Real-world Examples
Here are two examples of how dpc can improve your healthcare coverage and save money
For those not well-versed in insurance lingo, a premium is what you pay every month to obtain health insurance while a deductible is the amount you must pay before insurance starts paying for your care.
1) 27yo female, works as restaurant server, no chronic medical concerns, does use tobacco products
Option 1: Insurance through HEALTHCARE.gov. Premium is $235/mo, deductible is $7,500 - this option encourages the patient not to seek care due to the very high deductible.
Option 2: Insurance through HEALTHCARE.gov: Premium is $355/mo, deductible is $2,500 (considered “good”) - this option is almost double the price of option 1 and still encourages the patient not to seek care due to a hefty deductible.
Option 3: Take insurance from Option 1 and combine with DPC membership. Cost is $322/mo between the two, no deductible due to having DPC membership. This encourages the patient to use her doctor and get healthy and she saves over option 2.
2) Family of four, two 40 year-old parents own a small business, one 11 year-old girl and one 9 year-old boy; father has high blood pressure and obesity, mother has fibromyalgia, children are healthy.
Option 1: Insurance through HEALTHCARE.gov. Premium is $752/mo, deductible is $16,300 - this option encourages the family not to seek care due to the very high deductible.
Option 2: Insurance through HEALTHCARE.gov. Premium is $1,778/mo, deductible is $3,000 (considered “good” but still high) - this option is more than double the price of option 1 and still encourages the family to limit their care due to a hefty deductible.
Option 3: Combine health sharing membership with DPC membership. Health share membership contribution is approximately $450/mo. Add DPC membership for $220/mo for total monthly membership of $670, no deductible and this encourages the family to use their doctor. This is more affordable than option 1.