Learn Direct Patient Care

A simpler way to buy healthcare. Pay your doctor directly for access and routine care, with transparent pricing and a stronger relationship.

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What it is Why now Market Data How it works Vs insurance Direct specialty Choose a clinic FAQ

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

Join Membership

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

Use Care Early

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

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.

Monthly Membership

Cash Price Per Visit

Visits Per Year

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.

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).

Ready to find Direct Patient Care?

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

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