Direct Family Care Alliance FAQs
General
Direct Primary Care is a membership-based
healthcare model. For a flat monthly fee, you get direct access to your primary care
provider, unhurried appointments, and comprehensive primary care without copays
or insurance billing hassles.
Traditionalpractices often manage 2,000 to 3,000 patients per provider, leading to rushed 10-minute appointments, long lobby wait times, and difficulty getting timely care. DPC
caps patient panels at a fraction of that size. This allows for 30- to 60-minute unhurried visits, true personal relationships with your provider, transparent wholesale pricing on labs, and no unexpected insurance bills.
Because you have a direct personal relationship with your care team, many routine requests, quick questions, or minor follow-ups can be handled with a simple direct message, text, or phone call—saving you unnecessary trips to the clinic. We are happy to alleviate the headaches of healthcare with simple, responsive care.
Targeted management for chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and thyroid health benefits msignificantly from the longer, unhurried appointments DPC provides. We do not
deny membership or charge higher monthly fees based on pre-existing conditions.
Your fee covers routine visits, preventive care, chronic condition management, basic in-office procedures, and direct communication during office hours—with zero copays or hidden fees.
Yes. DPC is not health insurance. We strongly recommend pairing your membership with high-deductible insurance, catastrophic coverage, or a health-sharing plan to cover hospitalizations, surgeries, specialist visits, and emergency room care.
Care, Hours & Appointments
Membership includes comprehensive wellness exams, sick visits, chronic disease management, routine physicals, basic in-office tests, and ongoing follow-up care.
We are open Monday through Friday during standard business hours. We do not offer after-hours, weekend, or on-call services. Any messages, portal inquiries, or texts sent outside of business hours will be addressed on the next business day.
Yes! Many non-urgent medical concerns, follow-ups, and lab reviews can be conducted via secure virtual visits or direct messaging during business hours, saving you a trip to the office when an in-person exam isn’t required.
Because you have a direct line to your care team, many routine illnesses or minor concerns can be evaluated through virtual visits, texts, or phone calls while you’re away. If you need a prescription sent to a local pharmacy while traveling, we can handle that directly during our regular business hours.
DPC isn’t just for when you’re ill—it’s built to keep you healthy. We place a heavy emphasis on preventive medicine, wellness planning, routine screenings, and lifestyle management. Plus, when unexpected health issues do crop up, having an established relationship with a provider who knows your medical history makes getting care fast and simple.
Targeted management for chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and thyroid health benefits significantly from the longer, unhurried appointments DPC provides. We do not deny membership or charge higher monthly fees based on pre-existing conditions.
Because we maintain a limited patient list, we offer prompt access for acute needs with same-day or next-day appointment options during regular business hours, alongside minimal-to-zero lobby wait times.
Costs, Billing, & Referrals
Yes. We require an initial 3-month commitment upon signing up. After your first 3 months, your membership transitions to a flexible month-to-month plan that can be canceled at any time with a 30-day written notice.
Many patients use Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for DPC memberships, though tax regulations vary. We advise checking directly with your plan administrator or tax consultant.
Yes. While we offer discounted wholesale cash pricing for common labs and select medications, you can always choose to use your traditional health insurance coverage at outside pharmacies, diagnostic imaging centers, or specialist clinics.
If you need specialized care or hospitalization, we coordinate directly with your specialists, provide your medical records, and help navigate your care plan. Outside specialist visits, hospital stays, and emergency room care are not covered by your DPC membership, which is why we recommend maintaining catastrophic health coverage.