Why I Left the Insurance System — and Built a Better Way to Care for My Patients

There was a moment in my career when I was ready to walk away from medicine completely.

Not because I stopped loving medicine or caring for my patients— but because the insurance-based system made it nearly impossible to care for my patients the way they deserved.

For years, I worked in different types of practices:

• Multi-specialty groups
• Physician-owned clinics
• Hospital-owned practices
• Even my own private office

But no matter where I went, I kept hearing the same message:

“You have to see more patients.”
“You need to be faster.”
“Your appointments are too long.”

I have never believed in five- or ten-minute medicine.
I believe in listening.
I believe in education.
I believe in explaining why we are making a change, not just telling a patient what to do.

Patients don’t just need prescriptions.
They need understanding, guidance, and a true partner in their health.

And the insurance model simply did not allow that.

The Day Everything Changed

One day, I told my husband:
“I’m done. I can’t keep practicing this way.”

That’s how exhausted and heartbroken I felt.

But then… I discovered something that changed everything for me and for my patients:

Direct Specialty Care (DSC) — a membership-based model that allows specialists to care for patients without the restrictions of insurance.

At first, I thought, “This might be good for me as a physician.”
But very quickly, I realized something even more important:

👉 Direct Specialty Care is even better for the PATIENT.

It removes barriers.
It removes delays.
It removes red tape.

Most importantly…
it puts the relationship between doctor and patient back at the center of healthcare.

Why I Chose This Model — For Both, ME and YOU

When I built my direct care endocrinology practice, I didn’t do it as a business experiment.
I built it to finally find that balance between the level of care my patients always deserved and releasing myself from the burden insurance companies place on physicians.

Here’s what this model makes possible:

✅ Longer visits — where we talk, learn, and plan together
✅ Direct access to me — no waiting weeks for answers
✅ Same-day help with medication issues or prior authorizations
✅ Support between visits, not just during them
✅ A true partnership, instead of a rushed transaction

“I’ve always believed that good medicine begins with listening. My patients know that when they need something, I take care of it right away — and when they have questions, we don’t have to wait for another visit; we address them right then and there.”

That is what healthcare should feel like.
And that is why I will never go back.

Why the Insurance System Continues to Fail Patients

Patients at other practices struggle with things that should be simple:

• Waiting months for appointments
• Feeling rushed through visits
• Doctors do not have time to listen
• Delays in medication approvals
• Getting referred back and forth
• Feeling like a number, not a person

In the insurance model, the system is designed to serve the insurance company—not the patient.

In Direct Care, I serve you.

What Direct Care Looks Like in Real Life

Let me paint a picture of what happens now in my practice:

You have an urgent question after hours?
You can message me directly.

Your glucose levels spike over the weekend?
We adjust quickly before it becomes a problem.

Your medication needs prior authorization?
I handle it the same day—in minutes, not weeks.

You feel overwhelmed or scared?
We talk. I listen. We make a plan together.

This is not just “care.”
This is partnership.

 

Why Endocrine Patients Need More Than a Quick Visit.

Endocrinology is part science and part art — and both require time. Whether you’re managing diabetes, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, PCOS, or thyroid cancer, every condition in endocrinology is deeply interconnected. Hormones don’t work in isolation, and neither should your care.

Managing diabetes, for example, means constant adjustments, ongoing monitoring, and emotional support through highs and lows. But the same is true for a patient whose thyroid medication needs fine-tuning, someone with brittle bones needing balance between calcium, vitamin D, and activity, or a young woman with PCOS navigating hormonal and emotional challenges.

As an endocrinologist — and as someone living with Type 1 diabetes since age 15 — I understand that lasting results come from listening, educating, and partnering closely with each patient. In a Direct Care model, I finally have the freedom and time to do just that: to go beyond quick visits, to adjust care in real time, and to prevent complications before they become emergencies.

Because real healing happens when there’s space for conversation, understanding, and trust — not when the clock is running out.

“Isn’t This Only for the Wealthy?” — Actually, No.

One of the biggest myths about Direct Care is that it’s only for people without insurance or people with high income.

The truth?

Most of my patients HAVE insurance.
Many are on Medicare.
Some have limited income.

What they all share is this:

✅ They care about their health
✅ They want access and support
✅ They value high-quality care over waiting and frustration

Patients have told me:

“I spend more on cable, nails, or eating out than I do on your membership…  and this actually improves my life.”

When people want to get better, they find a way.
And I am honored to be part of that journey.

Time to Listen. Space to Care.

In the traditional insurance system, patients often felt rushed, dismissed, or unheard.

In Direct Care, that changes. Many tell me, “Thank you for listening.”

 They feel seen, understood, and supported — and that transforms their care experience.

This model has also reignited my own love for medicine.

I finally have the time to think, research, and truly partner with my patients.

I get to focus on the quality of the care, not volume.

When your doctor is energized, present, and joyful, the care you receive isn’t just better — it’s life-changing.

I Shared My Story on

The Direct Care Podcast for Specialists

Recently, I was invited to share my journey on The Direct Podcast for Specialists with Dr. Tea Nguyen.

This podcast is primarily for other physicians who are considering leaving the insurance model and want to learn from specialists who have already made the transition.

Even though the conversation is between doctors, I believe it offers tremendous value to patients, because it shows:

✅ Why I left the traditional system
✅ The frustrations I experienced trying to care for patients
✅ How Direct Specialty Care allows me to put patients first
✅ Why does this model create better results and deeper relationships
✅ How does this benefit YOU as the patient most of all

👉 You can listen to the full episode here:  The Endocrinology Wellness Institute with Dr. Vanessa Rodriguez

Si prefieres que nos comuniquemos en español, AQUÍ tienes una copia en ESPAÑOL para que la puedas leer a tu conveniencia.

Ready to Experience Healthcare Differently?

If you’re curious about how this model works—or whether it’s right for you—let’s talk.

No pressure. Just a conversation.

👉 Learn more about our membership
👉 Schedule a consultation
👉 Contact us with any questions

Your health is worth it.

And I would be honored to support you on your journey.

Best regards,

Vanessa Rodríguez, MD, FACE ECNU