Category: Blog

How direct access labs give you more control over your healthcare

For many people, getting lab work done feels like a long and unnecessary process. You schedule a doctor’s visit, wait for the appointment, get a lab order, then go somewhere else for the blood draw, and finally wait again for results. If you are simply trying to check your cholesterol, monitor a condition, or get baseline labs, this process can feel inefficient and time consuming. The good news is that there is another option. Direct access labs allow you to order many common lab tests without needing a traditional doctor’s visit first, significantly expediting the process. At Solstice Health, we offer direct access lab testing so patients can take a more proactive and convenient approach to their health.

What Are Direct Access Labs?

Direct access labs, sometimes called self order labs, allow patients to request specific lab tests on their own. Instead of going through the traditional insurance based referral process, you can choose the tests you want and complete them directly. This model is designed to make routine lab work more accessible and transparent. Common tests available through direct access labs include blood panels, hormone testing, metabolic panels, and other preventive screenings. Patients can select what they need based on their health goals or provider recommendations.

Why Patients Are Choosing Direct Access Lab Testing

More patients are looking for ways to simplify their healthcare experience. Direct access labs provide a straightforward alternative to the traditional process.

Key advantages include:

• No referral required
• Faster access to testing
• Transparent pricing
• Greater control over your health decisions

For individuals managing ongoing health concerns or simply wanting to stay on top of their wellness, this model removes unnecessary delays and barriers.

How Direct Access Labs Work at Solstice Health

At Solstice Health, we make the process simple and coordinated. Patients can request lab testing directly through our team without needing a separate doctor’s visit just to get an order. Once your labs are completed, our providers can help interpret the results and guide next steps if needed. This ensures that patients are not just receiving numbers on a report, but actually understanding what those results mean for their health. Because we operate outside of traditional insurance billing, our lab pricing is also clear and predictable.

When It Still Makes Sense to See a Provider

Direct access labs are a powerful tool, but they are not a replacement for comprehensive medical care. If you are experiencing new or concerning symptoms, it is important to speak with a provider who can evaluate your full clinical picture and recommend appropriate testing. Direct access labs work best as part of a proactive approach to health, whether you are monitoring an existing condition, tracking progress, or establishing a baseline. At Solstice Health, patients have the flexibility to use direct access labs while also having a trusted provider available when they need deeper evaluation or ongoing care.

If you are looking for a faster, more transparent way to manage your health, direct access labs offer a practical solution. Learn more about direct access lab testing at Solstice Health and take a more active role in your care.

Recognizing leadership, innovation, and impact in healthcare

We are proud to share an exciting milestone for Solstice Health. Our founder, Dr. Timothy Murray, has been inducted into the Titan 100 Wisconsin Hall of Fame.

This recognition is reserved for an elite group of leaders who have earned a place on the Titan 100 list for three consecutive years. It reflects not just a moment of success, but sustained excellence, innovation, and meaningful impact within an industry.

What the Titan 100 Hall of Fame Represents

The Titan 100 program honors top executives and entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of business within their communities. Induction into the Hall of Fame signifies a consistent track record of leadership, vision, and results.

For Dr. Murray, this recognition highlights years of dedication to rethinking how healthcare is delivered. His work has focused on building a model that prioritizes transparency, accessibility, and patient centered care.

A Different Approach to Healthcare Leadership

Under Dr. Murray’s leadership, Solstice Health has continued to challenge the traditional healthcare system by offering alternatives that remove complexity and improve the patient experience.

This includes:

• Direct Primary Care memberships that eliminate insurance barriers
• Transparent, affordable surgical pricing that removes uncertainty
• Innovative services like hyperbaric oxygen therapy delivered in a clinical setting

Each of these initiatives reflects a commitment to making healthcare more approachable and predictable for patients and employers alike.

Recognizing Impact Beyond the Organization

Awards like the Titan 100 Hall of Fame are not just about business success. They represent the broader impact a leader has on their industry and community.

Dr. Murray’s work has helped expand access to care, reduce financial barriers, and introduce new ways of thinking about healthcare delivery. That influence extends beyond Solstice Health and contributes to a larger shift in how care can be provided more effectively.

This recognition reinforces the direction Solstice Health is headed. As the organization continues to grow, the focus remains the same: delivering high quality care with clarity, efficiency, and a strong emphasis on the patient experience.

We are honored to see Dr. Murray recognized among such a distinguished group of leaders and look forward to continuing the work that earned this achievement.To read more about Dr. Murray’s recognition, visit the official feature on the Titan 100 website.

How direct access surgery makes Solstice Health a destination for transparent, high quality care

If you have been researching surgery costs, you have likely come across surgical tourism. Traveling for care has become increasingly common, especially for patients facing high deductibles, long wait times, or unclear pricing.

But traveling internationally is not the only option.

A growing number of patients are choosing to travel within the United States for surgery, seeking out direct surgical care providers who offer transparent pricing, coordinated care, and a better overall experience. In many cases, this approach delivers the same cost savings people are looking for, without the added risks of going abroad.

At Solstice Health, we regularly treat patients who reside outside of Wisconsin & choose to travel to us for surgical care because they want clarity, quality, and a process they can trust.

Why Patients Travel for Surgery in the First Place

Surgical tourism exists because the traditional system often makes care difficult to access and even harder to understand.

Patients are typically driven by three factors. Cost is the most common. Many people have high deductible plans and are responsible for thousands of dollars out of pocket before insurance contributes.

Access is another major issue. Scheduling delays, referrals, and insurance approvals can slow down care significantly.

Finally, there is the issue of transparency. Patients are rarely given a clear, all in price before a procedure, making it difficult to plan or compare options.

When those frustrations build up, traveling for surgery starts to feel like a reasonable solution.

Why Traveling Abroad Is Not the Only Answer

While international surgical tourism can offer lower upfront pricing, it also introduces additional complexity.

Patients must consider how preoperative evaluations will be handled, what happens if complications arise after returning home, and how follow up care will be managed. Travel itself can also impact recovery, especially when flying soon after surgery.

For many patients, the appeal of lower pricing is balanced by uncertainty around safety, coordination, and continuity of care.

That is why more patients are looking for an option that provides the benefits of surgical tourism without leaving the country.

How Solstice Health Has Become a Destination for Surgical Care

At Solstice Health, we offer a model that addresses the core reasons patients consider traveling in the first place.

We provide transparent, bundled surgical pricing so patients know the full cost before scheduling. There are no separate bills arriving weeks later and no confusion about what is included.

We also coordinate the entire process, from initial consultation through post operative care. Patients are not navigating multiple systems or trying to piece together their care on their own.

Because of this approach, patients from outside our immediate community are choosing to travel to Wisconsin for surgery. They are looking for a more straightforward, patient centered experience and they have found it with Solstice Health.

How Cost Compares to Insurance and High Deductible Plans

One of the biggest misconceptions in healthcare is that using insurance always results in lower costs.

In reality, many patients today have high deductible plans that require them to pay several thousand dollars out of pocket before coverage begins. For many procedures, that means they are effectively paying the full cost themselves.

What makes this more challenging is that those costs are often not clear upfront, making it impossible to budget. Even worse, patients may still receive multiple bills and unexpected charges even after using insurance.

With direct access surgery at Solstice Health, patients receive a single, transparent price before the procedure. In many cases, that cost is comparable to or lower than what a patient would pay toward their deductible in the traditional system.

This allows patients to plan with confidence and avoid financial surprises.

What Traveling Patients Can Expect

Patients who choose to travel to Solstice Health for surgery benefit from a structured and coordinated experience.

We guide patients through each step, including consultation, scheduling, the procedure itself, and follow up care. Because everything is managed within one system, communication is clear and consistent.

For those coming from outside the area, our team helps ensure the process is as smooth and predictable as possible so patients can focus on their recovery.

Most importantly, patients know who their care team is and how to reach them without placing international calls or sending unanswered emails, both before and after surgery.

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A Smarter Way to Approach Surgical Tourism

Traveling for surgery is not a new concept, but where patients choose to go is evolving.

You no longer have to leave the country to find affordable, transparent surgical care. By traveling within the United States to a provider that prioritizes clarity and coordination, patients can achieve the same goals with greater confidence and continuity.

At Solstice Health, we are proud to lead that shift. By combining transparent pricing with a patient first approach, we are helping patients from across the region access high quality surgical care without the uncertainty of traditional models.

If you are considering surgery and exploring your options, traveling to a trusted, transparent provider may be the solution you have been looking for. Contact our care team today to speak with our team, review pricing, and see if traveling to us is the right fit for your care.

Understanding surgery cost without insurance and why transparent pricing is changing healthcare

If you have ever tried to figure out what a surgery will cost, you probably discovered something frustrating. Most hospitals cannot give you a clear answer ahead of time.

Patients are often told that the final cost depends on their insurance, their deductible, the facility, anesthesia, and a long list of other variables. The result is uncertainty that leaves many people delaying needed care because they are worried about the financial impact.

But the truth is that surgery does not have to be unpredictable. In fact, many patients are surprised to learn that the cost of surgery without insurance can sometimes be lower than what they would pay through their insurance plan.

At Solstice Health, we offer transparent, bundled pricing with our surgical partners so patients can see the total cost of a procedure before scheduling it.

Why Surgery Costs Are So Hard to Understand

In the traditional healthcare system, surgery pricing is fragmented. Instead of one clear price, multiple entities bill separately for their portion of the procedure.

A patient may receive bills from the surgeon, the surgical facility, anesthesia, imaging, and lab work. These charges are often processed through insurance contracts that determine what is billed, what is discounted, and what the patient ultimately owes.

Even patients with insurance frequently have no clear estimate of their total out of pocket cost until weeks after the surgery takes place.

For patients without insurance, this system can feel even more intimidating because the listed hospital prices are often significantly higher than negotiated insurance rates.

Why Insurance Does Not Always Mean Lower Costs

Many people assume that having insurance automatically makes surgery more affordable. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, especially with high deductible plans.

Today, many insurance policies require patients to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket before their coverage begins. A deductible of $5,000, $7,000, or even $10,000 is increasingly common.

This means that for many routine surgeries, patients end up paying the full cost themselves anyway because they have not yet met their deductible.

In those situations, insurance may not actually reduce the cost of the procedure. Patients can still be responsible for a large bill, but without the benefit of knowing the price ahead of time.

Direct pay surgery changes that equation by offering a clearly defined price from the beginning.

What Surgery Cost Without Insurance Looks Like With Transparent Pricing

A select number of healthcare pioneers like Solstice Health are offering bundled surgical pricing that simplifies the entire process.

Instead of multiple bills arriving after the procedure, patients receive one clear price that covers the entire surgery. This typically includes the surgeon, the facility, anesthesia, and follow up care.

Because the process removes complex insurance billing and administrative overhead, the overall cost can often be lower than traditional hospital pricing.

Just as importantly, patients know exactly what they are paying before the procedure happens.

That transparency allows patients to plan financially, compare options, and move forward with care without worrying about surprise bills.

How Transparent Surgical Pricing Helps Patients Get Care Sooner

Uncertainty about cost is one of the most common reasons people postpone surgery. When patients cannot estimate what they will owe, it becomes difficult to move forward with treatment.

Transparent pricing removes that barrier.

When patients know the total cost ahead of time, they can make informed decisions about their health instead of delaying care out of fear of an unexpected bill.

At Solstice Health, we believe patients deserve clarity when it comes to healthcare costs. By working with a surgical partner who provides upfront pricing, we help patients access high quality procedures without the confusion that often comes with traditional insurance billing.

If you are considering surgery and want to understand your options, exploring transparent surgical pricing may be a helpful place to start.

How direct primary care offers predictable costs and better access to your doctor

If you feel like your health insurance card comes with a side of frustration, you are not alone. High deductibles, surprise bills, rushed appointments, and long waits have become the norm for many families across Wisconsin. You pay thousands before coverage even begins, yet still struggle to get the time and attention you need from your doctor.

There is another way to approach primary care. It is called direct primary care, and it is built around access, transparency, and relationships instead of insurance billing codes. At Solstice Health, we designed our Direct Primary Care membership to remove the financial and logistical barriers that keep people from getting the care they deserve and it isn’t too good to be true. Let’s dig in.

What Is Direct Primary Care and How Does It Work?

Direct primary care is a membership-based healthcare model. Instead of billing insurance for every visit, patients pay a simple monthly fee. That fee covers most primary care services with no copays and no surprise bills.

Your membership typically includes:

• Same or next day appointments
• Longer, unhurried visits
• Direct communication with your provider
• Preventive care, acute care, and chronic disease management
• Transparent wholesale pricing for labs, imaging, and medications

Because we are not restricted by insurance rules, we can focus on what actually matters. Your health, your goals, and your long term outcomes.

Why High Deductible Plans Leave Patients Stuck

High deductible plans were meant to lower monthly premiums, but in reality they often delay care. Many people avoid going to the doctor because they know the visit will come out of pocket until their deductible is met.

This leads to:

• Delayed diagnoses
• Worsening chronic conditions
• Emergency room or Urgent Care visits that could have been prevented
• Financial stress around basic healthcare needs

Direct primary care flips that script. Instead of asking whether you can afford to be seen, you already know your care is covered under your membership.

The Benefits of Direct Primary Care for Families and Small Business Owners

For individuals and families, direct primary care provides clarity and control. You know your monthly cost. You know who your provider is. You know how to reach them.

For small business owners, it can be a smart addition to employee benefits. Offering a DPC membership helps reduce absenteeism, improve morale, and provide real access to care without navigating complex insurance networks.

This model works especially well when paired with a self-funded plan. Your network protects you from major events, and your direct primary care membership handles your everyday medical needs, with no claims to the plan.

A More Personal Approach to Primary Care

Healthcare should feel personal, not transactional. In a traditional insurance model, providers are often pressured to see more patients in less time. That is not how meaningful care happens. With direct primary care, visits are longer and more thoughtful. We can address root causes, spend time on prevention, and build a plan that fits your life.Whether you need help managing blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid issues, weight concerns, or just want a provider who truly knows you, our membership model allows for that kind of relationship.

You deserve a doctor who has the time to listen.

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If you are tired of high deductibles and unpredictable medical bills, it may be time to explore a better option. Learn more about our DPC membership at Solstice Health and see if it is the right fit for you and your family.

New Year, New You: Your Health Reset Starts Now (And 2026 Is the Perfect Time to Take It Back)

There’s something about the start of a new year that makes us pause.

We reflect. We reset. We think about what we want more of—and what we’re ready to leave behind.

And for many of us, the top resolution is almost always the same: get healthier.

But here’s the truth most people don’t realize until mid-February:

The biggest obstacle to becoming healthier isn’t motivation, it’s access.

Access to the right care. The right support. The right plan. And the right medical team who actually has time for you.

That’s exactly why Solstice Health exists.

Why “New Year, New You” Often Fails

Most people don’t quit their health goals because they don’t care — they quit because the system makes it hard:

• You wait weeks for an appointment
• You feel rushed during visits
• You’re handed generic advice, not personalized strategy
• Costs aren’t clear until the bill arrives
• “Healthcare” feels like something you react to instead of something you own

If you’ve ever felt stuck in that cycle, you’re not alone.

Solstice Health was built to break that pattern.

Solstice Health: A Better Way to Build Health in 2026

Solstice Health provides Direct Primary Care (DPC) — a membership-based model that gives you unlimited access to your doctor and transparent pricing on labs, imaging, and medications. 

Instead of rushing you through a “15-minute appointment” system, DPC is designed around something far more powerful:

A real relationship with your provider

Because when your doctor actually knows you, your health plan becomes realistic, sustainable, and personal.

And that is the key to lasting change in 2026.

Your 2026 Health Goals — The Solstice Way

Let’s talk about what most “New Year, New You” goals really means & how Solstice supports each one.

1. “I want to lose weight & keep it off.”

Weight loss isn’t about willpower. It’s about:

• metabolic health
• hormones
• lifestyle structure
• accountability
• a plan you can live with

Solstice Health offers a medical weight loss program, including options supporting diabetes-related weight loss and ongoing wellness support. 

Instead of fad diets, you get a medical approach built for long-term change. 

2. “I want more energy and fewer ‘blah’ days.”

Fatigue, brain fog, low stamina, these are common, but not normal.

Solstice offers services like:

• IV Nutritional Therapy
• wellness and integrative services
• testing options to identify nutritional or inflammatory drivers

All designed to help you feel like yourself again, not just “get through the day.” 

3. “I want to recover faster and stay active.”

Whether you’re training, staying active, or bouncing back from surgery or injury, recovery matters.

Solstice provides Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), with use cases including sports injury recovery and post-operative healing support. 

It’s one more way Solstice helps patients stay strong, not sidelined.

4. “I want to stop avoiding the doctor and finally get on track.”

If you’re someone who avoids care because it’s inconvenient, expensive, or frustrating, Solstice is built for you.

Their Direct Primary Care model includes routine physicals, wellness exams, chronic condition support, and acute illness care, all accessible without the typical insurance bureaucracy. 

This is what preventive care should feel like:

simple, reachable, and clear.

Make 2026 the Year You Take Back Control

It’s your money. It’s your healthcare. Take it back.

And that’s exactly the energy the New Year brings.

This year doesn’t have to be about chasing perfection.

It can be about building consistency:

• a doctor you can access
• a plan tailored to your real life
• transparent costs
• proactive wellness
• a team that supports you before problems become emergencies

Solstice Health serves individuals, families, and employers across Wisconsin with clinics in locations including Oconomowoc, Racine, Whitewater, Brookfield and Milwaukee. 

Your Next Step

If you’ve made “get healthy” your 2026 goal, here’s the best way to start:

• Have a conversation
• Get a plan
• Get support that lasts longer than January

Because New Year, New You isn’t about a quick reset.

It’s about building a healthcare foundation you can rely on.

And Solstice Health is built exactly for that.