What is direct primary care?

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a membership-based model where patients pay a simple monthly fee for comprehensive primary care services, rather than going through insurance. This fee typically covers routine visits, preventive care, and chronic disease management—eliminating co-pays, surprise bills, and many of the financial barriers that can come with traditional care.

Because DPC operates outside of the insurance system, providers are able to spend more time with patients, offer easier access (including same- or next-day visits and direct communication), and focus fully on individualized, high-quality care instead of administrative tasks.

Many patients choose to maintain insurance for services outside the scope of primary care, such as specialist visits, procedures, or hospitalizations. The DPC model is especially beneficial for those with high-deductible plans, who often pay out of pocket for primary care anyway. By prioritizing strong patient-provider relationships, DPC supports better health outcomes while helping reduce overall healthcare costs.