Direct Primary Care: Monthly Memberships Change How You Access Your Doctor
Some primary care practices are shifting from insurance-based billing to direct primary care (DPC), charging patients a monthly or annual fee (often $50–$100) to cover routine visits and chronic-disease management. Proponents say DPC frees physicians from insurance constraints, reduces burnout, and allows longer, more personalized visits with smaller patient panels; some doctors even promise visits lasting up to hours. Federal rules now allow HSAs to pay DPC fees, and interest in DPC/concierge models has surged in recent years. However, critics warn that DPC can double-pay for care (insurance plus DPC), may limit access for those with fewer resources, and won’t cover medications, hospitalizations, or emergencies, potentially exacerbating physician shortages by favoring wealthier patients.
