This blog is written by one of our colleagues in the KC metro, Connie Jabara, who takes care of our patients when they come to us asking: “So what do you recommend for insurance?”
We all feel it. Insurance premiums keep going up, and networks getting smaller making it harder and more complicated to get the care your family needs. If you are like most people, you pay monthly premiums that are higher than your mortgage payment and just pray no one gets sick because you can’t afford to go to the doctor if they do. If this sounds like your family, you are probably wondering why you even have insurance.
What if it didn’t have to be that way?
What if you could see the doctors you want to see, when you want to see them? What if when you saw those doctors, you paid a fair price for your treatment? What if you knew what it was going to cost BEFORE you had the procedure done? Does this sound too good to be true?
Pulling from the Kansas City Direct Primary Care website, direct primary care may be the answer.
In the old days, general practitioners were the doctors you went to with all your basic health concerns. And in the old days, they were there for you, provided most of your care, screening and preventive services, and generally worked with you in a symbiotic relationship to keep you well and treat what ailed you.
In the last generation or two, insurance companies and large, corporate health institutions inserted themselves into this relationship and made it harder for you to see your primary care doctor and for your doctor to have the time to wholly care for you. Not only did that relationship become more complex but the price for that care has quadrupled because so many entities are involved.
Direct Primary Care is the straightforward relationship between you and your doctor, just like how it used to be.
From the American Academy of Family Physicians:
The Direct Primary Care (DPC) model is a practice and payment model where patients/consumers pay their physician or practice directly in the form of periodic payments for a defined set of primary care services. DPC practices typically charge patients a flat monthly or annual fee, under terms of a contract, in exchange for access to a broad range of primary care and medical administrative services.
What this means for you:
- No copays
- Extended visits with your doctor
- Direct access to your doctor by phone, text, email and in person
- Same day or next day appointments
- Wholesale pricing on medications, labs and imaging
Interested in finding a Direct Primary Care Clinic near you? Check out these links, make an
appointment, and go meet the Doctor. Find out about them and their practice and how they
can help your family stay well!
- For a listing of clinics in the KC Metro area, check out www.midwestdpcalliance.org
- For a list of clinics nationwide, check out https://mapper.dpcfrontier.com
Stayed tuned – we’ve got more coming about how to protect your family from the high costs of ER visits, hospitalizations and surgeries.
Connie Jabara is the force behind Sunflower Benefits Group. From her bio: “I enjoy helping individuals and employer groups demystify health insurance, employee benefits and more. I pride myself on being able to think “outside the box” while staying current on the industry rules and regulations. I am dedicated to finding the coverage you need to protect yourself, your employees, and your family. For me, it is about more than just insurance. I value creating personal connections with my clients while drawing on my experience as an educator to make sure that my clients understand their options. My goal is to help you have the best healthcare experience possible whether that is finding alternative approaches to major medical insurance or simply saving on your prescriptions.”