Lose your job?

There’s a new wave:  Find out how people are taking care of their health care needs

Approx. reading time: 4 minutes

In times of great uncertainty, somethings become more clear.  Why have so many of us relied on our employers to determine what health plans work for us? And why do we have to lose those insurance policies when we lose or leave our jobs?   How many people do you know have been left in a health crisis in between jobs? Or without insurance?  One lesson we can learn during times of hardship is:  Don’t rely on your employment status to determine how you take charge of your health

But there’s a new wave happening nowadays.  

This is not a trend - it’s a sustainable solution for the employed AND non-employed, for the insured AND non-insured.  This is a  “new” wave more so because this health model is getting more and more attention.  This model has actually been around for a while but did not have a title. With or without jobs, people have been turning to a model of medical care where they get transparent, consistent and personalized care.   This model is called Direct Primary Care.  This where people have direct access to their own doctor.  Where they can walk away from their jobs without walking away from their health.  Where insurance does not interfere with their health cost or their needs. 

How does it work? 

It's sort of like Netflix, except it's for your health. You pay a low monthly cost after a one time enrollment fee, and you have access to your own primary care doctor, whenever you need them.  

How is this even possible?  

Smaller practices - DPC doctors have about 10% the amount of patients that a usual primary care doctor does.  In other words, they have less patients which equals more time and chance to get you a visit the same or next day. 

Less admin costs transferred to the patient - People are often baffled that doctors spend a lot of time on paperwork, to the point where they have to hire staff to manage the paperwork!  

No middleman - That same paperwork is usually due to insurance trying to find ways to lower the amount they have to spend on their clients and what fraction to reimburse the doctor while they take their cut.  Because of this expense of time and money, doctors tend to need to see thousands of patients a year to maintain their practice - cutting into your time with the doctor.  At a DPC, doctors do not spend time juggling challenges with insurance. Instead, they are spending time with you, building organic relationships, finding your discounts, or maybe spending time with themselves or their families.  DPC doctors avoid burnout and provide you quality care.

Another common question that is asked is:

Why would someone decide to have a DPC membership and insurance?  

For the same reasons already mentioned and also because they often still save money! People with insurance have to pay into a few categories before their insurance works for them.  According to Value Penguin, on average that's 1)  a monthly premium on average of $442 USD for a single person per month.  And that’s just to have the plan, not to have the actual care.   2)   After that premium, the insured person is expected to pay out of their pocket until they hit a certain amount called a “deductible”.   Per Value Penguin this is 4000$ on average per year and 3)  Some plans require a copay for each visit, or sometimes surprise copays at the pharmacy.

A DPC membership at Bridge Direct Primary Care in Atlanta for example,  can cost about 100$ per month after a one-time enrollment fee of 100$, and can take care of most of your primary care needs - conveniently.  If labs or referrals are needed, these often come at a sharp (very sharp) discount that is passed on to their members.  

What this means is that, even with insurance, you can pay for a DPC membership ($1300) for a whole 12 months before your deductible ($4000)  is even reached -  which is when your insurance really starts to work for you.   With a DPC membership, your care starts right away.  

 A DPC membership can stay with you regardless of your insurance plan and even when you don’t have insurance. It can stay with you for life, regardless of life’s circumstances.

Ready to find a DPC near you?

Where to find a DPC

If you’re in the Greater Atlanta Area, feel free to consider being a member of Bridge Direct Primary Care.  They are now taking patients!

If you’re outside of Georgia- you can use this search tool to find a DPC practice near you.  https://mapper.dpcfrontier.com/