Health insurance works with DPC

By Dr. Richard Berry, Maple Health DPC

You have health insurance. You contribute to a premium and co-pays for doctor visits, and there’s a pharmacy benefit attached. Why do you need a direct primary care (DPC) membership?

DPC is a primary care benefit that can stand alone or complement your traditional health insurance coverage. Health insurance covers specialists such as physical therapy, along with catastrophic injuries or illness, or disease-specific conditions like cardiac issues. DPC covers your general health in a one-stop manner, including treating minor injuries and illnesses, dermatological procedures, screenings, lab tests, physicals, and even minor procedures, such as stitching a minor cut.

Traditional health care requires making separate doctors’ appointments for each “issue,” driving up out-of-pocket expenses. Even if you have health insurance, DPC can save you the time, hassle, and expense of multiple visits, some of which may be to answer a basic question. Other benefits of DPC include:

• Same-day or next-day consultations available. No long waits in crowded waiting rooms.
• Direct communication via phone, text, or email with your clinician.
• Low patient-to-clinician ratio. See the same clinician at every visit.
• Home visits for newborns.
• Discount lab testing. Priced lower than most insurance co-pays.
• On-site discount pharmacy. Many items are priced lower than most co-pays.
• Plans starting at $70 per month. No extra charge for most in-office procedures.

Maple Health DPC is a private physician practice offering family and employer primary healthcare services in a membership-based structure. It is currently accepting new patients. Learn more at MapleHealthDPC.com or call 440-655-8017.