Direct Primary Care vs. Traditional Insurance:Â What's the Difference
If you've ever sat in a waiting room for over an hour only to spend 5 minutes with a rushed doctor who barely looked up from the computer - and still received a confusing bill in the mail weeks later - you already know the traditional insurance model is broken. Here is how Direct Primary Care (DPC) at Care One Direct Health compares.
Membership Benefits Comparison
Care Feature
Traditional Insurance-Based Primary Care
Care One Direct Health (DPC)
Appointment Lenght
5 to 10 minute visits (rushed)
30 to 60+ minute visits (unhurried)
Appointment Scheduling
2 to 4 weeks for an opening
Same-day or next-day availability
Co-pays & Deductibles
$0 copay for all standard in-office examinations
High out-of-pocket costs before meeting deductibles
Price Clarity
100% transparent flat-rate predictable monthly fee
Surprise complex bills arriving months down the line
Waiting Room Time
Zero lobby wait times; seen exactly at scheduled hour
Average delays of 45+ minutes past schedule
Lab & Prescription Costs
Direct wholesale pricing passed entirely to patients
Extremely inflated retail insurance laboratory rates
Provider Access
Phone trees, nurses, portal lag
Direct text, call or messaging with the provider
Do I Still Need Health Insurance if I Join DPC?
No, insurance is not required. We do recommend it for emergencies.​
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Think of Direct Primary Care like a health membership for 85-90% of your everyday needs (annual physicals, sick visits, chronic condition management, direct access to the provider)
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Meanwhile, your health insurance, high-deductible health plan, or health-sharing ministry acts as your safety net for the unexpected - like a major car accident, emergency surgery, or cancer treatment. Pairing a DPC with a high-deductible health plan often saves families thousands of dollars a year overall.
How DPC Memberships Works Without Insurance
We do not bill insurance for membership services, allowing us to keep prices low and transparent. We recommend maintaining a high-deductible health plan, health-sharing plan, or major medical insurance for hospitalizations and major medical emergencies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Direct Primary Care
If I have DPC, why do I still need insurance?
DPC covers 85–90% of your primary care needs. Insurance acts as your financial safety net for catastrophic events, unexpected hospitalizations, and major surgeries.
Will my insurance company reimburse me for my DPC membership?
Generally, traditional insurance companies do not reimburse direct primary care monthly fees, but pairing DPC with a high-deductible plan typically results in significant net annual savings.