Hiring and keeping people
A real benefit without taking on a group insurance plan. Candidates notice. People stay when they can actually get in to see someone.
Direct Primary Care for Small Businesses
If you have fewer than 50 employees, you are not required to offer a health plan. Compare the ways shops actually buy coverage — including offering nothing.
Example: 12 employees, using typical Indiana small-group rates
A typical group plan is about $96,667 a year. Cove DPC is $10,800. Cove plus a leaner HRA is $55,728.
Under 50 full-time employees, the ACA does not require you to offer insurance. Many shops still want a benefit that people will actually use. Run the numbers on your headcount — including if you offer nothing today.
If you don't have to offer a plan, why offer anything?
You are not required to offer insurance. Offering nothing still costs you.
Time at work
Same-day care or a text instead of a morning at urgent care. Delayed care shows up as missed shifts.
Nothing is not free
Replacing one person — or paying for an ER visit that could have been a same-day appointment — often costs more than a year of Cove memberships.
Cove is not asking you to buy a group plan. It is a monthly membership people actually use. If you would rather offer nothing, the calculator shows that path too.
Why businesses add Cove
A simple monthly membership gives your team better access to care and gives you more predictable costs.
Better Retention
Employees stay longer when they feel genuinely cared for and can get help quickly.
Higher Satisfaction
No long waits, no rushed visits, and direct access to a provider builds trust and loyalty.
Improved Productivity
Same-day or next-day care means less time away from work and fewer untreated issues.
Lower Overall Costs
Fewer ER visits, better chronic disease management, and included screening labs plus wholesale pricing on additional labs reduce total spend.
How it works for employers
Cove DPC offers a straightforward membership model that works well for small and mid-sized businesses.
- Flat monthly fee per employee (or family)
- Unlimited primary care visits with no copays
- 24/7 access to the provider by call or text
- Same-day or next-day appointments
- Screening labs at new-patient and annual wellness visits; additional labs at wholesale price
- Help finding the lowest-cost option when medications are prescribed
- Can be paired with a high-deductible plan, an HRA, or a health-sharing program for major medical needs
HSA funds can be used for DPC membership fees under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, making the benefit even more flexible.
Want to go deeper?
Compare group insurance, HRAs, stipends, and Cove DPC — including if you are not required to offer a health plan.
Let’s talk about your team
Schedule a short conversation to see how Cove DPC can work as an employee benefit for your business.