Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you heard that right. Direct primary care or DPC is a model in which the clinic does not bill insurance for the doctor’s time and expertise but rather you pay a monthly membership, just like you pay a monthly gym membership. Patients can be seen as many times as necessary, and we are there for you when you need us. We are happy to see you in person, but with everyone having a busy lifestyle in the current era, we give you the tools to reach us from your home, the car, the office, the store, or even out on the beach during your relaxing vacation. The goal is to make it easy and convenient for you to get you the help you need, whenever and wherever you need it.

If you’re in good health, it might feel like membership isn’t necessary. But real, meaningful healthcare isn’t a rushed annual physical - it’s having ongoing guidance, support, and a place you can turn to in a timely fashion before small issues become big ones. Think of joining our practice like joining a gym—it’s an investment in your long-term health, and you can use it as much or as little as you need.

And because health can change without warning—an illness, an injury, or a new diagnosis—those are the moments when having direct access to your doctor truly matters. You need a trusted doctor who knows you and is available and accessible to help you guide through the process so you won't be left navigating the system alone.

With a membership, you get an elevated primary care experience. This is not a nurse line providing generic advice or a teledoc who knows nothing about you – this is your doctor who is always a call/ text/ email away. 

Lastly, the limited membership model allows your doctor to focus on providing the best care possible to a smaller group of patients than in any traditional practice- longer, unhurried visits; little to no waiting; same-day or next-day availability; and a doctor who can coordinate with specialists, so things don’t fall through the cracks.

It gives you peace of mind, whether you’re feeling great or facing something new.

No, we don’t accept insurance. However, you’re welcome whether you have insurance or not because we don’t bill insurance for your visits with the doctor. Instead, your monthly membership covers all your primary care needs – as many visits as needed, same/next-day appointments, virtual care, phone calls, e-mails and direct texting access with your doctor.

Just because you have insurance doesn’t mean you have healthcare!

Ask yourself- when you called your doctor because you had a cold or skin rash and you couldn’t get in, you still had insurance. What did it get you? You had to wait half an hour on phone trying to connect with your doctor’s office and eventually, ended up seeing a different medical provider. Didn’t you have to repeat your medical history over and finally leave with questions still unanswered after a rushed appointment? Have you ever received a surprise bill due to your high deductible? Have you not paid copays despite having insurance?

Unfortunately, health insurance these days does not cover primary care very well and many of you have high deductibles. So you are still paying for your first few visits out of pocket and that disincentivizes a lot of people from going to the doctor and having great preventive care.  A lot of those costs can be avoided if you have regular access to a doctor who can take care of 80-90% of your health care needs. More importantly, it helps build personal relationship with a doctor who is dedicated towards keeping you healthy without the added cost and bureaucracy of insurance systems.

Yes! Do you have direct access to your doctor? Are you able to get an appointment when you need one? Do they see you on time? Do they spend more than 15 minutes with you? Can you text them if you have a follow-up question? Does their office return calls? Can they tell you the prices of the tests they order? Have you ever gotten a bill for something you thought was covered? You get the idea. Reliance provides you with quality, access, convenience & transparency that insurance-based primary care simply can't provide.

Our direct primary care model does NOT replace your health insurance. Although having health insurance is  not necessary to be a member of Reliance Primary Care, we strongly recommend you maintain your coverage in order to cover larger medical expenses that are outside of the scope of primary care (surgeries, hospitalizations, specialist care, etc.). Your insurance can also help cover your prescription medications.