How is direct primary care different from concierge medicine?

Direct Primary Care (DPC) and concierge medicine both emphasize stronger physician-patient relationships through longer visits, improved access, and a smaller patient panel. The primary difference lies in how care is financed. Concierge practices often charge a membership or retainer fee while continuing to bill a patient’s insurance for medical services, although models can vary. Direct Primary Care instead operates on a transparent monthly membership and generally does not bill insurance for covered primary care services. Patients continue to use insurance for services outside the practice, such as specialist care, hospitalizations, imaging, and emergency care. In short, concierge medicine typically supplements the traditional insurance model, while Direct Primary Care offers an alternative payment model for primary care itself.