How much does direct primary care cost?

The short answer

Most direct primary care practices charge a flat fee every month, and that fee is usually $50 to $200 a month. For that price, you can see your doctor for most everyday care without a separate bill each time. You pay the practice directly, and no insurance company sits in the middle.

If you are new to the idea, our guide on what direct primary care is explains it step by step. This page is about the price.

What changes the price

Two practices a few miles apart can charge very different amounts. Your age is one reason. Some practices charge less for young adults and more for older adults, because older patients may use more of the doctor's time. Others charge everyone the same. Children are often lower, and some practices charge less for each child in a family.

Signing up alone or with family also changes the price. Many practices give a family price, or a lower price for each extra person. A couple or a family can often pay less per person than a single adult.

What the practice includes makes a difference as well. A practice that includes same-day visits, video visits, small procedures and low-cost labs may charge more than one that offers only basic visits. A higher price can be fair if it includes more.

Where you live matters, since costs in a large, expensive city are often higher than in a small town. How long you pay for can also matter. Some practices give a lower price if you pay for several months or a year at once, while others charge month to month.

Extra costs to ask about

The monthly fee is usually not the only money you will spend on your health. Ask the practice about each of the following costs.

• A sign-up fee, sometimes called an enrollment fee, is a one-time payment when you join. Not every practice has one, and some charge it only once even if you leave and come back.
• Lab tests, such as a test of your blood or urine, may cost extra. Some practices pass along a very low price, while others send you to an outside lab that may bill you separately.
• Some practices give out common medicines at a low cost. Others write prescriptions that you fill at a pharmacy.
• X-rays and scans are usually done outside the practice and are billed separately.

Specialists, the hospital and emergency care are also separate costs. A specialist is a doctor who focuses on one part of the body or one kind of illness. Direct primary care does not pay for these costs, because it is not health insurance. If you need big-ticket care, you will still need a way to pay for it.

A made-up example

This is an example with round numbers we chose to show the idea, and it is not a real price. Say a practice charges $80 a month for one adult, $60 a month for each extra adult and $20 a month for each child. A family of two adults and two children would pay $80 plus $60 plus $40, which is $180 a month, or $2,160 a year.

Now say another practice charges $120 a month for one adult and a flat $150 a month for a family of four. For one person the first practice is cheaper. For this family, the second practice costs less each month, at $150 instead of $180. The cheapest practice for one person is not always the cheapest for a family, so ask for the price for your own situation.

Can I use my HSA to pay?

You may be able to use an HSA for this fee. An HSA, or health savings account, is a special account for medical costs. Starting in 2026, a federal rule lets many people with an HSA-eligible plan use HSA money for direct primary care. This works as long as the fee is within a monthly limit. Our guide to using an HSA for direct primary care explains the rule. Check with a tax adviser about your own situation.

How to compare practices

A few simple steps make it easier to compare two or more practices side by side.

1. Ask each practice for the monthly fee for you, or for your family, in writing.
2. Ask what is included and what is not, and make a short list for each practice.
3. Ask about the sign-up fee, any minimum number of months, and what it costs to cancel.
4. Ask what common labs and medicines cost, and add up what you would likely use in a year.
5. Add everything up for a full year, and compare that total instead of only the monthly price.
6. Think about what you value besides price, such as how quickly you can be seen and how you can reach the doctor.

Ways to keep the cost down

Ask whether the practice has a family price or a lower price for children. Ask whether paying for several months at a time lowers the fee, and what happens to the money if you leave early.

Labs and medicines can add up to more than the monthly fee for some people, so ask about lower-cost options. If you have an HSA, ask whether the practice's fee fits within the monthly limit for HSA use. If a monthly fee is still too much, look at a community health center, which charges based on income.

Is it worth the money?

That depends on how often you need a doctor and what your other choices are. If you would otherwise skip care because of cost, a flat fee can make it easier to get help early. If you rarely see a doctor, a monthly fee may cost more than paying for a visit when you need one. Our guide on whether direct primary care is worth it goes through this.

You can also compare prices when you have a high deductible. This guide shows how, with a simple example. To look for a practice near you, try our doctor search. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.