What is Direct Primary Care?

Most patients have the same first question when they hear about Direct Primary Care: how does this actually work? The short answer is: it's a membership. You pay a flat monthly fee, and in return you get full access to a primary care provider, with no copays, no per-visit charges, and no insurance involved in the appointment itself.

At Emerald Health, that fee runs $65 to $95 per month depending on which membership tier fits your needs.

What the membership covers

Membership covers the full scope of primary care. Annual physicals, acute visits for UTIs, sinus infections, strep throat, skin concerns, and similar issues. Chronic disease management, in-office procedures like EKGs and joint injections, basic wound care, and lifestyle conversations around weight, smoking cessation, and similar topics are all included. All visits are scheduled for at least 30 and up to 60 minutes.

We "client bill" labs at a discounted price. A full annual panel costs $50 or less. Medications are also available at discounted pricing, often well below what members pay at a retail pharmacy.

Members can reach the practice through the patient portal 24/7. Platinum members also have access to a dedicated after-hours calling and texting line for urgent questions outside those hours.

DPC is not insurance

This comes up often: DPC is a membership, not insurance. It covers primary care only. Members should keep a separate health insurance plan for hospitalizations, emergency care, specialist visits, and surgery.

Many Emerald Health members pair their DPC membership with a high-deductible or catastrophic insurance plan. Because the membership handles everyday and preventive care, they rarely touch the deductible. A full annual panel at $50 or less, same-day or next-day appointments, and no copays changes the math considerably compared to paying out of pocket inside a traditional insurance model.

Starting January 1, 2026, DPC membership fees became eligible for Health Savings Account (HSA) spending under federal law. If you have an HSA alongside a high-deductible plan, your monthly membership fee may now qualify.

How appointments work

Members call or use the patient portal to request an appointment. Same-day or next-day availability is the standard when scheduling permits. Appointments run 30 to 60 minutes depending on what you need, which means there is time to cover more than one issue and to actually talk through what is going on rather than cycling through a checklist.

Telehealth is available for visits that do not require a physical exam. This does not require a separate platform or an additional fee.

Who tends to find it a good fit

Direct Primary Care works especially well for people who carry a high-deductible insurance plan and pay out of pocket for most primary care anyway. It also works well for people who are self-employed or work for a small employer without strong group coverage, for anyone managing ongoing medical conditions who needs consistent access, and for people who have been frustrated by rushed appointments and hard-to-reach physicians.

If you want to know whether it makes sense for your situation specifically, a free meet-and-greet appointment is a good place to start. You meet your clinician, ask any questions about DPC, and get a clear picture of whether the membership fits before signing up for anything.

Ready to see how this works for you? Schedule a free meet-and-greet at emeraldhealthdpc.com.