How It Works
What is Midi?
Midi is a virtual clinic that provides specialty care for women 40+. In our video visits, you meet with a clinician trained specifically in perimenopause, menopause, and other aspects of female midlife health. We collaborate with you to improve your symptoms with a Care Plan personalized to your medical history, genetics, and approach to health. Midi care is holistic, and may include prescription drugs, supplements and botanical remedies, wellness therapies, and lifestyle coaching. Midi orders any blood work and/or imaging needed to track and treat your unique hormonal transition, and we refer you to your regular doctors or specialists for any necessary in-person care.
What kinds of care does Midi provide?
Midi offers specialized treatment for the common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, as well as preventative care to help you strengthen your long term health. All Midi patients start with a Midi Essential Visit, a deep-dive that focuses on the symptoms that bother you most. From there, we follow up with you regularly to check in on your progress and keep you on track. If a new symptom or issue crops up, you can schedule a new visit to deal with it at any time.
Does Midi offer both hormonal and non-hormonal treatments?
Yes! Midi believes in individualized care, so we recommend treatments based on your symptoms, your unique medical history, and your personal approach to health. Not every woman should take hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or wants to, so we draw from the full range of alternative solutions. We may recommend supplements and botanicals, and/or wellness therapies (eg, acupuncture, cognitive behavior therapy, yoga), instead of HRT or alongside it. We also coach you on simple but effective lifestyle shifts around sleep, mindfulness, nutrition, and exercise. Finally, we consider a variety of safe and effective non-hormonal prescription medications which can bring relief without HRT.
Does Midi replace my regular doctor or practitioner?
Midi is a virtual clinic, so you'll still need to get in-person care from time to time (for vaccinations, Pap smears, etc.) from a primary care physician and/or a gynecologist in your local area.
How does Midi collaborate with my other doctors?
You will receive a Care Plan after each Midi visit, which includes a detailed summary you can share with your regular doctor or practitioner to keep them updated on any new decisions about your health. If needed, you can also have your other doctors share your relevant medical information with our practice (eg, recent lab results, imaging, etc.).
Which states does Midi support?
Midi is currently seeing patients who live in California, with many more states coming soon. Sign up today and let us know which state you’re in. We’ll send you updates about our launch date in your state as soon as we have them.
What should I expect on my first visit with a Midi clinician?
We refer to your first visit with a Midi clinician as the Midi Essential Visit, because we use it to get to know you, your symptoms, and your full health history. We also take time to discuss your preventative care, reviewing any health screenings you might need and pinpointing steps you can take to strengthen your long term health.
How should I prepare for my first visit?
We ask that you complete all sections of your health questionnaire 24 hours before your appointment, to give your clinician time to review it and prepare for you. Expect reminders from us to keep you on track with this important pre-visit step.
Who are Midi clinicians? How are they trained?
Our clinicians are licensed nurse practitioners (NPs), CNMs (nurse midwives), doctors (MDs), and naturopathic doctors (NDs) who specialize in women’s midlife health. In addition to their invaluable clinical experience, they receive intensive training from nationally-recognized experts in perimenopause and menopause. All Midi treatment is overseen by menopause doctors who work closely with clinicians to create a Care Plan personalized to every patient.
Why is Midi virtual, not in person?
Midlife care is uniquely suited to telehealth, because what women require at this stage, more than anything, is in-depth conversation with a clinician who has the time to listen to her experience and explore personalized solutions. In-person exams reveal very little that you can’t tell us yourself. In fact, after age 45, the only routine in-person Ob/Gyn care you need is a Pap smear, and for most women, it’s recommended every five years, not annually. We order any labs or screening needed to inform and guide your treatment. While we encourage you to keep up your relationships with your regular doctors (and we will refer you to one if necessary), we think our virtual care is the key to strong support at midlife. Here’s why:
- Expertise: Specialists in perimenopause, menopause, and other areas of women’s midlife health are in short supply Most have long waiting lists. Midi gives you access to expert guidance immediately.
- Convenience: Telehealth allows you to connect with a Midi clinician from anywhere, with no travel time or sitting in a waiting room. Our care coordinators send you to local labs and imaging centers to make the testing you need easy.
- Comfort: Virtual visits from your own private space help you to feel relaxed so you can better connect with your clinician.
- Communication: Our digital platform supports messaging that lets you reach us anytime, and get a prompt response.
- Frequent check-ins: The ease of virtual visits allows us to stay in touch with you, scheduling check-ins throughout the year instead of annually, to track your progress and get ahead of any new symptoms. That approach helps you stay healthy and well through this chapter of change.
Can I get an in-person exam with a Midi clinician?
Care at Midi is entirely virtual. While we do not perform any physical exams, we can refer you to a clinician in your area if you need an in-person exam, or if you are due for your Pap smear.
How does Midi communicate with my other doctors?
Midi provides you with a personalized Care Plan that summarizes your visit, recommended treatments, and advice. This can be shared with any other doctors you see now or in the future. Your doctors can also learn about our clinical principles and care philosophy by viewing our position papers for clinicians. Your doctor can also request a copy of your records—just ask our care coordinators and they’ll complete the process.
How do Midi care coordinators support me?
Our care coordinators serve as your advocates at Midi and with the broader health care system. They can handle questions and issues with payments and insurance, medication refills, referrals, and any non-urgent medical issues you’re experiencing.
How can I get in touch with the care coordinator?
Once you have completed your first visit, you will have access to our care coordinators from your patient portal (you will get an email invitation to set up your account through our partner Athenahealth).
How do I cancel or reschedule a visit?
Log in to the Midi scheduler, where you can easily make changes to your visit. Please change or cancel with at least 24 hours notice to avoid a cancellation fee.
Pricing & Insurance
How much will my appointment cost?
- You can use your health insurance to pay for your Midi Visits. Costs for self-pay patients will depend on the visit type. For your first visit, the Midi Essential Visit, the cash price is $250. For ongoing visits, the cash price will range from $120-$250, depending on visit length and complexity of care.
- For those using insurance, the cost or “patient responsibility” can vary. When you make your first appointment, a Midi care coordinator will review your insurance coverage and let you know what your patient responsibility will be. Insurance may cover the entire cost, because your first visit with Midi includes comprehensive preventative care and can be billed as your “annual.” However, if you’ve already used your “annual'' benefit this calendar year or are planning to see your primary care provider for this visit, we will bill your insurance for a standard visit. In this case, your responsibility will be a copay or co-insurance.
- Depending on your coverage, you may have a balance to pay after we have submitted a claim. We will notify you by invoice if there is any remainder balance after your insurance has reviewed the claim.
- Whatever your insurance, Midi care coordinators will work hard behind the scenes, helping you get the most out of your coverage and avoid surprise bills.
Does Midi take my insurance?
Currently we are “in-network” with all major California PPO plans. If you have HMO coverage, you may be out-of-network for our services. For a list of currently accepted plans check our pricing & insurance page. When you make your first appointment, Midi care coordinators will review your insurance to determine if you are “in-network” with us and notify you prior to the visit if you are not.
Will I have a copay?
Certain Midi visits may have a copay. Most insurance companies list the different copay amounts right on your card, and they may be different depending on whether you’re seeing a primary care doctor or a specialist. Midi clinicians are considered specialists by your insurance. Feel free to contact the Midi care coordinators who can help you determine if you will have a copay for the visit and how much you may be charged.
Can I use my HSA or FSA to pay for care at Midi?
Yes, you can use your HSA or FSA to pay for Midi copays and services.
Can I use my HSA or FSA to pay for supplements purchased with Midi?
Yes, supplements and botanicals recommended as part of your Midi Care Plan are HSA eligible.
How will I be billed?
- If you are using insurance: We will bill your insurance for your visit once it’s complete. When the claim is processed we will send you an invoice for any outstanding amount that insurance does not cover. These charges fall under “patient responsibility” and might include a co-pay, co-insurance, or payment towards meeting your deductible.
- If you are using cash payment (self-pay): We will send you an invoice for the cost of your visit, based on the visit type.
- You will receive your invoice by email from our partner Athenahealth which will direct you to view and pay your outstanding balance online. If you have any questions along the way, reach out to our care coordination team at care@joinmidi. We’re always happy to help.
RX, Supplements & Labs
Does Midi prescribe medications?
Yes, Midi clinicians prescribe any new medications included in your Care Plan, and may also provide refills of some medications you already take for ongoing conditions. Midi clinicians are unable to prescribe certain controlled medications and narcotic pain medications at this time.
How do I get my prescriptions?
We will send your prescriptions to the preferred pharmacy you provide as part of your health questionnaire. Many of our patients use a digital pharmacy such as Capsule because they deliver directly to your home. You can change your preferred pharmacy at any time by contacting our care coordinators.
Does Midi prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
Midi clinicians are highly trained in the use of all treatments for the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, including HRT. We determine if you are a good candidate for hormones based on your symptoms, health history, genetics, and general approach to health. We also order any labs and/or screening tests needed to prescribe HRT safely. If hormones aren’t right for you, your Midi clinician will recommend other evidence-based therapies that are highly effective in providing relief, including non-hormonal medications, supplements, botanical treatments, and wellness therapies (eg, acupuncture, healing movement).
How do I order my recommended supplements & botanicals?
Midi makes it simple to order any supplements and botanicals recommended in your Care Plan. We have researched and curated a set of brands that are well studied and effective. Your care coordinator will send links to our preferred supplement brands.
Can Midi clinicians order blood tests?
Yes, and labs may be needed to give us a full picture of your current health and to personalize your Care Plan. Your Midi clinician will explain which labs she’s ordering, and why, at your visit. Midi uses Labcorp because it has a vast network of drop-in locations. Our care coordinators will help you find the most convenient one and support you with any issues that arise during the process.
How do I get my blood test?
Search for your nearest Labcorp patient service center at https://www.labcorp.com/labs-and-appointments