A new type of primary health care service is now available in some parts of the US. The organizations that provide the care do not consider themselves insurance companies. Some refer to them as “direct primary care providers.” You can think of them as health membership companies. What is the main difference? Cost. If paying under $260 per month for a family of 4 sounds good to you, then read on…
I will discuss 4 care providers operating in different parts of the country. There may be more in other markets. If you know of one in your area, please let us know about it.
These organizations provide primary care and some offer discounts on medications, imaging, and lab work. No one is refused care on the basis of a pre-existing condition. There are no co-pays and you can have unlimited visits.
You will still need to purchase supplemental “Catastrophic Care” to cover major accidents that will require major surgery/hospitalization and the like. The supplemental care will likely have a high deductible such as $7,500 per person and a monthly fee of $100 to $300 per person (sometimes more).
If you live in the Seattle area consider joining Qliance. They offers two care plans: QL1 and QL2. You pay a one-time $99 fee per family to join and a monthly fee after that. The QL1 fees range from $49 for a child to $89 per month for a person over age 65.
QL2 starts at $54 for ages 14 to 19 and goes up to $129 for someone 65 or older. What you get is access to a primary care physician and the typical service with any primary care plan (See Plans for more details). Referrals to specialists are also included.
People who have switched to Qliance say the level of care is the same or better than with traditional health insurance plans they had. To find out more, see Yelp for reviews.
If you live in the Monterey and San Jose area of California, consider joining MedLion. The one time enrollment fee is $50 for a family (no matter the size). The monthly fee is $49 per person per month. Each visit is $10 (see Fees.)
You get the typical primary care package with additional discounts on lab studies and imaging.
If you live in the Bloomfield, NJ area, take a look at what Symbeo has to offer.
Access Healthcare serves the Apex North Carolina area.
