What if going to a restaurant worked like your insurance plan?
No menu.
No prices.
8 minutes with the waiter.
And a surprise bill three weeks later.

Sound ridiculous? That’s exactly how most vision insurance works.

In this episode, Dr. Kara Foster pulls back the curtain on how vision plans create confusion, drive up costs, and force rushed care—for both patients and doctors. We’ll unpack:

Why vision insurance isn’t true insurance
How patients end up overpaying (and don’t even know it)
The lab trap that puts profit over quality
A real patient receipt breakdown
What medical and vision providers really get paid
And why the system isn’t broken—it’s doing exactly what it was designed to do

Whether you’re a patient, provider, or someone who just wants care that makes sense—this episode will open your eyes.

Tune in now and share it with someone who needs to hear the truth.

#OptOutPodcast #DirectCare #VisionInsuranceExposed #EyeCareTruth #BreakTheMatrix

karafosterOD.com

The Direct Care Toolkit: How to Start Without Burning It All Down

Episode Description:
What if you could leave behind the chaos of insurance-based care—without blowing up your schedule, your sanity, or your team culture?

In this episode of Opt-Out: The Kara Foster OD Show, Dr. Kara shares her complete Direct Care startup toolkit, built from the ground up after leaving the insurance grind behind. She breaks down the exact steps to transition your practice with clarity and confidence, including:

• How to price your services fairly and transparently

• Sample schedules that prioritize both revenue and relationships

• Legal considerations (including Medicare opt-out!)

• Scripts for front desk, doctor, and optical staff

• How to get your team on board—and your patients excited

• Marketing that feels aligned, not awkward

Plus, a sneak peek at next week’s episode: a deep dive into how insurance really works, featuring the viral "restaurant analogy" that will change how you see the entire system.

This is the episode you need if you’re ready to practice medicine on your terms—and still sleep at night.

What if the solution to burnout, rushed visits, and confusing medical bills isn’t more reform — it’s less interference?

In this extended episode, Dr. Kara Foster dives into the why behind Direct Care — and what makes it better for patients, doctors, and entire communities.

You’ll learn:

• What Direct Care is (and how it differs from concierge care)

• The real stats behind fewer ER visits, lower costs, and better outcomes

• What patients really gain: time, connection, whole-person care

• How Direct Care reduces burnout and brings joy back to medicine

• Common myths (and why they don’t hold up)

• A sneak peek at next week’s “Direct Care Toolkit” episode

Whether you’re a provider craving change or a patient curious about your options, this episode offers a clear, empowering path forward.

Because better care shouldn’t be rare — it should be the standard.

Questions? Kara wants to hear from you!
Drop a comment, DM, or email to have your voice included in future episodes.

Tired of rushed visits, burnout, and a system that puts paperwork over people? Dr. Kara Foster shares why she walked away from insurance-based eye care and built a Direct Care practice—plus how you can reclaim purpose in healthcare, whether you're a provider or patient.