12 questions to ask a longevity doctor before your first visit
Ask a longevity doctor 12 specific questions before you commit: what their primary board certification is and whether it is current, who will actually manage your care, which labs they order and why, what evidence backs each treatment, where compounded drugs come from, how they monitor therapy, whether they are licensed in your state, and what the total cost will be. Longevity medicine is not a specialty recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), so a "longevity certification" on its own tells you little. Verify the doctor's primary board on ABMS Certification Matters, then use the consultation to judge how they practice.
Credentials get a doctor through the door. How they answer the questions below tells you whether they belong in your care.
The 12 questions at a glance
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| # | Question | A good answer sounds like | Red flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What is your primary board certification, and when was it renewed? | A named ABMS specialty you can verify, with current status | Only a longevity or anti-aging certificate |
| 2 | Will I see a physician, or an NP or PA? Who manages follow-ups? | A clear name and role for each step | "Whoever is available" |
| 3 | Are you licensed in my state for telehealth? | Yes, with a license you can look up | Vague answers about "national coverage" |
| 4 | Which labs do you order at baseline, and why each one? | Each test tied to a decision | Prescriptions before labs |
| 5 | Who walks me through my results? | A clinician, live, one on one | A PDF and nothing else |
| 6 | What evidence supports each treatment? | Honest about human trials vs animal data | "It works for everyone" |
| 7 | Do you prescribe compounded drugs, and from which pharmacy? | A named, licensed pharmacy | Refuses to name it |
| 8 | When would you tell me not to start something? | Specific reasons, including contraindications | Nobody is ever turned down |
| 9 | How do you monitor hormone or peptide therapy? | A written schedule of repeat labs | "We check in if you feel off" |
| 10 | How do I reach you between visits? | A defined channel and response time | No answer |
| 11 | What happens if I stop, and will you share records? | A taper or exit plan, records on request | Lock in with no exit |
| 12 | What is the total cost: membership, labs, medications? | Every line item, in writing | Only the membership price |
Credentials: who is actually treating you
1. What is your primary board certification, and when was it last renewed?
This is the question behind most searches for a board certified longevity doctor, and the honest answer surprises people: there is no ABMS board certification in longevity medicine. Certificates from groups such as A4M or the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine reflect extra training, but they are not ABMS member board certifications.
What you want is a primary certification in a recognized specialty, such as internal medicine, family medicine, endocrinology, or preventive medicine through the American Board of Preventive Medicine, which also certifies subspecialties like clinical informatics. Then check it yourself. Certification Matters is the ABMS lookup tool, and it shows whether a physician holds a certification from an ABMS member board. Ask when it was last renewed, because ABMS boards require ongoing continuing certification, not a one time exam.
2. Will I see a physician, or an NP or PA? Who manages my follow-ups?
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants can deliver excellent care. The issue is transparency. Ask who reviews your labs, who changes your dose, and who answers when you send a message at 9 p.m. on a Tuesday. If the physician appears once and disappears, you should know that up front.
3. Are you licensed in my state for telehealth?
A telehealth prescriber generally needs a license in the state where you are physically located during the visit. Ask which state license covers you, then confirm it on your state medical board's lookup. A clinic that serves many states should be able to answer this in one sentence.
Testing: what gets measured before anything is prescribed
4. Which labs do you order at baseline, and why each one?
A good longevity doctor connects every test to a decision. For testosterone, the Endocrine Society's 2018 guideline recommends diagnosing low testosterone only when symptoms are present and morning fasting levels are consistently low on repeat testing, with hematocrit checked before treatment and prostate risk evaluated in appropriate men. A clinic that prescribes before it tests is skipping the step that makes treatment safe.
The opposite problem exists too: a huge panel with no explanation. Ask, "What would you do differently if this marker came back high?" If there is no answer, the test may be decoration.
5. Who will walk me through my results?
Numbers without context create anxiety, not answers. Ask whether a clinician reviews your results with you live. We wrote about why this matters in Don't skip the talk: why doctor interpretations turn lab results into real answers. You can see how BioCure structures testing and review on our diagnostics page.
Treatment: evidence, pharmacies, and honest limits
6. What evidence supports each treatment you recommend?
Ask the doctor to place each recommendation in one of three tiers:
- FDA approved for your use. Testosterone for diagnosed hypogonadism, or semaglutide and tirzepatide for chronic weight management.
- Off label with human data. Used outside the approved indication, with some human research behind it.
- Mostly preclinical. Peptides such as BPC-157 and TB-500 rest largely on animal and laboratory studies, and well designed human trials are limited.
A trustworthy doctor will tell you which tier you are in without being asked twice. Longevity is not accidental, it is intentional, and intention starts with knowing what you are actually choosing.
7. Do you prescribe compounded drugs, and from which pharmacy?
The FDA does not approve compounded medications. Compounding can be legitimate and useful, but quality depends on the pharmacy. Ask for the pharmacy's name, whether it is a 503A or 503B facility, and whether it is licensed to ship to your state. Any clinic describing its compounding partner as "FDA approved" is misstating how compounding works.
8. When would you tell me not to start something?
This question reveals more than any credential. The Endocrine Society guideline lists situations where testosterone therapy is not recommended, including men planning fertility in the near term, men with breast or prostate cancer, an elevated hematocrit, untreated severe sleep apnea, and uncontrolled heart failure. A doctor who can name the reasons they say no is a doctor who is actually screening you.
Monitoring: what happens after the first prescription
9. How do you monitor hormone or peptide therapy?
For testosterone, the Endocrine Society guideline calls for checking testosterone and hematocrit 3 to 12 months after starting, then annually, and stopping therapy if hematocrit rises above 54% until it comes down. It also describes a defined approach to PSA and prostate monitoring. Ask to see the clinic's schedule in writing.
Peptide therapy has no equivalent standardized guideline because the human data are thinner. That makes the answer more important, not less. Ask what labs they repeat, how often, and what result would make them stop.
10. How do I reach you between visits?
Portal, text, phone? Who answers, and how fast? A body that is monitored, supported, and optimized all year long needs a team you can actually reach.
11. What happens if I want to stop, and will you share my records?
Some therapies, testosterone especially, can suppress your body's own production, so stopping deserves a plan. Ask how they handle discontinuation and whether they will send your labs and notes to your primary care doctor.
Cost: the full number, not just the membership
12. What is the total cost: membership, labs, medications?
The membership fee is rarely the whole bill. Ask for every line item before you sign up.
| Cost item | What to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation | Is it credited toward membership? | Avoids paying twice |
| Membership | What exactly does it include? | Some include follow-ups and messaging; some do not |
| Baseline labs | Included, or billed separately? | Comprehensive panels vary widely |
| Repeat monitoring labs | How often, and at what cost? | Monitoring is ongoing, not a one time charge |
| Medications | Included, or priced per prescription? | Often the largest recurring cost |
| Specialty tests | Optional or required? | Some clinics upsell tests you may not need |
| Insurance, HSA, FSA | Do you bill insurance or provide receipts? | Determines what you can recover |
How BioCure answers these questions
Not every person who walks through our doors is sick. Most of them just want more, and they deserve straight answers before they spend a dollar. Here is how BioCure Health handles the checklist:
- Who you see: BioCure is physician-led, co-founded by Dr. Joaquin Rosado and Dr. Vaneza Chaple. Your first visit is a video consultation with a physician. Our full team is listed on our team page, and we encourage you to look each physician up on Certification Matters yourself.
- State licensing: We are licensed to treat patients in 47 states, and availability in your state is confirmed at intake.
- Labs first: Every protocol starts with diagnostics, either an at-home kit with an in-home phlebotomist or in-lab testing. Results arrive in 7 to 14 days and are reviewed with you one on one.
- Pharmacy: Medications come from licensed compounding pharmacy partners or standard pharmacies and ship to your door, typically 5 to 10 business days after consultation and testing.
- Monitoring: Ongoing follow-up and support are included, with repeat labs built into our testosterone and peptide protocols.
- Cost: The physician consultation is $199 and can be credited back with a membership. Membership pricing depends on your protocol and is set at your consultation. We do not bill insurance directly, but many patients use HSA or FSA funds, and we provide invoices and documentation for reimbursement.
BioCure is a strong fit if you want physician-led telehealth that tests before it treats, with an in-person option in South Florida. If you need a clinic that bills your insurance directly, a different practice may suit you better, and that is a fair reason to choose one.
Frequently asked questions
Is longevity medicine a board certified specialty?
No. Longevity medicine is not a specialty recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Certificates from groups like A4M or the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine reflect extra training, but the credential to verify is the doctor's primary ABMS board certification, such as internal medicine, family medicine, endocrinology, or preventive medicine.
How do I check if a doctor is really board certified?
Search the doctor's name on ABMS Certification Matters at certificationmatters.org, which shows whether they hold a certification from an ABMS member board. Also check your state medical board's license lookup to confirm they are licensed where you live.
Is it a red flag if a longevity clinic uses nurse practitioners?
Not by itself. NPs and PAs can provide excellent care. The red flag is a clinic that will not tell you who reviews your labs, who adjusts your dose, and who supervises your treatment.
What labs should a longevity doctor order before starting testosterone?
The Endocrine Society's 2018 guideline recommends confirming low testosterone with repeat morning fasting tests alongside symptoms, and checking hematocrit before treatment, with prostate risk evaluated in appropriate men. Hematocrit and testosterone should be rechecked 3 to 12 months after starting, then annually.
Are compounded peptides FDA approved?
No. The FDA does not approve compounded medications, and peptides such as BPC-157 and TB-500 are supported mainly by animal and laboratory research. Ask your doctor which pharmacy compounds them and whether it is licensed to ship to your state.
How much does it cost to see a longevity doctor?
It depends on how the clinic prices consultations, membership, labs, and medications, which are often billed separately. At BioCure, the physician video consultation is $199 and can be credited toward a membership, with protocol pricing set at your consultation.
Are you living by default or by design? Bring these 12 questions to your first visit, and let the answers tell you who deserves your trust.
Let BioCure Health lead you in the right direction. Call or text us to schedule an introductory call at 754-206-0838, your future self will thank you.