Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a new and innovative alternative to traditional medical insurance. As it rises in popularity across the nation, people are beginning to learn more about the service as a whole as it makes a name for itself.

With that being said, there are certainly common questions, concerns, and thoughts surrounding this health care model that tend to come up again and again. In this article, we delve into why DPC does benefit even extremely healthy patients.

First, though, let’s discuss what DPC actually is.

What is DPC?

DPC is a subscription based medical service that cuts out insurance companies altogether. Rather than paying off a deductible and then running medical services through an insurance company like most people are used to, DPC requires that patients pay a retainer – usually on a monthly basis – to remain a patient with a specific doctor at their practice.

Then, when services are needed or appointments are held, there is no charge. There are a range of benefits to this model, as it provides individuals with more personalized care, ease of getting an appointment, more fluid and direct communication with doctors, and less patient wait time at the actual doctors office.

Now that we’ve discussed what the service actually is, let’s move onto the topic of why people are questioning if this is an effective model for patients who are by and large healthy.

The question: Why pay a retainer if you don’t actually visit the doctor often?

The argument for DPC: Even if patients are not frequent doctor’s office visitors, it doesn’t mean that paying the monthly retainer is a waste of money. Typically, these retainers are not very costly – an average of $25 to $85 each month.

After that retainer is paid, there are no copays, appointment fees, or unmet deductibles that need to be paid otherwise. The simplicity of this service makes it worth its weight in gold, as it gives you the confidence that when you need to visit the doctor, they will be available and able to spend the time with you to get you better.

Furthermore, even for those that are healthy and don’t plan to visit the doctor, adults should receive an annual check-up to ensure their continued health. Forbes reports that on average, Americans visit the doctor four times yearly.

This is a much smaller number than those in other countries, as in Japan, citizens visit an average of 13 times. According to the news source, this boils down to the price of U.S. health care being so expensive.

Thus, having the transparency of the price of your health care can inspire you to make more regular visits and to get the care needed to maintain your overall health and wellness.

The bottom line

Even for those who are healthy, DPC has a profound effect and is a life-changing service. This revolutionary healthcare trend helps patients live the healthiest life possible, 365 days out of the year. Learn how DPC can benefit you, even when you’re healthy.