If I Join Direct Doctors, can I still use my insurance on other medical needs?

We often hear from patients interested in Direct Primary Care practices, like Direct Doctors, that they “have regular insurance, so why do I need this too?”  We’ve reviewed the “why” in many prior blogs, but here is the “how” it works. 

Over 95% of our patients have insurance.  They still use it.  If they have specialists to see, colonoscopies to undergo, meds to fill, or labs to get - they still use their insurance.  Direct Doctors can send the order to the lab, refill your prescription at the pharmacy, or refer you to your chosen specialist (we don’t have to stick in the networks like some corporate PCPs) all through your insurance.  This all feels just exactly like you’re used to with a fee for service PCP office.  ​

As long as your insurance is not an HMO (which requires an in-network PCP for referrals and advanced imaging orders), we can make all the same orders/refills/referrals for you that your in-network PCP could make.  The best part is, we can do it for you quickly and without the usual hassle of being on the phone and waiting to ask for what you need.  You can text us for your med refill and we’ll send it right over.  You can remind us you want to go forward with colon cancer screening, and we can order that right away.  You can tell us you need your flu shot soon, and we can email back with a time/date option that works for you.  

So, yes you can use your insurance for all your medical needs, but the way we get paid to be your doctor remains different.  We do it this way so that we do not have to abide by all the regulations and paperwork requirements of taking insurance.  We are paid by you - directly - to be sure we can give you time, access, and attention when you need it.  

To find out more about how using your insurance works with a DPC membership, check us out at www.directdoctors.org.

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