What Exactly Is Direct Primary Care?
If you’re tired of rushed, impersonal appointments you have to wait months for, direct primary care could be a great alternative for you.
Have you ever gone to an appointment that you waited weeks or months for, only to feel like the provider has one eye on the clock while you’re talking? Then you walk away feeling rushed, unheard, and disappointed. It’s a story that’s all too common: In fact, the average primary care visit in the US is only 18 minutes long, while it can take an average of 31 days to even get an appointment with your provider in the first place.
This is the reality of the traditional healthcare system we live in today, where doctors and nurse practitioners are under an enormous amount of pressure from insurance companies to maximize the patients they see in a day, at the expense of providing quality, unrushed care.
But a new option is emerging: Direct primary care. This model is how I run my practice and it means longer, more meaningful visits; easy direct access to your provider (me!); no confusion about pricing; and no insurance middlemen dictating what is allowed. So what is direct primary care exactly?
What is direct primary care?
Direct primary care is actually super straightforward. It’s a subscription-based membership model that helps restore a better relationship between medical providers and our patients. Think of it like Netflix or gym membership, but for your medical care. Every month, the patient pays a flat fee for all their routine primary care needs directly to the provider, instead of going through insurance.
The Whole Person Well Care office for in person visits in Seattle.
What are the benefits of direct primary care?
Direct primary care is becoming more and more popular for a reason: Many of us are tired of feeling like just another cog in the wheel when we try to get medical care. DPC offers another option that feels consistent, connected, and centered around the whole of who you are! Some of the benefits include:
1. Less time waiting for an appointment – and more time once you’re here
Because I take fewer patients, I can offer same-day or next-day appointments when you’re sick or need to be seen! We can also hold a weekly visit slot just for you, if that’s what fits best.
Whether you have one question or ten, you’ll never feel like I’m looking at the clock while you’re talking about your health. And better yet, your care doesn’t end when your appointment does. As a member, you can direct messaging with me during business hours through a secure, HIPAA-compliant portal if questions or concerns come up after you leave.
2. Transparent pricing without confusing billing codes
Have you ever received a surprise medical bill months after a visit because of a specific "complexity code" your insurance didn’t cover? That doesn’t happen here. You pay one flat, monthly membership fee that covers the vast majority of your primary care needs. There are no co-pays, no "Level 4" office visit charges, and no hidden fees. Plus, as of 2026, you can now use your HSA or FSA funds to pay for your membership, making it even more affordable – because you’re using pretax income!
3. No insurance middlemen getting in the way
In a typical clinic, a third-party insurance adjuster can have more say over the treatment than the patient or the provider. But in a DPC model, insurance isn’t involved in our visits. By removing the middleman, we return the decision-making power to you and me as your provider.
This can be especially comforting, in the political moment we are in, to marginalized groups or people with medical trauma. For example, people who are trans, immigrants, or have autism may be worried that their care will be taken away or used against them. Direct primary care exists somewhat outside the typical system and that can be very reassuring to those worried about their safety.
4. Building a trusted relationship with your provider
The best medicine happens when your provider actually knows your history, your lifestyle, and your goals. You will never be just numbers of a chart or a list of symptoms to me. DPC allows us to practice slower medicine—the kind where we can discuss your stress levels, your nutrition, and your long-term wellness in a relaxed environment. It really is care for your whole person.
You’ll have direct access to me even outside your visit, ensuring that when a health question arises, you’re talking to someone who already knows your story. And without spending hours and hours every week on the phone with insurance companies, I can keep my focus where it belongs: On my patients and their health.
Prices and Offerings
Transparent, inclusive care that meets you where you are
Is direct primary care a replacement for insurance?
I want to be clear here: I’m not suggesting that you get rid of your health insurance! In fact, most of my patients do have insurance because it’s super important, flawed as the system may be.
Think of it more as a partner to insurance, rather than a replacement. For some patients, it works well to pair a lower-premium, high-deductible insurance plan (for emergencies/hospitalization) with a DPC membership (for everything else). Choices about insurance – like any health care decision – are deeply personal and based on your specific medical and financial circumstances.
Why I really believe in direct primary care
I became passionate about DPC after I had been working for a clinic that was backed by a venture fund. We were expected to condense visit times to just 15 minutes in the name of productivity and efficiency, which of course came at the expense of patient care. I had patients with complex issues we were trying to take on, but it was just not possible to treat them effectively in that amount of time. Then, essentially overnight, the clinic went out of network for every major insurance company and most patients lost access to their providers altogether. It was devastating for patients and providers alike, and I knew something better had to exist.
And not only is my practice built on direct primary care. I also personally see a direct primary care provider for my own care. It makes sense to me as not only a patient who wants to feel seen and heard at medical visits, but also as a small business owner in charge of all my own health care costs.
Now taking patients throughout Washington state with direct primary care
I started Whole Person Well Care because I wanted to offer the kind of care I spent years hoping to find. Care that feels personal. Care that creates safety. Care that doesn’t separate your body from your story.
This practice is rooted in individual autonomy and built around a simple belief: you deserve to be seen, heard, and supported in your health journey! I take patients in-person in Seattle and virtually all across Washington. Schedule a visit or a free virtual meet-and-greet today.
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