Get More From Your Healthcare Dollars in 2026

Be Well Medical Center founder Dr. Paul Benson shares how to maximize every appointment

Marketplace Story

Published: December 1, 2025 | Last Updated: December 1, 2025

With open enrollment season here and many people discovering their 2026 premiums and deductibles have climbed yet again, healthcare affordability is top of mind. But cutting back on medical care isn't the answer. Instead, it's about being strategic with the care you do seek and making sure every appointment delivers real value for your time and money.

Dr. Paul Benson, founder of Be Well Medical Center, has spent 45 years providing care to Michigan's LGBTQ+ community and has seen how thoughtful preparation can transform routine visits into comprehensive health partnerships. His advice? Think of your healthcare like any other major purchase — you want to get exactly what you need and make sure it actually works for you.

1. Start with a practice where you can be yourself.

Here's something many people don't consider when calculating healthcare value: If you're not comfortable being fully honest with your provider, you're essentially throwing money away.

Think about it. You schedule time off work, pay your copay, sit in the waiting room and then hold back crucial information because you're worried about judgment. Maybe you downplay your alcohol consumption. Perhaps you avoid mentioning that new partner or skip the conversation about your mental health. Or maybe you just never quite feel seen or understood as a queer person in a heteronormative medical space.

"A person needs to feel comfortable that they can share information with their provider so they can get the proper care," Benson explains. That comfort isn't just about feeling warm and fuzzy — it's about prevention, accurate diagnosis and treatment that actually addresses your life as you live it.

For LGBTQ+ patients especially, finding affirming care isn't a luxury. It's a necessity. Studies consistently show that LGBTQ+ people face unique health disparities, often stemming from experiences of discrimination in healthcare settings. When you finally find a practice where you can exhale and be yourself, you're not just more comfortable — you're statistically more likely to seek preventive care, disclose important health information and follow through with treatment.

At Be Well, that comfort is intentional. The waiting room reflects the diverse community they serve — gay, straight, trans, people of all ethnicities and backgrounds. "As a straight person, if you come into this office and you feel uncomfortable, then you probably should be going to some other clinic, because that's not who we are," Benson says. "We're very diverse."

This welcoming approach extends beyond adult primary care. Be Well's newest provider, Dr. Robert Andrews, offers pediatric care for both LGBTQ+ youth and children of LGBTQ+ parents. For families, having a pediatrician who "gets it" means one less thing to explain, one less moment of anxiety about whether your family will be respected.

2. Do your homework during open enrollment.

Don't just compare premiums when shopping for insurance. Verify that your current providers accept the plan you're considering. Then dig into the formulary — that's the list of medications your insurance will cover and at what cost.

"Different insurances have different formularies," Benson explains, "and if people are on certain medications, they need to make sure that the insurance company they're choosing has them approved at a tier that's least expensive."

Benson's practice has seen this play out with GLP-1 drugs, the weight-loss medications that have transformed care for many patients. Bensons says his team spends a great deal of time trying to convince insurance companies to cover these drugs. Many insurance policies exclude them entirely, or require a BMI above 35. The practice prescribes these medications and advocates for patients who need them, though insurance hurdles remain significant.

The good news? Be Well accepts a wide range of insurance plans, including Medicaid and Ryan White coverage. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program provides medical care and support services for people living with HIV who lack sufficient health insurance — a crucial safety net that Be Well has embraced since the earliest days of the AIDS crisis. This commitment to accessibility means more people can get consistent care rather than bouncing between providers based on what they can afford at any given moment.

3. Treat your appointment like a team meeting.

When you're finally in the exam room, come prepared. Bring a list of all your medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements. Write down your questions ahead of time, prioritized by what matters most. Be ready to discuss lifestyle factors honestly including factors like your diet, exercise habits, sexual health, substance use, stress levels and sleep patterns.

Your doctor can't read your mind, and they're working within tight time constraints. The more efficiently you can communicate your concerns, the more ground you can cover together.

4. Push for real conversations about sexual health.

Here's an uncomfortable truth: Many healthcare providers skip sexual health histories, especially with older women and anyone they assume isn't sexually active.

"Most internists and gynecologists just skip over the sexual history because they're maybe 50, 60 years old, or married, and they don't ask the pertinent questions," Benson observes. That's a problem, because sexual health isn't separate from your overall health; it's integral to it.

At Be Well, providers ask the questions that lead to better prevention and care. All patients should know about PrEP — pre-exposure prophylaxis medication that's highly effective at preventing HIV transmission. The practice also discusses doxypep, an antibiotic taken after sex that can prevent bacterial sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.

This kind of comprehensive sexual health conversation is precisely what makes affirming care worth seeking out. When providers assume heterosexuality or make judgments about your relationship structure, they miss opportunities for prevention that could literally save your life.

Benson has been a principal investigator in over 200 HIV clinical trials since 1980, contributing to the development of nearly every HIV treatment drug available today. He's even preparing to launch an HIV cure therapy trial next year. That depth of experience informs Be Well's strong focus on prevention. "The cure and eradication of HIV is not going to be treatment alone. It has to include prevention," he says.

5. Find a practice that grows with you.

Maybe you need primary care now, but what about when your life changes? If you're considering gender-affirming care, starting a family or managing a new diagnosis, having providers who can meet multiple needs saves time, money and emotional energy.

Be Well's seven providers offer services ranging from primary care to gender-affirming care for transgender patients of all ages. The practice has grown significantly from Benson's solo practice in 1980, expanding to meet demand while maintaining the welcoming, shame-free environment that defines the space. With locations in Ferndale, Detroit and Flint, they've built something rare — a medical home where you can bring your whole self.

"I started my practice in 1980, not necessarily planning to have an LGBTQ+ practice," he reflects. "I wanted to be that classic TV family doctor type person, but it kind of morphed into that, especially during the advent of HIV in the 1980s."

Back then, many patients living with AIDS struggled to find any provider willing to see them, let alone one who was compassionate. Benson's doors stayed open. Word spread. The practice grew into what it is today — a place where, as Benson puts it, "Whether you're gay, straight, transgender, it doesn't really make a difference. We treat everybody equally."

That's healthcare that's worth every dollar.

This content was made possible through our partnership with Be Well Medical Center. Visit doctorbewell.com to learn more and don't miss Dr. Benson's and Dr. Mark Borstein's Advice to Be Well column on pridesource.com.