What is Direct Primary Care?

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a healthcare model where you pay your doctor a flat monthly fee — typically $50 to $150 — for unlimited primary care, with no insurance, copays, or surprise bills involved. You get longer appointments, direct phone or text access to your doctor, and care that isn't filtered through an insurance company.

What's typically included in a DPC membership:

• Unlimited office visits with no copays
• Same-day or next-day appointments
• Direct phone, text, and video access to your doctor
• Routine labs and basic procedures during the visit
• Wholesale pricing on prescriptions and imaging

DPC practices don't bill insurance, which is exactly why they can spend 30–60 minutes with you instead of 7. The typical doctor's panel is 400–600 patients (vs. 2,500+ in traditional practice), so your doctor actually knows you.

How does Direct Primary Care work with insurance?

DPC replaces your primary care relationship, not your insurance. Most members pair their DPC membership with a high-deductible or catastrophic insurance plan to cover hospitalizations, specialists, and emergencies. As of 2026, you can also pay your DPC membership fee with pre-tax HSA dollars.

Is DPC the same as concierge medicine?

No. Concierge practices charge $300–$1,000+ per month and still bill your insurance. DPC charges $50–$150 with no insurance billing — making real primary care affordable for regular people, not just the wealthy.

Ready to find a DPC doctor near you? Browse DPC practices by state on the directory.