Direct Primary Care (DPC):
What It Is, What It Costs & How It Works
Medically reviewed by Dr. Ian Strand, DO, FAAMM — July 2026
Direct primary care (DPC) is a membership model in which you pay your clinic a flat monthly fee directly — with no insurance billing, no copays, and no per-visit charges. "DPC" is short for direct primary care.
Asymmetric Health is a direct-pay primary care practice built around a functional medicine approach to health-span optimization — evidence-based, personalized care for people who want to get ahead of the diseases of aging rather than wait for them. This guide explains how the DPC model works, what it costs, and how it compares to insurance and concierge medicine.
What Is Direct Primary Care?
Direct primary care is a healthcare model that eliminates the middleman (insurance) and fosters a direct relationship between you and your clinician. Instead of paying for each appointment, test, or form individually, you pay a flat monthly membership fee that covers nearly all of your primary care needs.
How Much Does Direct Primary Care Cost?
DPC pricing is a flat monthly membership — no copays, no surprise bills. Nationally, most direct primary care practices charge roughly $50-$150 per month. At Asymmetric Health, monthly memberships (billed annually) are:
Your membership covers appointments, prescribing, and care coordination. Labs (at Labcorp), medications (at cost, with zero markup), supplements, and imaging are billed separately — you pay exactly what they cost. See full membership pricing or read how our direct-pay model works.
Direct Primary Care vs. Insurance vs. Concierge Medicine
People often confuse direct primary care with concierge medicine. Both are membership-based, but they work differently — and DPC is usually the more affordable, more transparent option.
| Direct Primary Care | Concierge Medicine | Traditional Insurance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Flat monthly membership | High retainer + still bills insurance | Premiums, copays, deductibles |
| Typical cost | ~$50-$150/mo | ~$150-$500+/mo | Varies; often higher all-in |
| Bills insurance? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Visit length | 30-60 min | Extended | ~7-15 min avg |
| Direct clinician access | Yes (text/call/email) | Usually | Rarely |
| Medication markup | Zero (at cost) | Varies | Pharmacy pricing |
Asymmetric Health is a direct primary care practice, not a concierge practice. We charge one flat, transparent membership fee and never bill insurance — so you always know what your care costs.
What DPC Is NOT
DPC is not a substitute for health insurance. We recommend maintaining a high-deductible plan or health-sharing membership for catastrophic events, hospitalization, and specialist referrals.
DPC covers most primary care needs but does not include hospitalization, imaging, or emergency services. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
You don't pay per visit. You're not rushed out the door. You're paying for a relationship and access to your physician whenever you need them.
A Brief History of DPC
DPC emerged in the early 2000s as a response to rising patient dissatisfaction and physician burnout caused by a deeply flawed insurance-based healthcare system. Traditional fee-for-service models became increasingly dominated by health insurance companies, which created rigid reimbursement structures, interfered with clinical decision-making, and often dictated care based on billing codes rather than patient needs.
Physicians found themselves increasingly sidelined in determining what was best for their patients. Administrative burdens exploded - prior authorizations, billing codes, documentation for reimbursement, and performance metrics tied to insurance contracts began to consume more time than patient care itself. DPC was built to restore the patient-provider relationship to the center of healthcare.
How DPC Can Save You Money
Many patients pair their DPC membership with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) or health-sharing ministry, which often results in lower total healthcare spending than traditional insurance alone.
DPC at Asymmetric Health
While we offer several membership tiers tailored to individuals seeking hormone and cellular optimization, our core mission is rooted in the direct primary care model. We pair it with a functional medicine approach that addresses root causes, not just symptoms — in person at our Lacey, WA clinic and via telehealth statewide across Washington.
The Asymmetric Advantage
Is Direct Primary Care Right for You?
DPC is a strong fit for people who value access, time, and transparent pricing — and who are willing to pair it with a plan for catastrophic coverage. Here is the honest trade-off:
- • A physician who knows you personally
- • Extended, unrushed appointments
- • Transparent flat-fee pricing, no surprise bills
- • No copays; medications at cost
- • Direct access by text, call, or email
- • Proactive optimization, not reactive sick care
- • Not health insurance on its own
- • Doesn't cover hospital, ER, or imaging
- • Specialist referrals are separate
- • Best paired with an HDHP or health-sharing plan
- • Not available to Medicare/Medicaid patients
Direct Primary Care: Common Questions
What does DPC stand for, and what is direct primary care?
DPC stands for direct primary care — a membership model where you pay your clinic a flat monthly fee directly, instead of billing insurance for each visit. It covers your primary and preventive care with no copays and no per-visit charges.
How much does direct primary care cost?
At Asymmetric Health, direct primary care memberships range from $99 to $135 per month (billed annually). Nationally, most DPC practices charge roughly $50-$150 per month depending on age and services. Labs and medications are billed separately at cost, with zero markup.
What are the pros and cons of direct primary care?
Pros: same- or next-day access, 30-60 minute visits, direct messaging with your clinician, transparent flat-fee pricing, no copays, and medications at cost. Cons: DPC is not health insurance — it does not cover hospitalization, imaging, emergencies, or specialists, so most members pair it with a high-deductible plan or health-sharing membership.
Does direct primary care replace health insurance?
No. DPC covers primary and preventive care, but you should keep a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) or health-sharing membership for catastrophic events, hospitalization, imaging, and specialist referrals. Many members find the DPC-plus-HDHP combination costs less overall than a traditional low-deductible plan.
Direct primary care vs. concierge medicine — what is the difference?
Both are membership models, but a concierge practice typically charges a higher retainer (often $150-$500+ per month) and still bills your insurance for visits. Direct primary care charges one flat, lower monthly fee and does not bill insurance at all — so pricing is simpler and usually less expensive. Asymmetric Health is a direct primary care practice, not a concierge practice.
Is direct primary care worth it?
For people who want a real relationship with their clinician, unrushed visits, and predictable pricing, DPC is often worth it — especially when paired with a high-deductible plan. It is a particularly strong fit for proactive, root-cause and functional medicine care, which insurance rarely reimburses well.
Ready to Experience a Different Kind of Healthcare?
Schedule a free consultation to learn how direct primary care can work for you, or explore our functional medicine approach and evaluation packages.