuse any recommended treatment or diagnostic test, obtain a second opinion, and access your medical records. You also have the right to terminate your membership in accordance with the terms of your membership agreement.
We ask that members maintain their health insurance, provide accurate medical history, give at least 24-hours notice for appointment cancellations, use after-hours access only for genuine emergencies, and treat the practice staff and physician with courtesy and respect.
The first step is a free 20-minute Discovery Call with Dr. Tyler J. Saunders, DO. No obligation, no pressure — just a conversation about your health and what's possible. Membership is intentionally limited so we can deliver the level of care every patient deserves.
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