What Dr. Mike Actually Recommends for Preventive Health
Dr. Mike (Mikhail Varshavski) breaks down the evidence-based basics — annual physical, bloodwork, mental health, dental, skin checks. Here's what they cost cash-pay in Austin.
Dr. Mike Varshavski — 19 million YouTube subscribers, family medicine physician — doesn't talk about hydrogen water or genetic methylation. He talks about the unglamorous basics that actually save lives: annual physical. Bloodwork. Dental cleaning twice a year. Don't ignore a weird mole.
Not exciting. But evidence-based. And most people aren't doing it.
Here's his preventive care checklist and what each costs cash-pay in Austin.
#1: Annual Physical Exam
What it is: Head-to-toe exam. Blood pressure, heart and lung sounds, abdominal exam, health history review. Catches things before they become serious.
What Dr. Mike says: He pushes back hard on "I feel fine, I don't need a checkup." Hypertension, elevated cholesterol, early-stage diabetes have no symptoms for years. The physical is how you find them.
In Austin: $75–$175 at cash-pay clinics.
- People's Community Clinic: $40–$75 sliding scale
- Euphora Health: Included in membership ($85–$99/month)
- Texas Direct Medical Care: Included in membership
- Standard cash-pay clinic: $100–$175
Search annual physical providers in Austin →
#2: Basic Bloodwork Panel
What it is: CBC, comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panel. Together they show: kidney/liver function, blood counts, cholesterol, glucose.
What Dr. Mike says: Your doctor should order this every year, more if you have risk factors. Most people don't need exotic tests. Just the basics run regularly.
In Austin: $15–$60 at cash-pay labs.
- Complete Blood Count (CBC): $5–$49
- Lipid Panel (Cholesterol): $7–$49
- Hemoglobin A1C: $8–$49 (add if 45+ or risk factors)
LaboratoryAssist has the lowest prices: CBC $5, metabolic panel $6, lipid panel $7. Full panel including A1C: under $30.
Compare bloodwork prices in Austin →
#3: Mental Health Check-In
What it is: Structured conversation with therapist, counselor, or psychiatrist. Minimum once yearly. More if dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, or life transitions.
What Dr. Mike says: Mental health is part of physical health. He's vocal about this on YouTube and has talked openly about his own therapy. The stigma argument is outdated.
In Austin: $30–$200 per session cash-pay.
- Open Path Collective: $30–$80 per session — best value for licensed therapists in Austin
- Thriveworks Austin: $99–$150 per session
- Euphora Health: Mental health counseling for $67 — included in DPC membership
Search mental health providers in Austin →
#4: Dental Cleaning + Exam
What it is: Professional cleaning, X-rays, exam from a dentist. Twice a year. Removes tartar brushing can't touch. Catches cavities, gum disease, early oral cancer signs.
What Dr. Mike says: Oral health connects to systemic health. Gum disease associates with cardiovascular disease — not just correlation. He pushes back hard on people who skip dental because they "feel fine."
In Austin: $75–$200 cash-pay for cleaning + exam.
- Affordable Dentistry of Austin: Cleaning from $69
- Celebrate Dental: Transparent pricing, discount plans
- X-rays typically extra — ask upfront what's included
Search dental providers in Austin →
#5: Skin Cancer Screening
What it is: Full-body skin exam by dermatologist. Looking for suspicious moles, new growths, existing spot changes. Melanoma is treatable when caught early. Deadly when it isn't.
What Dr. Mike says: He's done multiple videos on this. The ABCDE rule (asymmetry, border, color, diameter, evolution) teaches the concept, but trained eyes catch what patients miss on self-exam.
In Austin: $100–$200 at dermatology clinics.
Some dermatology practices offer cash-pay screening specifically for uninsured patients. Focused lesion exam for specific concerning spots: $75–$150.
Search dermatology + skin cancer screening in Austin →
Do It in Austin
Dr. Mike's protocol is the most accessible on this list — no exotic tests, no expensive supplements, no specialized equipment. Annual physical. Basic bloodwork. Dental cleaning. One therapy session. Skin check. Total annual cash-pay: $300–$700 for all five.
Probably less than most people spend on supplements yearly. Dramatically more impactful.
Written by
Jamie Torres
Healthcare Writer & Cost Researcher
Jamie spent three years uninsured after leaving a corporate job to freelance. After getting blindsided by a $2,400 MRI bill she could have paid $264 for, she started writing about healthcare pricing so other Austinites don't have to learn the hard way.
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