FAQs

What is DPC, Direct Primary Care?

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a new and better way to get high quality, comprehensive healthcare from a doctor who cares, all for a low, flat monthly fee. It’s healthcare that puts patients first by getting rid of the red tape that constrains traditional practices. How? It’s simple: we don’t accept insurance, and – believe it or not – this actually saves you money in the long run.

How will this save me money?

You won’t have to pay a co-pay for office visits or routine physicals. Also you’ll be able to avoid many visits altogether by sending your questions directly to us via email and text – something you won’t get from a traditional practice. We’ve negotiated amazing deals for prescription medications, blood tests, and other ancillary services on your behalf. If we had contracts with insurance companies, we would be legally obligated to charge higher prices.

We also dispense medications in-house at near-wholesale prices, so you can both save money and avoid extra trips to the pharmacy.

More importantly, since you are getting all this amazing care from us, you can cut way back on your insurance premiums. Most DPC patients find a high-deductible, low-premium insurance plan so they’re covered in the case of a major health issue and leave the rest of their healthcare to us.

Will I benefit from direct primary care if I don’t require frequent medical attention?

Of course. Everyone benefits from a service tailored directly to them. That’s why we offer truly custom healthcare. We’re here for you if you’re sick or hurt, but we also help you proactively maintain good overall health. Every visit with us will be thorough, relaxed, and as long as you need to address your health concerns. The longer you’re our patient, the more we learn about your health and lifestyle, and the better we can help you maintain that health.

Is this the same as concierge medicine?

The terms are often mistakenly used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Both direct primary care (DPC) and concierge practices charge a periodic fee, however, under the concierge model, this fee only gets you access; that is, it doesn’t actually cover any of your care. Instead a concierge practice still bills insurance for your visits. Under DPC, your visits and other care are included in your fee, plus you’re provided with other incredible benefits like wholesale pricing for labs, deeply discounted prescription prices and direct digital communication with your doctor 24/7.

Want to know more about Direct Primary Care?

Here’s a few articles that profile the Direct Primary Care approach to medicine:

FORBES: Direct Primary Care: Restoring The Doctor-Patient Relationship

TIME: Medicine is About to Get Personal

US News: Physicians Abandon Insurance for Blue Collar Model

AARP: The Doctor Will See You But Not Your Insurance

American Academy of Family Physicians: Direct Primary Care

WRAL: Patients Pay Monthly Fee, Not Insurance Co-Pay to See Raleigh Physician

Do you accept insurance?

No, fortunately for both you and us. Perhaps the most critical distinction in our model of care centers on a direct, personal relationship between you and us.

We forgo insurance payments in order to save our patients from the arbitrary, intrusive decisions that come with using insurance. Charging a direct monthly fee frees us from the typical contractual agreements that prevent non-Direct Primary Care physicians from offering deeply discounted prices on laboratory tests, imaging, and medications.

I don’t have insurance; can I still join?

Yes, we take care of any patient regardless of your insurance situation. Since we work completely outside of the insurance system, none of the billing for care here is eligible for insurance reimbursement. However, we recommend that everyone have insurance coverage, which is still important in the event of a major health issue.

As a patient, will I still need health insurance?

Yes. Freedom2Care DPC is not an insurance company. We recommend our patients continue a major medical plan with a high-deductible and health savings account. If you experience a major health issue, you will still need insurance to help cover it.

Consider joining a healthcare cost-sharing community such as, Share Plan, like Medi-Share, Liberty HealthShare or Sedera Health. These alternatives to the traditional insurance companies have been gaining in popularity and are able to save you money on your healthcare cost. To learn more about how these communities go hand-in-hand with DPC, check out this article: by Sedera Health.

Having a high deductible or a share plan ensures financial help should hospitalization or referral to a specialist be necessary.

If I have MEDICARE, can I still join?

Yes, however we have a waitlist at this time and will announce once this waitlist opens. You need only sign a one-time waiver declaring that neither you nor Dr. Huneycutt will directly bill Medicare for our services. Even though Medicare will not pay us for any services you receive in our practice, your Medicare benefits will otherwise remain unchanged and you can continue to be used for all other medical care received outside of our practice. Medicare will still cover any laboratory testing, imaging, medications, or hospitalizations prescribed by our offices.

I already have insurance, won’t I be paying twice for the same services?

Here’s the thing, with co-pays, co-insurance, deductibles, non-covered services, out-of-network charges, the list goes on…you’re already overpaying for your health insurance. The average family of four pays over $4,000 in out of pocket medical expenses over the course of a year. With Freedom2Care DPC, you can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars in out of pocket costs! An annual membership for a family of four with Freedom2Care DPC, will cost less than $2,400/year and that includes the benefits of unlimited routine and urgent care visits without the co-pays, deeply discounted lab work and prescription medications, and much, much more.

Come join us and become a patient at Freedom2Care DPC and get more value for your healthcare dollars.

It’s your health, it’s your freedom to choose, it’s our Freedom2Care!

How much does membership cost?

We charge a flat monthly fee, which typically is about as much as your cell phone bill. That’s a small price to pay for a level of care you literally can’t get anywhere else. Imagine asking your hospital doctor for their personal cell number—they’d probably laugh out loud. Or call your local hospital and ask to schedule an appointment for tomorrow—not likely. Those things—and many more—come free with a DPC membership. See our pricing page for detail.

What does membership cover?

The fee covers excellent primary care through office visits with no copay. This includes the following: annual wellness exams, sports physicals, school physicals, chronic care office visits, follow-up visits, basic office procedures and treatment of acute illness or minor injuries, all with minimal wait times in the office. The fee also covers direct communications with your doctor: phone, text, video chat or email.

Can Children become members too?

Yes. We are happy to accept children, ages 5 years through 18 years old. See our pricing page for details.

Can I contact Dr. Huneycutt after hours?

Of course! Physician access is one of the greatest benefits of the direct primary care model. Because illness and injury do not respect regular office hours, you may call, text, or email Dr. Huneycutt and her staff whenever you need.

What if I need medical attention while I’m away from home?

As a member, you’ll have Dr. Huneycutt’s email and phone number, you can reach out to her whenever you need, wherever you are. Many illnesses can be diagnosed and treated with a simple conversation. We’ll also locate the nearest pharmacy and order the medications most appropriate for your circumstances.

Are my medical records ever shared with government agencies, insurance carriers, or pharmaceutical companies?

We maintain high standards of patient privacy. We do not contract with any insurance or third-party payers and will never provide your health information to anyone unless you specifically ask and sign consent that we do so.

When do I pay my fees for non-covered labs and procedures?

Charges will be added and applied to your preferred method of payment.

What if I decide to cancel?

We expect to have an open, honest, respectful, and trustworthy relationship with you. If you have voiced a complaint that we cannot satisfy together, we will gladly allow you to terminate your membership.

Is the membership fee eligible for HSA or FSA reimbursement?

This remains a debated issue, and can be quiet confusing, but usually the conclusion is “yes.”

HSAs & FSAs are a smart way to pay for your health care needs with pre-tax dollars. IRS regulations make it pretty clear that all DPC services are covered medical expenses reimbursable through HSAs and FSAs, but at the same time, the IRS claims that DPC memberships are health plans, and therefore fees are not reimbursable when employees combine DPC with any other “health plan” (like the catastrophic or high deductible insurance most DPC patients need).

We advise that you check with your health plan, insurance agent or human resources department regarding the use of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) as possible payment options for your membership. If you are unable to use these funds to pay for the membership fee directly, there is a good chance that you can still use your HSA/FSA as reimbursement for certain services provided through our office. Hopefully the following resource will also be helpful: https://www.healthcare.gov/have-job-based-coverage/flexible-spending-accounts/

What medical conditions does Dr. Huneycutt Care for?

Dr. Huneycutt can treat all kinds of common everyday problems like colds, flu, strep, rashes and injuries. She also treats more complicated chronic medical problems like asthma/COPD, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, thyroid disorder, general anxiety/depression disorder and other health conditions within the scope of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.

What happens if I need to go to the hospital or see a specialist?

For starters, having such unprecedented direct access to Dr. Huneycutt will prevent hospitalizations and specialty referrals in many cases. However, when those types of care are required, she will certainly continue to work with your hospitalist during your hospital stay as well as work closely with any specialist. Depending on the level of care and the sorts of expertise required, we may rely on those specialized caregivers to manage your treatment.

Have questions?