Short answer: It depends on the practice. Familydoctor.org says prescriptions, some lab tests and some procedures may cost extra, though prices are often highly discounted at a direct primary care office. Other practices include some lab work in the fee. Ask for the price list before you join, and ask what is and is not covered.
Direct primary care (DPC) is a model where you pay your doctor a regular fee, often monthly, and in return you get routine care and easy access. The fee often does not cover prescriptions. Familydoctor.org, the patient website of the American Academy of Family Physicians, says prices for medicines at a DPC office are often highly discounted. Not every practice sells medicines, though, so ask whether yours does and how pricing works.
The American Academy of Family Physicians says the DPC fee covers all or most primary care services, including clinical and laboratory services. Familydoctor.org says some lab tests may have additional costs. These two statements fit together once you know that each practice sets its own rules. One practice may include a basic blood test in the fee while another charges for it separately.
Familydoctor.org also says the doctor can give you prices before your visit. Take them up on that offer.
A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-favored account for medical costs. Since January 1, 2026, a person in a qualifying direct primary care arrangement can still contribute to an HSA and can use HSA money to pay the periodic DPC fee. The IRS explained this in Notice 2026-5. To qualify, the arrangement must provide only primary care services, the only payment must be a fixed periodic fee, and the total fees cannot be more than $150 a month for one person or $300 a month for a plan that covers more than one person.
The IRS notice says a qualifying arrangement does not include prescription drugs other than vaccines, procedures that need general anesthesia, or lab services not typically given in a primary care office. This rule is about what the membership fee can include. The IRS notice also says a practice can offer some items and services outside the membership and bill for them separately. The notice does not say how HSA money works for medicines you buy separately from the practice, so check with a tax adviser before you use HSA money for them. Our page on using an HSA to pay for direct primary care explains the fee rules.
Familydoctor.org says DPC doctors rarely take insurance, and a DPC membership is not insurance. If your doctor sends you to an outside lab or imaging center, that service may be billed in a different way. Ask the practice where it sends patients and whether it can give you a cash price. Then check with your insurance plan about what it will pay.
You can find a direct-pay doctor near you or read what direct primary care is. For chest pain, trouble breathing or other emergencies, call 911.
Often not. Familydoctor.org says prescriptions may cost extra, though prices are often highly discounted at a DPC office.
The IRS says a qualifying DPC membership fee cannot include prescription drugs other than vaccines. The notice does not say how HSA money works for medicines bought separately from the practice, so ask a tax adviser.
It depends on the practice. The American Academy of Family Physicians says the fee covers all or most primary care services, including lab services, while familydoctor.org says some lab tests may cost extra.
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