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title: Direct Primary Care: Lower Costs and Better Health - Wyoming Liberty Group - Wyoming Liberty Group
description: Direct primary care lets patients pay physicians a monthly fee, bypassing insurance entirely; WyLib finds the model lowers costs and improves access in Wyoming.
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*by Charles Katebi*

**What is Direct Primary Care?**

Direct primary care is a direct patient-to-provider relationship that delivers quality healthcare at an affordable price. Under a direct primary care contract, patients pay their physicians a flat, monthly fee. And in exchange, their physicians provides a range of primary care services. These services include preventive care, urgent care, chronic disease management, and wellness support.

***How Much Does Direct Primary Care Cost?***

Direct primary care costs patients substantially less than fee-for-service insurance. According to a survey of direct primary care practices published in the Journal of the American Board of Medicine, the average monthly membership fee to join a direct primary care practice is just $93. But some practices charge as little as $26 per month. As you can see in the figure below, Obamacare's bronze plan costs eight times more than the average direct primary plan.



<a> ![](https://wyliberty.org/images/easyblog_articles/794/b2ap3_large_b2ap3_thumbnail_DIrect-Primary-Care-vs.-Insuranc_20160219-095604_1.png) </a>

 



**Direct Primary Care Improves Patient Health**

Direct primary care's flat monthly fees encourage doctors to provide better healthcare rather than more healthcare. A 2010 study in *Health Affairs* compared the medical outcomes of those treated under direct primary care alongside those using fee-for-service insurance programs. Their data showed:

- Direct primary care patients used the Emergency Room 65 percent less often.
- Direct primary care patients spent 43 percent less time in the hospital.
- Direct primary care patients needed 82 percent fewer surgeries.
- And other beneficial health outcomes.