Direct primary care: Transforming care for your organization

What is Direct primary care or DPC?

Direct primary care (DPC) is a simple way to get better healthcare without the usual hassles. It’s a healthcare model where you pay a monthly or yearly fee directly to a physician or practice for a range of primary care services, bypassing insurance companies. This approach creates a stronger doctor-patient relationship by offering enhanced services like extended office visits, more personalized care, and comprehensive care management. It also reduces administrative burden for employers and lowers the total cost of care. At One Medical, our DPC plan is based on three main ideas:

1. Comprehensive care: We handle everything from check-ups and vaccines to managing chronic conditions and mental health support. We even have on-site labs and medication dispensing in many locations.
2. Easy access: We remove financial barriers and make it simple to see your doctor. You can visit conveniently located offices, book same or next-day appointments that start on time, and use 24/7 on-demand virtual care — all with no copays or deductibles. It’s care when you need it without the fuss.
3. Flat fee payment: Instead of paying each time you visit, employers pay a flat fee for primary care. This means employees can see their primary care doctor as often as needed without extra costs — including deductibles or copays.

A better way for employers to offer health benefits

At One Medical, we’ve been transforming primary care for the last 15 years. The DPC payment model is the next step in simplifying the way individuals and employers access the same great care our members love — still with longer appointments, same or next-day availability, and multiple ways to connect with doctors (in-person or through remote visits and 24/7 virtual care).

The flat monthly or annual fee for primary care services (instead of the traditional fee-for-service model) means more predictable costs and lower total cost of care because employees actually use it more. They get more personalized care and easier access to doctors, which leads to better provider relationships, better health outcomes and lower costs for you by avoiding costly urgent care or ER visits and preventing severe health conditions that are expensive to treat.

Whether you visit one of our offices in most major cities or use the One Medical app for remote visits and 24/7 virtual care, direct primary care offers a new way to approach the same flexible, comprehensive, and member-focused healthcare.

Why Direct Primary Care makes sense for employers

Greater control over healthcare costs: One flat, affordable fee with proven cost savings over time. When employees use their health benefits, it drives better health outcomes and lower costs for you by avoiding costly urgent care or ER visits and preventing severe health conditions that are expensive to treat.

Attract and retain employees: High-quality healthcare benefits are crucial for job satisfaction. A study found that 65% of employees would trade perks like flexible hours for better healthcare benefits. Offering no-cost primary care shows you value your team’s well-being and strengthens your position as an employer.

Reduced administrative burden: Direct primary care eliminates insurance billing and paperwork, streamlining the healthcare process. This means it’s easier for everyone involved to focus on quality care rather than billing.

No cost barrier for patients: With direct primary care, there are no deductibles or copays, making healthcare accessible and affordable without unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.

Better outcomes with aligned incentives: This option covers nearly all primary care services with one flat fee, so the cost for each individual service is no longer a factor leaving providers free to focus on caring for patients and yielding better health outcomes.

To learn more about how One Medical direct primary care can make healthcare more accessible for your employees, and more cost-effective for you, reach out here.

Claims related to cost savings, ROI, etc. are based on a variety of factors that may not be present in all accounts–Client results may vary