FAQ

What is Direct Primary Care?

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a growing movement with over 1,600 practices across the US and in our opinion, the future of primary care medicine. Although direct primary care memberships can vary, they are united in the idea that care decisions should be made between a person and their primary care provider without the influence of outside payers.

Our current medical system with for-profit insurance companies can get in the way of that relationship; so to simplify things and offer more personalized care. Alaska Direct Primary Care (AKDPC) works around insurance by charging a low monthly membership fee that covers most primary care services and affords you more time and access to your family medicine provider at your convenience.

What are the benefits to DPC?

We offer unrestricted access to your family medicine provider while negotiating the lowest rates possible for all medical care services.

This means:

• Same or next-day appointments guaranteed either in person or virtually
• Same or next-day medication refill processing
• You can call, text, or email your provider 24/7 at your convenience with no additional fees or surcharges

Transparent pricing:

• Discounted labs, averaging 50-95% in savings
• Discounted medications at select pharmacies
• 70% Discount on cash pay local imaging services

What does the monthly membership cover?

The monthly membership covers excellent primary care by providing open access to our services. Feel free to visit us in our office, call, text, email, or message us through your patient portal. You can schedule your annual wellness exam, receive basic office procedures, and optimize your health while under Karley’s care. Members will also have access to at-cost laboratory testing, at-cost imaging services, as well as wholesale medications.

Do I need insurance to join?

Although you can receive primary care through AKDPC without insurance, it is still a good idea to have health insurance or a medical cost sharing plan to pay for catastrophic events like an unexpected surgery, a cancer diagnosis, or an emergency room visit. It is important to understand that a direct primary care membership is NOT considered “medical insurance” and you may be subject to any current federal requirements to obtain health insurance to avoid government penalties/fines.

Can I use my insurance plan to cover DPC?

Most insurance plans will not cover Alaska Direct Primary Care monthly membership fees. As a result, we do not bill insurance companies for services, which means we are able to save time normally spent preparing and filing insurance paperwork and instead spend more time with our patients. We are able to get to know you, your health history, and your story in detail, creating opportunities for more personalized care.

If you have private health insurance, you can still use those benefits to cover many preventative and diagnostic services. For example, if you need certain lab tests, referrals, or imaging, many insurance plans will cover those costs. AKDPC will help you navigate the health system to ensure you can apply benefits to reduce your out-of-pocket costs wherever possible, even partnering with specialists across the state to provide you the option of affordable cash pay medical services.

Is there a sign-up fee to join?

There is NO sign-up fee!

We will help you enroll in your appropriate monthly membership based on your age and income level, and you can then make those payments either monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually to start accessing great care. It’s that simple! We do offer a 10% discount to annual subscription fees paid in full at the time of service. A credit or debit card and three month agreement is all that’s required to join!

If I have Medicare, can I join?

Individuals covered by Medicare can join our waitlist – AKDPC is not currently accepting new Medicare patients at this time

But in the future, we would be honored if you choose to entrust us with your care! Although many preventive services are covered by Medicare Part A, seniors are still stuck with the high cost of prescription medication and uncovered services. DPC can help make medications more affordable through access to discounted prescriptions and wholesale office procedure costs. As noted above, we do not bill any insurance providers including Medicare. Due to national regulations, those who are enrolled in Medicare are required to sign a yearly contract with their DPC provider stating they will not bill Medicare for any DPC services. Medicare recipients can still use their Medicare benefits to pay for services from other outside providers such as specialists or emergent visits.

Can my children join?

Of course! Your kids will see a board-certified family nurse practitioner trained to take care of them from infancy through teenage years and on to adulthood. This is a major benefit of joining a family practice – no need to change practices after your kids reach a certain age. For your children to join, we do require that a parent or guardian obtain their own membership. We would love to get to know your whole family!

Do you provide care for pregnant mothers?

Sometimes! Pregnant women are always welcome to schedule a visit for non-pregnancy-related concerns. Midwifery is its own specialty and an expectant mother should always have a midwife or physician trained in prenatal medicine, in addition to a primary care provider, caring for her and her unborn baby to ensure appropriate testing and screenings are completed throughout the entire pregnancy. This is the only way to ensure both mom and baby are receiving the best possible care.

What if I’m considering joining but not ready to sign up yet?

Choosing a primary care provider is a big choice, especially if DPC is something you are just learning about for the first time. Because it’s such a big decision, we offer a free visit so you may ask questions and help determine if Alaska Direct Primary Care is the right fit for you and/or your family. Head to our contact page to schedule your visit.

What is your privacy policy?

AKDPC is committed to maintaining the highest standard of privacy and confidentiality. The structure of DPC does not require us to transmit your information to third-party insurance companies which is an advantage over a fee-for-service practice. We have a comprehensive privacy policy which fully explains your rights and our responsibilities to you.