integrative medicine
Out of Network
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Transcript of Message 11/18/2025
Hi, this is Dr. Michael Cheikin. This important message is about changes in my practice starting January 1, 2026.
For the entire 45 years of my medical career, I have participated in most insurance plans because it made my care accessible to patients with chronic and complex medical conditions. Unfortunately, at present, health insurance contracts specify what the physician must charge, how long a visit can last, and even the content of the visit. With growing high-deductible plans, I am often required to charge more than if you paid privately, similar to why GoodRx can provide drugs at costs better than many insurance plans.
In addition, processing these bills is causing increased anxiety and frustration for my patients and staff. For these reasons, I have concluded that we can do better working outside of this dysfunctional system.
Starting January 1, my practice will be out-of-network for all insurance plans. We will be offering both an a-la-carte menu for those who only need a few visits, and a Program Plan that will include visits, supplements phone support and other Holistic resources for our complex patients.
The fee for the first visit of 2026, will be $175 in total, incorporating what used to be the Holistic Fee. This total is less that what I have averaged in 2025 but will allow us to formulate a Health Plan for 2026. For those with documented hardship, there will be the options of sliding scale or a grant for supplements that we can work out on an individual basis.
Your Health Plan will (and always should have) include: education, sleep, food, supplements, stress-reduction, exercise, testing and detox strategies that, at the root cause level, can optimize healing and regeneration until the age of 100.
Being able to do this with you has been my dream since before I became a doctor. No one likes change but I believe that this change will provide more time, concentration, and funds for true healing. I look forward to evolving this dream with you for True Health in 2026.
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Transcript of Message 11/9/2025
Hi, this is Dr. Michael Cheikin at the Center for Optimal Health in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.
This important message is about changes starting January 1, 2026.
For 45 years, I have participated in most insurance plans. This is because it made my care accessible to patients with chronic and complex medical conditions. While ‘health insurance’ never insured health, it was originally intended to pay for care, not dictate care. Unfortunately, at present, health insurance contracts specify what the physician must charge, how long the visit can last, and even the content of the visit. Most plans fraudulently deny coverage because it will save them money and they know the cost of disputing this fraudulent behavior is not worth it.
In most cases, you are paying more for your health insurance than your employer while your choices are limited. This was the original intent of the health insurance industry when health care became a tax-free benefit starting in the 1960’s
In addition, the physician and staff must work with a billing company to process insurance claims, incurring additional cost while causing the doctor and patient to deal with seemingly endless documents and distractions. The priceless resource of time is wasted on these cortisol-raising games, when better spent on healing.
At present, in my opinion, the optimal health policy is the lowest cost one that first, provides catastrophic coverage, and second, allows lab tests free of deductible. The drug, vision and dental plans only save a few dollars on low-cost options if you are willing to jump through their hoop. You want the premium monies to stay in your pocket, not theirs. If you want to know more about the politics and economics of health care, based on my experience for decades as a medical administrator and well as research on medical history, there are and will be more detailed podcasts on these topics.
For these reasons, I have concluded that participating in so-called health insurance plans is causing more harm than good. We can do better working outside of this dysfunctional system. In many cases, total costs can go down for you on an annual basis if you use your funds for health rather than illness.
Starting January 1, 2026, my practice will be out-of-network for all insurance plans. For most of my patients, visit costs will be similar to what they have been over the past years, AND without insurance company control, we will be able to customize the length and cost of each visit to match your needs. I will be providing support for those with real hardship. For all patients, the first visit of 2026, for up to 45 minutes, will be $115 plus the Holistic Fee that will stay at $60. In that visit we can formulate a Health Plan for 2026. This Plan will (and always should have) included: breath, sleep, food plan, exercise, stress-reduction, testing and detox strategies that at the root cause will optimize healing and regeneration until the age of 100, Being able to do this with you has been a dream that will no longer be stifled! I look forward to working with you on this dream for true health in 2026.
Message 11/30/2025
Transcript of Message 11/30/2025
Hi, this is Dr. Michael Cheikin. Happy Holidays. This important message is about changes to my practice beginning January 1, 2026.
At the Center for Optimal Health. we believe that our highest priority is our mental, physical and spiritual health, and if not for us, then certainly for our threatened children. We adults must change if we want to protect our childrens’ brains, bodies and spirits. We must put on our own oxygen mask before we can help the child sitting next to us. If you agree, then you are the right person for the Holistic approach.
For most of my life, I have been extensively and passionately exploring brain sciences, consciousness, yoga and energy medicine. Following the bread crumbs for optimal brain function led me to conclude that the highest priorities for modern brain health are deficiencies and toxicities; and in my Holistic Model, infections and microbiome imbalances are toxins that are living and very smart. This quest for optimal brain health has led to my extensive and continuing work with iodine, niacin, lithium and other trace minerals, dmso, chlorine dioxide, oral and skull health and essential processes such as measurement, nebulization, detoxification, yoga, breathwork, hypnosis, acupuncture, ayurveda, and others. We have a growing success applying these methods to healing some of the deepest chronic conditions, starting with chronic pain and fatigue. and now expanding to conditions such as hormones, colitis, diabetes, anxiety and depression and cancer. This is what I want to do more of with you. Even in the Holistic world, quick-fixes such as stem cells, peptides, biohacking, infusions and other magic bullets such as GLP drugs are the money-makers. Health insurance and illness has become, by design, a dominant economic force and major distraction.
For the entire 45 years of my medical career, I have participated in most insurance plans because it made my care accessible to patients with chronic and complex medical conditions. Unfortunately, health insurance contracts now specify what the physician must charge, how long a visit can last, and even the content of the visit. With rising high-deductible plans, we are often required to charge more than if you paid privately, similar to why GoodRx can provide drugs at costs better than many insurance plans. Being sick is getting progressively more expensive, while healing and how to get off this merry-go-round remains hidden and a represents danger to our economy.
In addition, processing these horrible insurance bills is causing increased anxiety, cost and frustration for my patients and staff. For these reasons, I have concluded that we can do better working outside of this progressively dysfunctional system.
Starting January 1, my practice will be out-of-network for all insurance plans. We will be offering a variety of a-la-carte and 2-3 visit packages for those who have focused needs, and, for our complex patients, a Holistic Program Plan that will include visits, phone support, supplements, prescriptions, lab testing and other valuable Holistic resources .
For existing patients, the fee for the first visit of 2026 will be $175 in total, incorporating what used to be the Holistic Fee. This total is less that what we have averaged in 2025 but will allow us to meet and formulate your individual Holistic Health Plan for 2026. For those with documented hardship, there will be the options of sliding scale or a grant for supplements that we can work out on an individual basis. Even without participating in Medicare, the Federal government will require us to complete a Care Contract, which we will reviewing in your first visit of 2026.
Your Holistic Health Plan will include: education, sleep, food, supplements, stress-reduction, medication reduction, exercise, testing and detox strategies and support, that, at the root cause level, can optimize healing and regeneration until the age of 100.
Being able to do this with you has been my dream since before I became a doctor. No one likes change but I believe that this change will provide more time, concentration, and funds for True Healing and Health. We hope that you will continue to work with us in evolving this dream for True Health in 2026. Thank you for your continued support and best wishes for a Healthy Holiday.
Pain: The Holistic Approach to Chronic Pain
Brain-Neuro-Psych Program
Pain by it’s essential nature is a psychological event, meaning that is is perceived by (in) the mind and is therefore subjective and cannot be measured directly.
Pain is defined as a negative sensory event, usually associated with a threat to life or limb. It is usually accompanied by suffering, which is the emotional response to pain (even non-physical). For example, anxiety is an emotional pain that is accompanied by the emotion of suffering.
Pain and suffering do not always occur in sync, as the pain of childbirth usually has positive emotions that override the negative, and the insignificant damage of being bopped by a sibling or being disrespected by a partner can cause much suffering.
DNP1 Video: Elimination Diets
DNP1 Video: Overview, Toxins, Dairy and Grain ⏱ 11:00
Gluten Video ⏱ 5:00
