Direct Primary Care FAQs — Rhode Island
Direct Doctors has served 1,800+ Rhode Island patients since 2014 with our direct primary care model. Below are answers to the most common questions we receive about membership, appointments, and how our practice works.
How can my FSA or HSA be used for the monthly fee?
As of January 2026, HSA funds are now allowed to be used for the monthly fee up to $150 per adult or $300 per family toward a DPC membership. FSA's may be used depending on the employer's FSA criteria so check directly with your employer or plan administrator. Read more...
I already have health insurance, so why would I pay for this?
While we urge you to keep your health insurance, it is important to remember that health insurance does not equal health care. The two are not synonymous. Having health insurance does not guarantee you access to health care, and certainly does not give you access to quality health care. It simply provides an avenue to have costs for specific services “covered.” As for the pay twice question, everyone already pays twice for health insurance. Read the rest...
What type of insurance works best with your practice? HMO vs. PPO
The two most common types of health insurances that we see today (outside of medicare and medicaid) are called PPOs and HMOs. The short and sweet of it is that HMOs are very restrictive and want you to remain in their “network” - which means you need a Primary Care Physician who participates in the network with them. Read more here on picking the right plan...
Won't I end up spending more money out of pocket?
Often patients who are considering a membership at our practice assume that in order to benefit from the unlimited access and direct relationship with their physician, they must also fork out a lot more money. Fortunately, that is not true. Whereas, concierge practices charge higher fees and still bill copays and insurance, Direct Primary Care doctors do none of the above. In fact, a number of our patients save substantial amounts of money every year as Direct Doctors’ patients. Read the rest...
What do you mean you don't take insurance?
By not accepting insurance, we can practice like the old days! We keep our panel of patients low to guarantee the highest level of access to your doctor. You will never be charged a co-pay for our visits and you can be seen whenever you need. Like car insurance - you have insurance to pay for big things that come up, like accidents and major repairs. Car insurance doesn't cover everything - windshield wipers, brake lights, tires, and oil changes - the predictable maintenance. If it did, it would end up costing everyone a whole lot more and causing some people not to be able to afford any insurance at all. This system makes no sense. What we imagine is healthcare costing a lot less for every individual and insurance applying to the "major repairs" - hospitalizations, emergency services, surgery, and specialist care. When people have direct access to primary care at a predictable cost, they use it and overall healthcare costs and individual costs are reduced substantially.
What does insurance do to primary care?
Have you ever stopped to wonder - Why do you wait in your doctor’s waiting room for an hour? Why does your doctor rush you through your visit or tell you to come back again if you want to discuss more than three problems? Why, when you call the office, does your doctor’s staff seem to be putting up a stonewall preventing you from communicating with your doctor when you want to? At Direct Doctors, we don’t do any of those things. The reason why we don’t have to is all in the way health insurance affects primary care. Read the rest...
What is Direct Primary Care?
Direct Primary Care is a membership-based model of primary care that provides direct access to your physician without insurance company involvement. For a simple monthly membership fee, you get unlimited primary care visits, same-day appointments when you're sick, 30-60 minute unhurried appointments, and direct communication with your doctor by text, email, and phone. At Direct Doctors, we've served 1,800+ Rhode Island patients since 2014 with this model. It's not about finding cheap healthcare — it's about getting the time, access, and physician relationships that quality care requires. All of our visits are with board-certified physicians (MDs and DOs), never mid-level providers.
Do I see a doctor or physician assistant at Direct Doctors?
You ALWAYS see a board-certified physician at Direct Doctors — an MD or DO — every single visit. We are an all-physician practice, which means we don't use physician assistants (PAs) or nurse practitioners (NPs). This is one of our core quality commitments. While PAs and NPs can provide good care in many situations, complex medical conditions, medication management, and diagnostic decision-making benefit from physician-level training and expertise. When you're a Direct Doctors member, you see the same physician who knows your complete medical history, your medications, your family history, and your health goals. That continuity and expertise matters.
How long are appointments at Direct Doctors?
Appointments at Direct Doctors are 30-60 minutes — not rushed 7-minute visits. In traditional primary care, doctors are forced to see 25-30 patients per day to stay profitable under insurance reimbursement models. That means 7-10 minute appointments where your doctor is watching the clock. At Direct Doctors, our membership model allows our physicians to limit their panel sizes and spend real time with each patient. Dr. Kunkel and Dr. Henseler can take a full hour when needed to discuss complex issues like menopause management, chronic disease, or medication adjustments. This is what healthcare should be: unhurried, thorough, and focused on you.
Can I text my doctor at Direct Doctors?
Yes — Direct Doctors members have direct access to their physician by text, email, and phone. No phone trees, no leaving messages with front desk staff, no waiting days for a callback. You have your doctor's direct contact information. If you have a medication question at 9 AM, you can text your physician and typically get a response by early afternoon. If you're concerned about symptoms, you can send a photo or describe what's happening and get guidance. This direct access is invaluable for managing chronic conditions, adjusting medications, addressing urgent concerns, and avoiding unnecessary urgent care or ER visits. It's one of the most valued benefits our 1,800+ Rhode Island patients mention.
Is Dr. Kunkel a menopause specialist?
Yes. Dr. Erin Kunkel specializes in menopause care and women's health at our East Greenwich location. Unlike general gynecologists who may rush through menopause concerns in a 7-minute visit, Dr. Kunkel dedicates 60-minute appointments to thoroughly discuss your symptoms, review your complete medical history, explain hormone therapy options, and create a personalized treatment plan. She offers evidence-based hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and comprehensive menopause management for perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. She treats hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption, mood changes, brain fog, and other symptoms with expertise and empathy. Dr. Kunkel is currently accepting new patients. Call (401) 400-2699 to schedule a consultation.
How quickly can I get an appointment at Direct Doctors?
Same-day appointments are typically available for Direct Doctors members. If you wake up sick on Monday morning, you can usually see your actual physician — not a stranger at urgent care — by Monday afternoon. No waiting 2-3 weeks like traditional primary care practices. This is possible because our membership model allows our physicians to maintain smaller patient panels and reserve appointment slots for same-day needs. Your doctor knows you, knows your history, and can make better medical decisions than an urgent care provider seeing you for the first time. For annual physicals and non-urgent visits, you can schedule at your convenience. Most members schedule their annual physicals 2-4 weeks out.
How much does Direct Doctors membership cost?
Monthly membership investment starts at $119 for adults, with age-based pricing for different demographics. (Children, seniors, and families have different rates — call for details.) Your membership includes: • Unlimited primary care office visits • Same-day appointments when you're sick • 30-60 minute unhurried appointments • Direct text/email/phone access to your physician • All-physician care (MD/DO every visit) • Comprehensive primary care services Most of our 1,800+ Rhode Island patients find it's worth every penny for the quality of care and peace of mind. It's not about finding the cheapest healthcare — it's about investing in your health with physicians who have time to do medicine right. Visit our Membership Investment page or call (401) 400-2699 for complete pricing details.
Do I still need health insurance if I join Direct Doctors?
Yes — Direct Doctors membership covers your primary care, but you should still maintain health insurance for specialists, hospital care, emergency room visits, imaging (MRIs, CT scans), labs, and prescriptions. Many of our members pair Direct Doctors with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). Since you're paying out-of-pocket for primary care through your membership, you can choose a plan with a higher deductible and lower monthly premiums, which often saves money overall. Your Direct Doctors membership does NOT replace health insurance — it enhances it by giving you dramatically better primary care than you'd get through traditional insurance-based practices. You get the doctor access and relationship quality that insurance-driven medicine can't provide.
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Call us at (401) 400-2699 or book a consultation.