D
DPCPassport
Direct Patient Care, simplified

What Is Direct Patient Care?

Your complete guide to direct primary care (DPC). Pay your doctor directly for access and routine care, with transparent membership pricing and a stronger doctor-patient relationship.

Find a DoctorStart Reading
What it isWhy nowMarket DataHow it worksHSA + DPCVs insuranceDirect specialtyChoose a clinicFAQ

What is Direct Patient Care?

✓What you get

  • Faster scheduling & longer visits
  • Direct messaging (text/email)
  • Transparent pricing (no surprises)
  • Proactive, relationship-based care

✕What it's not

  • • Not traditional insurance
  • • Not a replacement for emergency coverage
  • • Not "too good to be true" (it's just a better business model)

Why Direct Patient Care, right now?

People aren’t “using too much healthcare”—they’re trying to navigate a system where premiums rise, deductibles climb, and access often shrinks. Direct Patient Care is a practical response: predictable pricing + better access.

Employer family premiums (avg, 2025)
≈ $27,000 / year
Workers paid ≈ $6,850 on average (employee share).
Average single deductible (employer plans, 2025)
≈ $1,886
Among plans that include a general annual deductible.
Marketplace premiums (2026)
Up ~26% (avg)
Insurer-billed premium changes vary by state and plan.

Note: These are population averages and trend indicators. Your costs depend on plan design, employer contribution, subsidies, and local market pricing.

DPC Market Trends

Based on industry data, Direct Patient Care is more affordable and diverse than most patients realize.

Typical Monthly Costs

Affordability
10%
35%
45%
10%
Under $50$50-75$75-100$100+

Most adult DPC memberships cost less than a cell phone bill.

Beyond Family Medicine

Growth
Family Medicine80%
Internal Medicine12%
Pediatrics5%
Specialties (Endo, Derm)3%

While Family Medicine anchors the movement, Pediatrics and Specialties are the fastest-growing segments.

How it works

1

Join Membership

You pay the clinic directly—usually monthly. Pricing is published on their website, predictable, and not tied to surprise billing codes.

2

Use Care Early

Message your clinician, book visits quickly, and get longer appointments (30-60 mins). The point is access—before problems snowball.

3

Save on Downstream

Many direct-care clinics offer wholesale cash pricing for common labs, generic meds, and imaging, often saving you 80-90%.

Break-even Calculator

Is membership worth it? Use this simple tool to compare the cost of a DPC membership vs. paying cash per visit at an urgent care or clinic.

$
$
visits
Annual Membership Cost$1,140
Pay-Per-Visit Annual Cost$700
Break-Even Point
7 visits

If you see the doctor 7 times a year, the membership pays for itself on visit costs alone.

🚀 Membership saves you $440/yr compared to paying cash per visit.
$

HSA + DPC: What Changed in 2026

New for 2026

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), H.R. 1, signed into law in late 2025, allows Health Savings Account (HSA) funds to be used for direct primary care (DPC) membership fees starting in tax year 2026. This removes the single biggest financial barrier for patients considering DPC.

Before 2026

DPC membership fees were not considered a qualified HSA expense. Paying with HSA funds triggered a 20% penalty + income tax. Most patients paid DPC memberships with after-tax dollars.

After 2026

DPC memberships are now a qualified medical expense under IRS Section 223. You can pay your monthly DPC fee directly from your HSA, tax-free. This effectively makes DPC 20-35% cheaper depending on your tax bracket.

What this means for you

  • Pay DPC fees tax-free from your HSA
  • Pair with an HDHP for full coverage
  • Employer HSA contributions can fund your DPC

Consult your tax advisor for specifics. The law applies to DPC arrangements that meet the IRS definition of a direct primary care service arrangement. Concierge retainers that also bill insurance may not qualify.

Frequently asked questions

Is Direct Patient Care the same as insurance?▼
No. Direct Patient Care is how you purchase care directly from a clinic (often via membership). Insurance is still useful for big, unpredictable events like hospitalizations, surgery, and emergencies.
Is this just concierge medicine?▼
Not necessarily. Concierge models often bill insurance plus a high retainer. Direct Patient Care typically avoids routine insurance billing entirely and focuses on affordable, transparent access.
Can I keep my insurance?▼
Yes. Many people pair Direct Patient Care with a high-deductible or catastrophic plan, using direct care for everyday needs and insurance for rare, high-cost events.
Is Direct Patient Care only for healthy people?▼
Often it’s the opposite—people with chronic conditions value frequent touchpoints, faster iteration on treatment plans, and direct clinician access.
Does Direct Patient Care cover prescriptions, labs, or imaging?▼
It depends on the clinic. Many include some services and offer transparent add-on pricing for others (often at wholesale rates).
Can I use my HSA to pay for a DPC membership?▼
Yes, starting in 2026. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), H.R. 1 made DPC membership fees a qualified HSA expense. You can now pay your monthly DPC membership tax-free from your Health Savings Account.

Ready to find Direct Patient Care?

Explore clinics by city, state, specialty, and care type. We’re aggregating new directories every week.

Find a Doctor

Deep Dives

Explore specific topics in direct primary care—from cost breakdowns to employer programs.

Comparison

DPC vs. Insurance: A Side-by-Side Comparison for 2026

8 min read

Cost

How Much Does DPC Cost? A Complete 2026 Breakdown

6 min read

Comparison

Concierge Medicine vs. DPC: What's the Difference?

5 min read

Employers

DPC for Employers: Cut Healthcare Costs While Improving Benefits

7 min read

Financial Planning

Using Your HSA for DPC: The Complete 2026 Guide

7 min read

Health

DPC for Chronic Conditions: Better Care for Diabetes, Hypertension & More

7 min read

Guide

How to Choose a DPC Doctor: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Join

6 min read

Finance

DPC + HDHP: The Complete Pairing Guide for 2026

9 min read

Finance

DPC for Self-Employed Professionals: Your Healthcare Solution for 2026

7 min read

Guide

What Does a DPC Visit Look Like? A Day-in-the-Life Guide

5 min read