With the older population of Americans steadily increasing along with the demand for primary care physicians, we at Total Access Medical are firm believers that direct primary care movement is not just a phase. Patients who belong to these kind of practices experience better care for less money while physicians experience stronger relationships with their patients and little overhead costs due to no insurance. But for patients unfamiliar with direct primary care, the concept may be confusing.
Most patients are so accustomed to our insurance-led healthcare system that imagining any alternative seems risky. But the best way to battle this fear-based mentality is by answering YOUR questions. To help you do that, here are the five most common questions patients have about direct primary care:
QUESTION #1: WHAT IS DIRECT PRIMARY CARE?
This is the most basic question but it can also be the most tricky to answer. We wrote a blog post describing the DPC model here but this is the gist:
"Direct primary care means no more needing to bend your schedule to accommodate someone else. It means no more lingering in waiting rooms for an eternity. It means no more wishing you had access to your doctor during “off” hours, like weekends and late at night (because, let’s face it: medical issues don’t run on a 9-5 schedule). It means no more rushed office visits with a merry-go-round of physicians who barely know your name, let alone your medical history."
Another way to describe it is through comparing it to the existing health delivery system. Today, insured patients pay the insurance company a monthly premium as well as a co-pay for every visit and first paying down a deductible every year before coverage kicks in. Under the direct primary care model; however, a patient would pay a lower monthly fee and minor additional costs directly to their physician. Basically, direct primary care cuts out the middle man and saves patients money and the physicians time.
QUESTION #2: HOW MUCH DOES DIRECT PRIMARY CARE COST?
Although specific costs vary from practice to practice, patients can expect to pay a monthly fee between $120 - $150 as well as additional costs for visits, labs, and basic procedures. The monthly fee as well as the other charges are usually much more affordable than insurance-based premiums, co-pays, and deductibles.
QUESTION #3: IT'S BASICALLY CONCIERGE MEDICINE, RIGHT?
As concierge medicine is more common in the US than direct primary care, many patients believe that the two are the same. The challenge with this belief is that people see it as the country club version of primary care and thus too expensive for most families. Let’s not let direct primary care suffer from the same fate.
Direct primary care is different for two reasons:
- Concierge medicine accepts insurance. This means patients have to pay a hefty membership fee in addition to their insurance premiums, co-pays, and deductibles.
- Direct primary care is more affordable. Besides cutting out the insurance fees, the monthly fees are still typically lower and thus more affordable for families looking for great care.
So to summarize, direct primary care is significantly more affordable than concierge medicine. Do NOT let the show "Royal Pains" alter your perspective of what direct primary care truly is.
QUESTION #4: DO I NEED INSURANCE?
While patients don’t need traditional insurance, they should definitely purchase insurance that will cover things like emergency care, catastrophic accidents or complex procedures. There are several different options options that meet this criteria.
QUESTION #5: WHAT ABOUT SPECIALISTS LIKE PEDIATRICIANS AND DERMATOLOGISTS?
A great part about direct primary care is the breadth of services offered. From pediatrics to dermatology, you can get most of your care in one place and from one doctor rather than running all over town just to get to your next appointment. For more complex procedures, a direct primary care doctor will still refer patients out to specialists. But for everything else, the DPC clinic can take care of you.
Does signing up with a direct primary practice interest you? Well, Total Access Medical offers free "Meet and Greets" with you and one of our doctors of your choice. The meeting is free so why not try?
