Direct Primary Care

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a healthcare model where you pay your provider a flat monthly fee for access to most primary care services, like routine checkups, chronic condition management, and basic lab tests, directly to them, without involving insurance companies, allowing for more personalized and readily available care with extended appointment times and often better communication with your provider; however, you may still need a separate insurance policy for major medical events like hospitalizations or specialist procedures. 

Key points about DPC:

  • Membership fee: You pay a set monthly or annual fee to access your doctor, which covers most primary care services. 
  • No insurance billing: DPC practices does not bill insurance companies, meaning you pay directly to your provider. 
  • Increased access: You can usually get same-day or next-day appointments and often have more flexibility to contact your provider via phone, text, or email. 
  • Personalized care: Providers can spend more time with you during appointments due to reduced administrative burdens, allowing for a more comprehensive discussion about your health. 
  • Preventive focus: DPC encourages proactive health management and preventative care. What DPC covers:
  • Routine physical exams
  • Chronic disease management (diabetes, high blood pressure)
  • Basic lab tests
  • Minor illnesses and injuries

APPENDIX ARETE Primary Care Services, and Periodic & Enrollment Fees

This Agreement is for ongoing primary care. This is Agreement is NOT HEALTH INSURANCE and is NOT A HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION. The Patient may need to use the care of specialists, emergency rooms, and urgent care centers that are outside the scope of this Agreement. Each Provider within AFC will make an appropriate determination about the scope of primary care services offered by the Providers. Examples of common conditions we treat, procedures we perform, and medications we prescribe are listed on our website and are subject to change.

Package to include:
Annual physical with annual labs (CBC, CMP, TSH, T4, A1C, Lipid panel, Vitamin D, urinalysis) – covered once/year
Well-women exams and birth control counseling
Chronic disease management
(3) telemedicine / sick office visits with in-house testing (mono, strep, flu, urine, covid, etc)- co-pay for each visit $25
Flu vaccine/Tdap when needed
Discounted procedure pricing (See below)
Discounted Patient portal messaging - $20 per message
Pricing:
Non-refundable Enrollment/registration fee - $100
Adults 45+ - $150/mth ($1800 annually)
Adults 18-44 - $125/mth ($1500 annually)
Children - $90/month includes all childhood vaccines ($1080 annually)

What DPC does not cover: Major surgeries, Specialist care (unless coordinated by your DPC doctor), Hospital stays and prescriptions. 

Who might benefit from DPC:

  • People who want easier access to their doctor and more personalized care 
  • Individuals with chronic health conditions requiring regular monitoring 
  • People who are frustrated with long wait times for appointments 
  • Those with high-deductible health plans who want to minimize out-of-pocket costs for basic primary care 

Important considerations:

  • Check your needs: Evaluate if DPC aligns with your healthcare needs and if the services offered by a specific practice meet your requirements. 
  • Cost comparison: Compare the monthly DPC fee to your current insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs. 
  • Supplemental insurance: Consider getting a high-deductible health plan to cover major medical events not covered by DPC.