Frequently Asked Questions

What is functional medicine?

Functional medicine is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of today. By shifting the disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Functional medicine practitioners spend more time with patients, listening to their histories and looking at interactions between environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors which influence health. Functional medicine involves understanding the origins, prevention, and treatment of complex, chronic disease. Hallmarks of a functional medicine approach include:

Patient-centered care. The focus of functional medicine is on patient-centered care, promoting health as a positive vitality, beyond just the absence of disease.

An integrative, science-based healthcare approach. Functional Medicine practitioners look “upstream” to consider the complex web of interactions in the patient’s history, physiology, and lifestyle that can lead to illness. The unique genetic makeup of each patient is considered, along with both internal (mind, body) and external (physical and social environment) factors that affect total functioning.

Integrating best medical practices. Functional Medicine integrates traditional Western medical practices with what are sometimes considered “alternative” or “integrative” medicine, creating a focus on prevention through nutrition, diet, and exercise; use of the latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques; and prescribed combinations of drugs and/or botanical medicines, supplements, therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, or stress-management techniques.

Why do we need functional medicine?

Our society is experiencing a sharp increase in the number of people who suffer from complex, chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. The system of medicine practiced by most physicians is oriented toward acute care, the diagnosis and treatment of trauma or illness that is of short duration and in need of urgent care, such as appendicitis or a broken leg. Unfortunately, the acute-care approach to medicine lacks the proper methodology and tools for preventing and treating complex, chronic disease.

There’s a huge gap between research and the way doctors practice. The gap between emerging research in basic sciences and integration into medical practice is enormous—as long as 50 years—particularly in the area of complex, chronic illness. Most physicians are not adequately trained to assess the underlying causes of complex, chronic disease and to apply strategies such as nutrition, diet, and exercise to both treat and prevent these illnesses in their patients.

Why a monthly membership model?

After many years of successfully treating patients with lifestyle interventions, it became clear that individuals tend to want to solve complex problems with a quick-fix mentality, which is challenging considering chronic disease and habits typically take many months to years to fully improve. Patients need regular ongoing care and motivation in order to acheive long-lasting change. With infrequent contact, you will tend to significantly disrupt your efforts at change, but with an all-inclusive membership model of care (Blue and Green Plans), you automatically prioritize your health with fewer choices to make and fewer barriers to success. All you have to do is show up (or not, i.e. video chat, private message).

What if I don't live near the Aspen Health office location?

Doctor Benson is licensed in NJ, PA, NY, NC, CA, WA, TX, and FL. Telemedicine services via video chat are available as an option for those living in these states. For best care in-person visits are strongly suggested for the first appointment and at least once yearly thereafter. Any other appointments may be via secure video chat if needed. If you live in a state not listed above, all appointments must be in-person. Patients living outside of the United States may become patients and may use telemedicine for their appointments. Group education visits are only available in-person at this time.

What is included in the Aspen Health membership?

Blue Plan

• $200 monthly
• Unlimited 30-minute private visits with the doctor
• Unlimited 60-minute group education visits
• Unlimited direct private messages to the doctor
• One annual Test: CIMT test ($300 value) OR $200 credit towards either Micronutrient Panel OR TruAge test per 12-month period
• EatLove meal-planning subscription
• 20% discount on recommended supplements via designated formulary (Fullscript)
• Additional services available separately at full price as follows:

TruAge Epigenetics panel $400

Micronutrient Panel $400

CIMT test $300

Green Plan

• $100 monthly
• Two hours of private visits with the doctor in any combination of 60-minute or 30-minute appointments per 12-month period
• Four annual 60-minute group education visits per 12-month period
• Unlimited direct private messages to the doctor
• One annual Test: CIMT test ($300 value) OR $200 credit towards either Micronutrient Panel OR TruAge test per 12-month period
• 20% discount on recommended supplements via designated formulary (Fullscript)
• Additional services available separately at full price as follows:

60-minute private $500

30-minute private $250

60-minute group $50

TruAge Epigenetics panel $400

Micronutrient Panel $400

CIMT test $300

EatLove meal-planning subscription $15/month

Yellow Plan

• $50 monthly
• ➢ One hour of private visits with the doctor (one 60-minute or two 30-minute appointments) per 12-months
• Unlimited direct private messages to the doctor
• 20% discount on recommended supplements via designated formulary (Fullscript)
• Additional services available separately at full price as follows:

60-minute private $500

30-minute private $250

60-minute group $50

TruAge Epigenetics panel $400

Micronutrient Panel $400

CIMT test $300

EatLove meal-planning subscription $15/month

What is not included in the Aspen Health membership?

• The cost of the initial 90-min appointment ($600).
• The costs of laboratory testing (except for the included epigenetic or CIMT test in the Blue and Green plans) and any phlebotomy services. Some tests may be partially or fully covered by your health insurance plan while others may not be covered at all.
• Medications (prescription and over-the-counter)
• Supplements, medical foods, and other prescribed products and services. However, if purchased via Aspen Health's designated formulary (Fullscript), then a discount of 20% off will be applied.

Are there any other fees?

Following the cost of the initial 90-min visit, which is required prior to initiation of any of the Membership Plans, and the monthly membership fee, there are no other fees for an Aspen Health Blue Membership Plan except for any additional tests not already included. For the Green and Yellow Membership Plans, other fees such as additional visits or tests not already included in the Plans will apply.

Do you offer any special discounts?

Yes! The following discount is currently available:

Family Discount

Family groups are eligible for a 10% discount on monthly membership fees. Eligibility requirements:

• Couples, parent(s) with dependent children
• Each must be living together in the same household

Can I bring a friend or family member to the group education visits?

Yes. Current Aspen Health members may bring up to one non-member guest to any single group visit.

What about health insurance and health savings accounts (HSA)?

• Aspen Health does not participate in any health insurance plan and has opted out of Medicare/Medicaid plans. However, if you have out-of-network benefits, services may be partially covered by your plan. Also, if you have an FSA (flexible savings account) or HSA (health savings account), it may be used to pay our membership fees (contact your account representative to confirm). Aspen Health will not submit insurance claims for you, but may assist you with the documentation needed to help you submit on your own, if requested.
• Aspen Health is not health insurance and does not replace your health insurance plan. We recommend keeping your health insurance coverage for emergencies and other covered care which may include some coverage for your membership fees and testing prescribed at Aspen Health. However, Aspen Health believes that you as a consumer have a choice where to put your high deductible dollars. Why not put them towards getting real long-term results, saving you healthcare costs for a lifetime?

Can Aspen Health be my primary care provider?

Yes. However, although Dr. Benson is trained in family medicine and can be your main source of treatment advice, Aspen Health does not offer all typical primary care services, such as urgent/emergent care, vaccinations, biopsies, and rapid strep/mono/flu/COVID-19 testing, all of which can be fullfilled by other specialist providers (urgent care, dermatology, orthopedics, pharmacies, etc.) and as they would be fully covered by your health insurance plan via these providers. Referrals to these providers for services not offered at Aspen Health will be recommended when appropriate.

Do you offer same-day visits?

Aspen Health does not generally offer same-day visits. However, for non-urgent matters that don't require an entire office visit time slot, you may use private secure messaging via the patient portal. Dr. Benson will generally respond within 24 hours, however, it may take up to 72 hours. If you feel you have a true emergency, call 911, or go to an emergency room or urgent care center.

What tests do you offer?

If you are a member of the Blue or Green Plan, one of the following tests are included in the cost of membership (CIMT test or epigenetics test), one test per 12-month membership period. Aspen Health offers a wide range of other standard and specialized tests to help with diagnosing and tracking results which are not included in the membership. Standard testing is typically covered by your health insurance plan, whereas other more specialized testing may either be partially covered or not covered at all by your health insurance plan. Some of the tests commonly ordered include comprehensive stool testing, comprehensive cardiometabolic panels, autoimmune antibody testing, food sensitivity and allergy panels, acute and chronic infection testing (tick-borne, viral), hormone testing, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) testing, AI-based CCTA (Cleerly), sleep study, genetic and epigenetic testing, mold and chemical testing, heavy metal testing, cancer screening tests, and micronutrient testing.

What treatments do you prescribe?

Common treatments utilized at Aspen Health include: dietary optimization, nutriceuticals and supplements, movement/exercise, sleep optimization, stress management, fasting/fasting-mimicking diet, sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), and prescriiption medications if needed.

What if I change my mind?

Cancellation Policy

Aspen Health is designed to provide supportive services throughout your entire health journey. Lifestyle changes take time and require long-term support, repeat testing, adjustments in care, and accountibility. However, if you feel we are not a good fit after becoming a member, you may cancel your membership at any time by communicating to Dr. Benson via direct messaging or at one of your visits. Upon cancellation, if the value of the below used services within your current 12-month plan period is more than the total membership fees paid during the same 12-month plan period, the difference will be charged upon cancellation. The value of the services are as follows:

60-minute private $500

30-minute private $250

60-minute group $50

Epigenetics test $300

Carotid Intima Media Thickness (CIMT) test $300

EatLove subscription $15 per month

For example, if you had paid $200 per month in Blue Membership fees following the initial 60-minute visit (paid separately), and attended three 30-minute follow-up visits, one CIMT test, and three group education visits, while also using the EatLove subscription and decided to cancel the membership after 6 months, you would be charged $90 which is the difference of the value of three 30-minute doctor visits ($750) plus one CIMT test ($300), plus three group education visits ($150), plus 6 months of EatLove subscription ($90) less membership fees paid ($1200) or [$1290-$1200]). You would not be charged the monthly membership fee after cancellation.

Plan Change Policy

Once you start on a Membership Plan, it is for a 12-month period. If you wish to change Membership Plans, you may do so at any time upon request to Dr. Benson via direct messaging or during one of your visits. If the Plan change occurs prior to the end of the 12-month period of the prior Plan, you must cancel your Plan and start a new 12-month period in your newly chosen Plan. The above cancellation policy would apply and a new start date for the newly chosen Membership Plan and the associated 12-month period would begin.