The direct care model, also known as Direct Primary Care (DPC), is a healthcare model where patients pay their healthcare providers directly through a membership or subscription fee. While it has traditionally been done in primary care settings, more specialists have joined in on the movement. This model is gaining popularity due to its numerous benefits:

Cost Transparency: Direct care offers transparent pricing, which can make healthcare costs more predictable and manageable.
Accessibility: Direct care often includes benefits such as telehealth services, which can increase accessibility for patients
Personalized Care: Direct functional care allows for a more personalized approach to healthcare, with extended consultation times and a focus on preventive care through a functional medicine lens
Preventive Focus: The Direct care model emphasizes preventive care and wellness, aligning well with the principles of functional medicine

Traditional Insurance Model The traditional insurance model, on the other hand, has some limitations:

Focus on Disease Management: Traditional insurance-based care often focuses more on disease management rather than prevention and addressing root causes.
Limited Time: Physicians and providers often have limited time for each patient, which can restrict their ability to provide personalized care.
Financial Uncertainty: The cost of services in the insurance model can be unpredictable and confusing for patients.
Access to Care: There can be long wait times for patients to receive care or schedule appointments.