Could Direct Primary Care Lower Your Healthcare Costs in 2027?

As you begin looking at health coverage options for 2027, it’s worth considering more than just the monthly insurance premium.

Direct Primary Care (DPC) can work alongside health insurance — and for some, it can lower healthcare costs.

With traditional insurance, even people paying substantial monthly premiums may still face copays, deductibles and other costs every time they need care.

With DPC, you pay a predictable monthly membership directly to your primary care practice. At Cimarron Family Practice, there is no additional charge for appointments. Membership also includes longer appointments, easy access to your doctor, many in-office tests at no additional cost, and access to significantly discounted lab tests.

Where can the savings come from?

• Lower-premium insurance

Even with expensive insurance policies, many people still have significant co-pays for primary care. Because appointments are already included in a DPC membership, some people may find that pairing DPC with a lower-premium insurance plan makes sense — while retaining insurance for the expensive things it is particularly important for, such as hospitalization, surgery, specialist care and major unexpected medical expenses.

• Fewer urgent-care and ER visits

When it’s difficult or expensive to see a primary care provider, going to urgent care or the emergency room can become the default. Better access to primary care gives patients another option and may allow illnesses to be addressed earlier.

In one large study, greater use of an enhanced employer-sponsored primary-care service was associated with 33% lower emergency-department spending and 16% lower hospital spending.

• Discounted labs

Insurance isn't always the cheapest way to pay for routine testing. DPC practices can often access significantly discounted cash prices for laboratory tests and pass those savings directly on to patients.

• Wellness Promotion

Traditional primary-care appointments are often short. At Cimarron Family Practice, I encourage 60-minute appointments, giving us time to discuss multiple concerns, review medications, manage chronic conditions and focus on prevention and wellness without feeling rushed.

• HSA usage

This is an important new benefit for 2027 shoppers. Starting this year, federal law now allows HSA funds to be used tax-free for qualifying DPC membership fees. The rules have also expanded HSA eligibility to include Bronze and Catastrophic health plans, creating additional options for people considering how to combine insurance, an HSA and DPC.

• Medical cost-sharing

Some people choose medical cost-sharing programs rather than traditional insurance, as they are generally significantly cheaper than marketplace insurance plans.

For example, Sedera is open to all regardless of faith, and offers a further-reduced monthly contribution for members who have DPC membership.

Note: medical cost-sharing is not health insurance. It does not have the same guarantees or protections as insurance, and there may be important exclusions and limitations. Anyone considering this approach should carefully review the membership guidelines and understand what is — and isn't — eligible for sharing before making a decision.

What about employers?

DPC can be particularly useful for small businesses looking for an affordable way to offer employees a meaningful healthcare benefit, as well as improve employee well-being and retention.

An employer can pay all or part of an employee's DPC membership, giving that employee access to primary care without a copay each time they need an appointment. DPC can be offered on its own or alongside an employer's existing health plan. Cimarron Family Practice also gives the options of employees signing up their dependents at a discounted price.

There may also be savings beyond the membership itself. Easy access to primary care can help employees address problems earlier and potentially reduce reliance on more expensive urgent-care, emergency-department and hospital services.

There is another benefit that is harder to put a dollar figure on: time. When an employee can get an appointment quickly and have multiple concerns addressed in one visit, that can mean less time spent trying to find care, sitting in waiting rooms, or making repeated appointments.

At Cimarron Family Practice, I offer discounted membership rates for local businesses, am open 2 evenings/week to allow access without needing time off work, and can be contacted directly via my app.

Look beyond the premium

As you compare healthcare options for 2027, don't just look at the monthly insurance premium. Consider the total cost of actually getting healthcare: premiums, deductibles, copays, primary-care visits, urgent care, and labs — as well as how easy it will be to see a doctor when you need one.

For some individuals, families and employers, combining better access to primary care with the right insurance or healthcare coverage can be a more affordable way to approach healthcare.

Interested in finding out whether Direct Primary Care could fit into your 2027 healthcare plan — or your employee benefits?

Contact hello@cimarronfamilypractice.com to learn more.