Why You Should  Consider Switching to Direct Primary Care

Apr 19, 2022

While health insurance is necessary, it does not solve the problem of rising healthcare costs or ensure the frequency or quality of care. Direct primary care, or DPC, is a relatively new and lesser-known model of healthcare delivery. It offers compelling benefits that anyone serious about saving money on healthcare should consider before Open Enrollment expires.

Here are reasons you should consider switching to direct primary care:

1. Cut Your Healthcare Costs in Half

Direct primary care dramatically reduces healthcare costs. Traditional healthcare insurance costs $6,915 per year on average. The average monthly cost of a DPC membership is $40.

2. Eliminate the Middleman

Health insurance is a middleman service. It protects you from being bankrupted in the event of a medical crisis. However, health insurance is not a service that you actually need. You already have health insurance: your body!

Direct primary care eliminates the middleman by giving you an actual doctor who is available to address your immediate healthcare needs—no more waiting for a call back from a nurse or doctor’s office.

3. You See the Same Doctor Every Visit

Direct primary care means you have a dedicated primary care physician who will see you as frequently as necessary. In a traditional practice, you may see a primary care doctor for a brief check-up and then never again for years, or you see one doctor for a few years until you are referred to a specialist who then refers you back to the original doctor.

With a DPC practice, you will have direct, ongoing access to your primary care physician. They will be the one who helps coordinate your care, treat you in the event of an emergency, and educate you about the value of preventative care.

4. No Copays and No Co-insurance

With a traditional insurance policy, you pay a portion of the cost of your healthcare every time you seek treatment. With direct primary care, there are no copays or co-insurance fees. If a visit to the doctor is necessary, it’s covered. If a prescription is recommended, it’s covered. If you need a lab test, you don’t have to pay for it.

5. You Get All Your Medical Records

If you have a traditional insurance policy, the insurance company owns your medical records. They can share them with any other doctor, any other time, without your permission.

DPC practices keep your records private. They can only be shared with your permission and for the purposes for which you are seeking the records. You are free to seek treatment from any doctor, in or out of the network, and you will get a copy of your records with each new request.

6. Your Healthcare Records are Transparent

With traditional healthcare insurance, your medical records are coded and unintelligible to most people. You can’t see the codes, and you can’t access them. With direct primary care, your medical records are an open book. You are able to see your full medical record, and you grant access to your doctor so they can see them as well.

This makes it easier for you to manage your own health, keep track of your treatment, and make sure your doctor is being honest about your medical needs.

Conclusion

Direct primary care is a better model of healthcare. It is a model that puts the patient at the center of the healthcare system, gives them control over their healthcare, and eliminates the layers of bureaucracy that consumers are forced to deal with when they use traditional healthcare insurance.

If you are looking for a direct care physician in Tyrone, GA, HealthSprings Direct is the best place for you. We provide technologically advanced and high-quality healthcare. Contact us today!