Question 1

Is this an executive physical?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and more. Our evaluations include everything you'd expect from a high-end executive physical (comprehensive labs, cardiovascular and metabolic risk assessment, body composition, and a thorough physician exam) and add the elements most executive physicals leave out: 2+ hours of direct physician time, integrated nutrition and performance planning, and ongoing implementation support. We offer three tiers — Foundational Health, Comprehensive Health and Performance, and Executive Health and Optimization — each designed for a different clinical picture. All three are more useful and actionable than the executive physicals offered by traditional health systems.

Question 2

Do you offer concierge medicine?

Accepted Answer

Not in the traditional sense. Concierge practices typically charge an annual retainer for faster access to a primary care physician. Archetype is structured differently: a defined, physician-led evaluation up front, followed by an optional ongoing membership focused specifically on longevity, performance, and proactive risk management. We're a complement to your primary care physician, not a replacement — and the model is built around depth and implementation rather than just access.

Question 3

How is this different from a traditional annual physical?

Accepted Answer

A typical annual physical is constrained to 15–30 minutes, designed primarily to screen for existing disease, and limited by what insurance reimburses. Archetype's evaluation is built for what an annual physical can't cover: 2+ hours of direct physician time, advanced cardiovascular and metabolic diagnostics (DEXA, VO₂ max, coronary calcium scoring, advanced lipids), an integrated team across nutrition and performance, and a written plan you can actually act on.

Question 4

How is this different from traditional primary care?

Accepted Answer

Traditional primary care is designed around diagnosing and treating illness reactively, often in 15-minute appointments constrained by insurance billing. Archetype is built to proactively identify risk and dysfunction before disease develops, provide more physician time and access, and deliver a genuinely integrated plan across nutrition, movement, sleep, and recovery. The goal isn't just to rule things out — it's to understand your full picture and build something from it.

Question 5

Is this only for people with health problems?

Accepted Answer

No. Archetype is designed for health-conscious individuals who may feel generally well but want clarity, prevention, and a more personalized path toward long-term health and performance. It is built for people with no major diagnoses — those who simply want a more complete picture and a proactive plan.

Question 6

Can I keep my current doctor?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and we encourage it. Archetype complements rather than replaces your primary care physician. We focus on depth of evaluation, proactive risk identification, and implementation support that standard care doesn't have time for. We're happy to share relevant findings with your care team if you'd like.

Question 7

What happens at the first visit?

Accepted Answer

Your first visit is an unhurried physician consultation — typically 60 to 90 minutes. We review your full health history, goals, prior labs, lifestyle, and what you've found frustrating or unclear about your care to date. From there, we determine which diagnostics make the most sense for your situation and walk you through exactly what the process will look like. It is designed to be the most thorough intake conversation you've had with a physician.

Question 8

How long does the full evaluation take?

Accepted Answer

The evaluation typically unfolds over 2 to 4 weeks depending on scheduling and which diagnostics are included. Diagnostics like DEXA and VO₂ max testing are coordinated with partner facilities. Your results review and personalized plan session follows once all data is in hand. The goal is for you to be in active implementation within 30 days of your first visit.

Question 9

What's a DEXA scan and why do you use one?

Accepted Answer

DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) is the clinical gold standard for measuring body composition — fat mass, lean muscle mass, visceral fat, and bone density — with precision a scale or BMI can't approach. We use it because lean mass and visceral fat are two of the strongest predictors of long-term metabolic health, fall risk, and healthspan. Tracking them over time tells us whether your plan is actually working.

Question 10

Do I need to live in Minneapolis?

Accepted Answer

Most of our services are in-person at our Minnetonka, MN clinic, and certain diagnostics require an on-site visit. That said, we work with some patients who travel for their evaluation and manage ongoing care remotely. If you're outside the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro, reach out and we can discuss what's feasible.

Question 11

What do I receive at the end of my evaluation?

Accepted Answer

Every evaluation ends with the Executive Health Report — a written, physician-authored document covering everything reviewed during your workup. It's scored across up to nine health domains, includes physician interpretation of every major finding, and closes with a prioritized 90-day action plan built specifically around your data. The report also includes a Health Authorship section — a reflection you complete before results are reviewed — and a 90-day checklist you can work from immediately. Every patient also receives a physician check-in at day 90 to review progress and set the direction for what comes next. You receive the full report and can share it with any other providers on your care team.

Question 12

What is Health Authorship?

Accepted Answer

Health Authorship is a patient-completed section of the Executive Health Report. Before results are reviewed, you work through four guided prompts: why you're doing this, where your health has been, where it stands today, and where you want it to go. The section closes with an Authorship Statement — a first-person declaration of what better health would make possible for you. It's not a questionnaire. It's a way to put your own perspective in the record before the physician builds your plan, so the plan reflects your life and your priorities — not just the data.

Question 13

Is the Physician Health Review right for me?

Accepted Answer

The Physician Health Review is designed for people who already have health data and want physician-level interpretation of it — not a full evaluation. If you've had labs, imaging, a DEXA scan, a sleep study, or wearable data through another practice or system and aren't sure what to make of it, this is the right starting point. You bring what you have; we review it, put it in clinical context, and give you a written Physician Guidance Note documenting what was discussed and what warrants attention. No new testing is scheduled. It's also a natural first step before committing to a full evaluation — it lets you meet the physician and understand your existing picture before deciding whether to go further. The fee starts at $500 and is confirmed after records are reviewed, before your appointment is scheduled.

Question 14

What does the initial evaluation cost?

Accepted Answer

There are three evaluation tiers. The Foundational Health Evaluation is $1,500 — it includes a full physician-led intake, advanced cardiometabolic laboratory workup, lifestyle, sleep, and purpose domains, the Executive Health Report, and a 90-day roadmap with physician check-in. The Comprehensive Health and Performance Evaluation is $5,000 and adds VO₂ max testing, DEXA body composition, a nutrient and vitamin panel, dietitian consultation, and a performance assessment. The Executive Health and Optimization Evaluation is $7,500 and adds cardiovascular imaging, hormone testing, sleep study, continuous glucose monitoring, and heavy metals screening. Each tier is built for a different clinical picture — none is better than the others; they differ in the scope of diagnostics.

Question 15

What does ongoing membership include?

Accepted Answer

There are three membership tiers, all of which include direct physician messaging — when you send a message, your physician reads and responds, not a nurse or portal triage team. Access ($150/month) is the entry tier: direct physician messaging for questions, plan clarification, outside results review, medication and supplement guidance, and referral guidance — without scheduled visits, labs, or written reports. Foundation ($295/month) adds twice-yearly physician and dietitian follow-ups, annual performance plan update, twice-yearly lab review with a full panel annually, an annual reassessment with updated domain scores and a new report, and Health Authorship check-ins at 6 and 12 months. Optimize ($495/month) adds quarterly physician and dietitian check-ins, twice-yearly performance plan reviews, quarterly labs with a full panel twice yearly, priority physician messaging with faster response times, active review of wearables and CGM data, and a twice-yearly reassessment with a new report.

Question 16

Do you accept health insurance?

Accepted Answer

No. Archetype is a direct-fee practice because the depth of evaluation, physician time, and implementation support are not supported by traditional insurance models. This allows recommendations to be guided by clinical value rather than reimbursement rules. Many patients use HSA or FSA funds to cover part of the cost — we recommend confirming eligibility with your plan administrator.

Question 17

Can I use my HSA or FSA?

Accepted Answer

In many cases, yes. HSA and FSA funds can often be applied to physician services, diagnostics, and certain components of the evaluation. Because eligibility depends on how your account is structured, we recommend verifying with your plan administrator. We're happy to provide documentation to support your claim.

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