DPC vs. Concierge Medicine
Both offer personalized care -- but one costs significantly less
Direct Primary Care (DPC) and concierge medicine are both alternatives to the traditional insurance-based healthcare model. They share a focus on smaller patient panels, longer appointment times, and stronger doctor-patient relationships. The key difference is how you pay -- and how much.
What is Direct Primary Care?
DPC is a membership-based primary care model where patients pay a flat monthly fee directly to their doctor. This fee typically ranges from $50 to $200 per month and covers all primary care services: unlimited office visits, basic lab work, minor procedures, and 24/7 access to your physician. DPC practices do not bill insurance companies for any primary care services.
Because DPC doctors eliminate insurance overhead, they can maintain smaller patient panels (400-600 patients compared to 2,000-3,000 in traditional practices) while keeping prices accessible. Learn more about how DPC works >
What is Concierge Medicine?
Concierge medicine is a model where patients pay an annual retainer fee -- typically $1,500 to $25,000 per year -- for enhanced access to their physician. Unlike DPC, concierge practices also bill your insurance for individual visits, meaning you still pay copays and deductibles on top of the retainer.
Concierge medicine offers many of the same benefits as DPC (smaller panels, longer visits, better access), but at a substantially higher total cost because of the dual payment structure.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | DPC | Concierge |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly/annual fee | $50-200/mo | $1,500-25,000/yr |
| Insurance billing | ||
| Copays and deductibles | ||
| Patients per doctor | 400-600 | 400-1,000 |
| Same-day appointments | ||
| Extended visit times | ||
| 24/7 doctor access | ||
| Basic lab work included | Varies | |
| HSA eligible (2026) | Varies | |
| Transparent pricing |
Key Differences
Cost Structure
DPC charges a flat monthly fee with no insurance billing. Concierge charges an annual retainer on top of insurance copays and deductibles. DPC is typically 3-10x less expensive.
Insurance Involvement
DPC operates entirely outside the insurance system for primary care. Concierge medicine bills your insurance for each visit in addition to the retainer fee.
Accessibility
DPC is designed to be affordable for most people. Concierge medicine tends to cater to higher-income patients willing to pay premium prices for enhanced access.
Which Is Right for You?
DPC may be right for you if:
- You want affordable, transparent healthcare pricing
- You prefer to avoid insurance hassles for routine care
- You want to use your HSA for primary care
- You value longer appointments and a close doctor relationship
Concierge may be right for you if:
- Budget is not a primary concern
- You want to continue using insurance for primary care visits
- You want a specific concierge doctor you have already identified
- You prefer a practice with broader specialist coordination
Frequently Asked Questions
Can concierge doctors also be DPC doctors?
No. The defining difference is how billing works. DPC practices never bill insurance for primary care services -- your monthly fee covers everything. Concierge practices charge a retainer on top of insurance billing. A practice is one or the other, not both.
Is DPC or concierge medicine better for families?
DPC is generally more affordable for families due to its lower monthly cost and no additional copays or deductibles. A family of four might pay $300-500 per month for DPC compared to $5,000-15,000 per year for concierge medicine, plus insurance costs on top.
Do both models accept insurance?
DPC does not bill insurance at all for primary care. Your monthly fee covers all primary care services. Concierge medicine typically bills your insurance for individual visits on top of the annual retainer fee. Both models recommend maintaining health insurance for specialist care, emergencies, and hospitalizations.