When you go in for a visit with your primary care doctor, do you notice the crowded waiting room? Does the staff seem overworked? Does your doctor seem flustered? Well, these are all typical complaints of today's health care system. 

Shockingly, however, you and your doctor are complaining about the same thing and many are seeking a solution in what's called "direct primary care." 

In this type of medical practice, the doctors avoid insurance so patients pay an out-of-pocket fee. In return, the doctor allocates significantly more face time for each patient. Patients pay an out-of-pocket fee that typically ranges from $125 to $175 per month. In addition to preventive care and routine physicals, patients are granted longer visits, shorter waiting times, and are given the doctor's personal cell phone number so they can get in touch quickly.

Direct primary care is not a substitute for health insurance. The retainer does not cover out-of-office visits to specialists, emergency room care, hospitalization, major surgery or CT scans/MRIs. 

Doctors who switch to direct primary care do so because they're frustrated with the increasing overhead costs associated with insurance. The only way for these doctors to collect revenue is to see more patients and spend less time with each one, which has become the norm. 

Those who object to direct primary care say that if many doctors choose this type of medical practice, the result will be fewer doctors to go around, which will leave it increasingly difficult for patients, especially lower-income ones, to find a doctor. 

So, should you consider direct primary care?

Assess the state of your current medical care. If you have a good relationship your doctor, can easy schedule an appointment and don't feel rushed in the examining room than you're one of the lucky few. Also, consider your health. If all you need is an annual flu shot and a consultation for a cough, than direct primary care is probably not worth the cost. But if you're an older adult and have a chronic condition such as diabetes or heart disease and see several specialists in addition to your primary care doctor than direct primary care is probably a more suitable form of care for you. 

Another aspect to take into consideration is the location of the office and the cost. You want a doctor who has an office relatively cloes to your residence. And, ask yourself whether the money you're paying out of pocket will provide a return in terms of a better relationship with a doctor and better health.

If, after weighing these factors, you think direct primary care makes sense for you, be sure you have answers to the following questions:

• What is the monthly fee and does insurance cover any aspect?
• What services does the fee include?
• Is preventive care offered?
• Do you admit your patients to the hospital yourself or do you use a hospital-based doctor?
• Am I guarenteed same or next-day appointments?
• Will you or somebody else answer my calls to your cell phone?
• Will you coordinate my care if I need one or more specialists?
• Do you make house calls?
• For other questions regarding direct primary care, consult our Frequently Asked Questions.

Direct primary care is growing in the United States. Consumers are becoming increasily irritated with the long wait times and the limited access they have with their doctor while doctors are losing money due to insurance and administrative overhead. Primary care is shifting towards a more convenient form of health care that is beneficial for both the patient and the doctor. 

Is direct primary care right for you? Schedule a FREE meet and greet today with one of our doctors and experience the best and most affordable medical care money can buy.