Saginaw Medical Associates

About Saginaw Medical Associates

What is Saginaw Medical Associates?

Saginaw Medical Associates is a privately owned primary care practice with offices in Saginaw and Frankenmuth, Michigan. Its main work is family medicine, and it offers four services: prevention and wellness exams, cosmetic injections, SkinBetter Science skin care and a weight loss program. The prescribers it names are Lauren Surrock, Kaitlyn McIntosh, FNP-C, and Robert Chadwick.

The weight loss program is medically supervised and centers on counting carbohydrates. It uses protein-rich meal replacements, and its starter kit is meant to cover the first 7 days. In its own words: "The program offers a 4-stage approach and gives you the flexibility to choose from four low-carb meal plans." Body composition analysis is offered only at the Frankenmuth office. Google shows a 4.5 rating from 22 reviews.

This listing is for its Saginaw office at 150 Plymouth Dr.

What does it cost?

The Jumpstart Your Weight Loss Kit is $199. It does not say whether the kit is required, and it does not publish a consultation fee. Food and supplements after the first 10 days are an ongoing cost you pay yourself, and it does not give a figure for them.

It accepts insurance from providers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare and Medicaid. Insurance typically covers office visits and lab tests for weight loss, but food, supplements and vitamins generally are not covered. A health savings account may pay for them, depending on its rules. Under an HMO such as Blue Care Network, you need a referral from your primary care doctor. If your insurer is not among those named, it can still see you out-of-network.

What should you ask before you book?

Ask whether the program includes prescription medication. The practice does not name any prescription weight loss drug, and its program description says: "Some programs may choose to add pharmacotherapy and others may consider bariatric surgical options when deemed medically appropriate." Ask which prescriber would make that call, and whether any drug would be brand-name or compounded.

Then ask what food and supplements cost each month after the first 10 days, and what lab work and follow-up visits add. Ask whether visits can be done by video, since it does not say. Its published hours do not match from one place to another, so confirm them before you drive in. Finally, ask how to cancel.

Who is it a good fit for?

This is a good fit if you want a family practice that also runs a weight loss program, and you are ready to pin down prescription options, ongoing food costs and lab fees before you commit.

Sources: saginawmed.com, saginawmed.com/weightlossprogram, saginawmed.com/about, saginawmed.com/faq, saginawmed.com/insurancepayments, saginawmed.com/location

Services Offered

Location