Frequently Asked Questions

Direct Primary Care, or DPC, is a model of healthcare that puts patients first by getting rid of the red tape that constrains traditional practices. How? It's simple: we don't accept insurance, and – believe it or not – this actually saves you money in the long run.

Direct Primary Care at Cove DPC saves you money through a low, predictable monthly membership fee that covers comprehensive care, including unlimited office visits, annual physicals, and many minor procedures with no additional fees. By bypassing traditional insurance billing, we eliminate copays and surprise medical bills. Our discounted lab work further reduce costs.

Additionally, if your employer offers a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), you can use those funds to pay for your DPC membership fees, maximizing your savings. For those with chronic conditions, proactive care can prevent costly emergency visits, saving you even more.

Of course. Everyone benefits from a service tailored directly to them. That’s why we offer truly custom healthcare. We’re here for you if you're sick or hurt, but we also help you proactively maintain good overall health. Every visit with us will be thorough, relaxed, and as long as you need to address your health concerns. The longer you're our patient, the more we learn about your health and lifestyle, and the better we can help you maintain that health.

The terms are often mistakenly used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Both DPC and concierge practices charge a periodic fee, however, under the concierge model, this fee only gets you access; that is, it doesn't actually cover any of your care. Instead a concierge practice still bills insurance for your visits. Under DPC, your visits and other care are included in your fee, plus you're provided with other incredible benefits like wholesale pricing for labs and radiology studies, deeply discounted prescription prices, direct digital communication with your provider, and all the rest.

Here’s a few articles that profile the Direct Primary Care approach to medicine:

• FORBES: Direct Primary Care: Restoring The Doctor-Patient Relationship
• TIME Medicine is About to Get Personal
• US News Physicians Abandon Insurance for Blue Collar Model
• AARP The Doctor Will See You But Not Your Insurance
• American Academy of Family Physicians Direct Primary Care
• WRAL Patients Pay Monthly Fee, Not Insurance Co-Pay to See Raleigh Physician

See our prices on our pricing page. We charge a flat monthly fee, and in exchange you get unlimited office visits, deeply discounted labs, your provider's cell phone number, and a whole lot more.

The fee covers excellent primary care through office visits with no copay. This includes the following: annual wellness exams, sports physicals, school physicals, chronic care office visits, follow-up visits, basic office procedures and treatment of acute illness or minor injuries, all with minimal wait times in the office. The fee also covers direct communications with your provider: phone, text, video chat or email.

Our patients will also have access to discounted labs and special procedures not included in the membership fees.

We treat all kinds of common everyday problems like colds, flu, strep, rashes and injuries. We also treat more complicated long term medical problems like adult diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and thyroid disorder.

For starters, having such unprecedented direct access to your provider will prevent hospitalizations and specialty referrals in many cases. However when those types of care are required, we will certainly continue to work with your hospitalist during your hospital stay as well as work closely with any specialist. Depending on the level of care and the sorts of expertise required, we may rely on those specialized caregivers to manage your treatment.

Yes. We are happy to accept the children of our enrolled clients. See our pricing page for details.

Of course! Provider access is one of the greatest benefits of the direct primary care model. Because illness and injury do not respect regular office hours, you may call, text, or email your provider whenever you need.

Of course – this sort of care is "baked in" to the DPC model. Because you'll have your provider's email and phone number, you can reach out to us whenever you need, wherever you are. Many illnesses can be diagnosed and treated with a simple conversation. We’ll also locate the nearest pharmacy and order the medications most appropriate for your circumstances.

We maintain high standards of patient privacy. We will never provide your health information to any third party unless you specifically ask that we do so.

Charges will be added and applied to your preferred method of payment.

We expect to have an open, honest, respectful relationship with you. If you have voiced a complaint that we cannot satisfy together, we will gladly allow you to terminate your membership. There is no long-term commitment required.

Cove DPC membership fees are generally not tax-deductible as a direct expense. However, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, effective for months beginning after December 31, 2025, you can use Health Savings Account (HSA) funds to pay for your membership fees, up to $150 per month for individuals or $300 per month for families, as these are now considered qualified medical expenses. If you have an HSA, this allows you to use pre-tax dollars for your membership, effectively reducing your taxable income. Consult with a tax professional to confirm how this applies to your situation.

After enrolling, you can typically schedule your first appointment within a few days, often same-day or next-day, depending on availability. Our smaller patient panel allows us to prioritize prompt access to care, including in-person visits, calls, or texts with your provider.

Yes, Cove DPC offers virtual visits via phone, text, or video for many healthcare needs, included in your membership fee. This allows convenient access to your provider for consultations, follow-ups, or minor issues, especially when in-person visits aren’t necessary.

To join Cove DPC, complete the sign-up form here. We’ll contact you to confirm your membership, discuss payment options, and schedule your first appointment. The process is straightforward, with no long-term commitment required.

No, fortunately for both you and us. Perhaps the most critical distinction in our model of care centers on a direct, personal relationship between you and your provider. That directness carries over to our business model as well. You might use your auto insurance to fix a smashed fender or other major damages. But you'd never use it to get an oil change (or pay for gas!). For some reason, health insurance is currently being used for the equivalent of oil changes for humans - routine physicals, office visits, simple blood tests, and minor procedures. This just doesn't make sense.

We forgo insurance payments in order to save our patients from the arbitrary, intrusive decisions that come with using insurance. Charging a direct monthly fee frees us from the typical contractual agreements that prevent non-DPC providers from offering wholesale prices on laboratory tests, imaging, and medications.

Yes, we take care of any patient regardless of your insurance situation. Since we work completely outside of the insurance system, none of the billing for care here is eligible for insurance reimbursement. However, we recommend that everyone have insurance coverage, which is still important in the event of a major health issue.

Yes. While Cove DPC covers your primary care needs, including unlimited visits, minor procedures, and discounted medications and labs, we recommend maintaining a major medical plan, ideally a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA). This ensures coverage for major health issues like hospitalizations or specialist care. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, effective after December 31, 2025, you can use HSA funds to pay your DPC membership fees (up to $150/month for individuals or $300/month for families), making it easier to combine our services with an HDHP. We’re happy to refer you to insurance representatives who can help customize a plan for your needs.

Yes. You need only sign a one-time waiver declaring that neither you nor your provider will directly bill Medicare for our services. Even though Medicare will not pay us for any services you receive in our practice, your Medicare benefits will otherwise remain unchanged and can continue to be used for all other medical care received outside of our practice. Medicare will still cover any laboratory testing, imaging, medications, or hospitalizations prescribed by our offices.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) recognizes Direct Primary Care (DPC) as a valid healthcare model for primary care services. However, a Cove DPC membership alone does not meet the ACA’s minimum essential coverage requirement.

Our membership works well with ACA-compliant plans, like high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), to cover routine care while the plan handles major medical needs.

Starting in 2026, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, DPC membership fees (up to $150/month for individuals or $300/month for families) can be paid with Health Savings Account (HSA) funds.

Starting January 1, 2026, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Cove DPC membership fees (up to $150/month for individuals or $300/month for families) are eligible for reimbursement using Health Savings Account (HSA) funds, as they are considered qualified medical expenses. Flexible Spending Account (FSA) reimbursement for membership fees depends on your employer’s plan terms, as IRS guidance on this is limited.

Cove DPC membership fees are generally not tax-deductible as a direct expense. However, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, effective for months beginning after December 31, 2025, you can use Health Savings Account (HSA) funds to pay for your membership fees, up to $150 per month for individuals or $300 per month for families, as these are now considered qualified medical expenses. If you have an HSA, this allows you to use pre-tax dollars for your membership, effectively reducing your taxable income. Consult with a tax professional to confirm how this applies to your situation.

Offering Cove DPC memberships provides your employees with accessible, high-quality healthcare, including same-day or next-day appointments, comprehensive care, and preventive services. This can reduce sick days, improve employee morale, and boost productivity. Our model offers predictable costs, making it easier for small businesses to provide a valuable benefit without the complexity of traditional insurance plans.

Our memberships are cost-effective, with transparent pricing that eliminates surprise medical bills. By providing employees with proactive care and chronic disease management, we help reduce costly emergency visits and hospitalizations. Additionally, our discounted medications and labwork can lower out-of-pocket expenses for employees, reducing the financial burden on your business.

Yes! We work with small businesses to create tailored membership plans that fit your budget and workforce needs. Whether you cover full or partial membership costs, we can design a solution that works for you. Contact us to discuss options.

Implementation is simple. We handle enrollment and provide educational materials to help your employees understand the benefits. There’s no need to navigate complex insurance networks, and we offer ongoing support to ensure a smooth experience for you and your team.

Absolutely. We offer family memberships, so your employees’ spouses and children can also benefit from our comprehensive care, enhancing the overall value of the benefit you provide.

Start by reading our blog post, "How Direct Primary Care Can Transform Healthcare for Small Businesses: Insights from Cove DPC," to learn more about the benefits for your business. Then, get in touch with us! We’ll discuss your business’s needs, customize a plan, and guide you through the process of offering memberships to your employees. There’s no obligation to explore how we can support your team.