Insurance-Based, Direct Primary Care, or Concierge Medicine — Which One Is Actually Right for You?
The main difference between these three models comes down to who's in the room between you and your doctor — and how you pay. Traditional insurance-based care routes everything through a third party, creating prior authorizations, copays, and rushed appointments. Concierge medicine adds a premium membership on top of insurance. Direct primary care removes insurance from primary care entirely — you pay your provider directly, every month, for unlimited access. Burds Family Practice offers both insurance-based and DPC — and for most of our patients, DPC is the smarter, simpler choice.
How Each One Works
Three very different approaches to primary care — same goal, very different experience.
The Hidden Cost of "Free" Insurance-Based Care
Most people think of insurance-based primary care as low-cost because the copay is all they see at the time of the visit. But that copay is only one piece of what you're actually paying.
Every pay period, a health insurance premium is deducted from your paycheck — whether you've used your insurance that month or not. According to the 2025 KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey, the average employee contributes $571 per month out of their own paycheck toward a family health insurance premium. That's $6,850 a year — gone before you've seen a single doctor.
Then add the per-visit costs. Copays of $25 to $60 each time you come in. A deductible — often $1,500 to $6,000 or more for a family — that has to be met before your insurance pays much of anything. Surprise bills from coding errors or denied claims. The cost of not going in when you should have because you didn't want to trigger another charge.
When you add it all up — premium, copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses — traditional insurance-based primary care is far from free. And unlike your DPC membership, not a single dollar of that premium is predictable, transparent, or in your control.
Our DPC Membership Pricing
Simple, transparent, and predictable. One monthly fee covers your primary care — no billing department, no prior authorizations, no explanation of benefits to decode.
That's it.
What Your DPC Membership Covers at Burds
One monthly fee. Everything listed below — for as many visits as you need.
One important note: DPC is not a replacement for health insurance.
Your DPC membership covers primary care — the everyday healthcare your family uses most. You'll still want health insurance (or a health sharing plan) for hospitalizations, specialist referrals, imaging, surgery, and emergencies. Many of our DPC members pair their membership with a lower-cost, higher-deductible health plan — since DPC handles the high-frequency visits that would otherwise eat through a deductible quickly.
All Three Models, Side by Side
| Factor | Insurance-Based | DPC at Burds ✦ | Concierge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available at Burds Family Practice | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes — our recommendation | ✗ No |
| Payment structure | Copays + deductibles per visit | Flat monthly fee — no per-visit charges | Annual membership + insurance billing + copays |
| Uses insurance for primary care | Yes | No — insurance-free primary care | Yes — still bills insurance |
| Surprise bills possible | Yes — common | No — ever | Yes — insurance still involved |
| Appointment availability | Days to weeks | Same-day or next-day | Same or next-day |
| Visit length | 10–15 minutes | As long as needed | Longer than traditional |
| Patient panel size | 1,500–2,500 patients | 300–600 patients — more time for you | 400–600 patients |
| Direct provider access (text/call) | ✗ Rarely | ✓ Yes — directly | ✓ Yes |
| Telehealth included | ~ Sometimes, may bill separately | ✓ Included in membership | ✓ Typically yes |
| Typical annual cost — family of 4 | $500–$1,200+ primary care alone | $3,312/yr — everything included, no surprises | $3,000–$10,000+ membership alone, plus ongoing copays |
| Accessible to middle-income families | ✓ Yes — but costs unpredictable | ✓ Designed for affordability | ~ Premium pricing, limited accessibility |
| Prior authorizations | Frequent — delays care | None for primary care services | Still required — insurance still involved |
| Good for high-deductible plan holders | ✗ Out-of-pocket costs add up fast | ✓ Covers most visits before deductible kicks in | ✗ Double cost — membership + deductible |
Who Does Best with Direct Primary Care
DPC isn't for everyone — but for many of our patients, it's a significantly better experience at a comparable or lower total cost.
Patients who value access, clarity, and relationship
- Self-employed individuals and freelancers who pay their own healthcare costs
- Small business owners and their employees
- Families with children who need frequent sick visits
- Patients managing one or more chronic conditions
- Anyone on a high-deductible health plan tired of paying out of pocket for every visit
- Patients who've felt rushed, overlooked, or underserved in the traditional system
- Anyone who wants to text their provider directly instead of playing phone tag
- Families who want predictable, budgetable healthcare costs
The traditional model fits your situation
- Your employer covers most of your insurance premium and copays
- You rarely need primary care and have low out-of-pocket costs currently
- You have a complex medical history requiring frequent specialist coordination billed through insurance
- You prefer not to pay a monthly fee for healthcare regardless of usage
Burds Family Practice accepts both insurance and DPC members. We'll never pressure you — but we're happy to walk through the numbers to help you decide what makes sense for your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to try primary care
the way it should be?
Join as a DPC member and get same-day access, a provider who knows you, and no surprise bills — ever. Starting at $99/month.
Join as a DPC Member Call Us: (563) 588-6659