A direct primary care (DPC) membership delivers this through long appointment times, unlimited visits with no copays or surprise fees, abundantly available same- or next-day visits with your doctor, and direct, 24/7 access to your doctor by phone, text, and email. All this is provided with virtually no time spent in the waiting room!
How is this possible? DPC doctors keep operating costs low by providing membership at an affordable monthly fee in lieu of billing insurance. Because of this, DPC doctors are able to see 6-12 patients per day instead of rushing to see 20, 30, or even 40, which is typical for traditional insurance-billing clinics. This gives you a lot more time to spend with your doctor!
All this extra time translates to better care. Most health problems can be treated by a well-trained family doctor if equipped with enough time, as in DPC. Often, this means you won’t need to see as many specialists, and more of your care can be managed in one place.
Direct primary care is often more affordable even while carrying insurance, and the pricing is transparent. Insurance-based primary care appointments, copays, lab fees, urgent care visits, and specialist referrals add up quickly and easily exceed the flat, predictable cost of a DPC membership. Furthermore, HSA funds can be used toward DPC membership costs, making it even more affordable. Services not covered by the DPC membership, such as lab testing, are offered at-cost, which is generally substantially lower than if submitted through insurance.