Direct Primary Care is not just for the rich

​When some people hear about Direct Primary Care, they automatically think of concierge medicine and assume they cannot afford it. DPC skeptics will tout that membership based care is only for the uber wealthy and will leave those well off behind. However, did you know that only 3% of Direct Primary Care patients would classify as "Upper Middle Class" or above nationally.

​As a matter of fact, the first DPC practices were often started for completely uninsured patients who could not afford insurance. Others were founded in areas populated by migrant farm workers making very little money but whom obviously still require good health care. The truth is that Direct Primary Care practices attract all sorts of patients. Some do have all encompassing insurance and have the means to pay on top of that for a better primary care option. However, a vast majority are uninsured, self employed, using health shares, on medicaid or have very high deductible plans where they pay a ton out of pocket even though they do have typical insurance. These patients join practices like ours not only for the improved primary care experience, but also because they often save money! Whether it’s cheap lab or medication pricing, limiting the amount of specialists they need to see or avoiding costly health care services like urgent cares and ERs, these patients have several ways to save money at a DPC practice which often pays for their monthly fee and more. 

So next time you, or someone you know, worries about the cost of health care (especially primary care), think about how a DPC practice like Direct Doctors would benefit your health and your wallet! To check out how we practice primary care differently, please check us out at www.directdoctors.org.