What is Direct
Primary Care?
You pay your doctor directly with a monthly membership fee. In return, you get real access to primary care without dealing with insurance for routine visits.
Most DPC practices charge between $25 and $150 per month, depending on your age. That covers all primary care visits, and usually includes direct phone and text access to your doctor.
Traditional primary care
- 20–30 patients per day
- 7–15 minutes per visit
- Weeks to get an appointment
- Staff dedicated to insurance billing
Direct Primary Care
- Fewer patients, more time
- 30–60 minutes per visit
- Same-day or next-day access
- Zero insurance overhead
DPC doctors typically have 400–600 patients instead of 2,000–3,000. Smaller panels mean longer visits, same-day appointments, and a doctor who actually knows your name.
Your membership covers primary care, but you may still want insurance or a health-sharing plan for hospitalizations, specialist referrals, and emergencies. Many DPC patients pair their membership with a high-deductible plan to keep overall costs down.
DPC is legal in Maine
Since 2017, Maine’s LD 1115 recognizes Direct Primary Care as a healthcare arrangement, not insurance. You don’t need to go through an insurer to see your doctor.
In 2019, LD 1247 added another protection: your insurance company can’t deny coverage for specialist referrals just because your primary care doctor is a DPC provider.