Healthcare costs are climbing fast—and for small business owners, it can feel like there’s no good way to keep up. Traditional health insurance comes with huge premiums, high deductibles, and so much red tape that many employees avoid using it unless absolutely necessary.
If you’re running a business and trying to offer your team real value without blowing your budget, direct primary care plans might be the answer. These plans cut out the insurance middleman, keep costs predictable, and give employees better access to care when they need it most.
Let’s walk through what this model looks like and how it can save your business thousands of dollars a year—while making healthcare simpler for everyone.
What Is a Direct Primary Care Plan?
Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a healthcare model that works more like a gym membership than a traditional insurance plan. Instead of billing insurance for each visit, patients (or their employer) pay a flat monthly fee. That membership gives them direct access to their doctor—often the same day—with no copays, no deductibles, and no surprise charges.
At Gold Direct Care, we offer direct primary care plans for individuals, families, and businesses. These plans include unlimited office visits, virtual consults, chronic care management, basic labs, and more—all under one transparent monthly rate.
For employers, DPC offers a practical, flexible option to provide real healthcare benefits without navigating the insurance maze.
Why Small Businesses Are Looking for Alternatives
If you’ve ever renewed a group health insurance plan, you’ve probably felt the sticker shock. Premiums go up every year, and you may not feel like you’re getting more value in return.
Here are a few of the biggest pain points we hear from local business owners:
- The costs keep climbing. Employers are spending $7,000–$9,000 per employee, per year—just to provide basic coverage.
- Access is slow and frustrating. It can take weeks to get an appointment, and employees often skip preventive visits due to time or cost.
- Employees still pay out of pocket. Even with coverage, high deductibles and copays mean many people are hesitant to seek care until something becomes serious.
All of that adds up to stress—for you and your team.
How Direct Primary Care Plans Help Businesses Save
Predictable, Lower Costs
One of the biggest perks of DPC for businesses is cost control. Instead of sky-high premiums and confusing line items, you pay a simple monthly fee per employee—usually somewhere between $70 and $100 per month. That covers most of their primary care needs, so you’re not stuck footing bills for every minor visit or illness.
Over the course of a year, many companies save thousands—especially when they pair a DPC membership with a high-deductible health plan for major medical events.
Less Time Off, More Productivity
Because employees can get in to see their doctor quickly (and often virtually), they’re not losing half a day sitting in a waiting room. That means fewer missed shifts and better overall health, which translates to better performance at work.
At Gold Direct Care, we offer same-day and next-day appointments, direct communication with the doctor, and flexible scheduling that works for real life—not just business hours.
Better Health, Fewer Emergencies
When healthcare is easy to access and doesn’t come with surprise bills, people actually use it. That means small issues get caught early—before they turn into ER visits or hospital stays. Over time, this leads to a healthier workforce and fewer costly health emergencies.
Comparing Costs: DPC vs. Traditional Insurance
Let’s look at a side-by-side example of how direct primary care plans can stack up against conventional group insurance:
| Model | Avg. Annual Cost/Employee | Primary Care Access | Extra Fees |
| Traditional Insurance | $7,500–$9,000 | Often delayed | Yes: Copays, deductibles |
| DPC + HDHP Combo | $3,000–$4,500 | Same-day, unlimited | Minimal |
| DPC Only | ~$1,200 | Unlimited | None for included services |
Even if you don’t drop insurance altogether, offering DPC as the front line of care can dramatically cut down on costs while making care more accessible.
What’s Included in Gold Direct Care’s Employer Plans?
When your business signs up for a plan with Gold Direct Care, here’s what your team gets:
- Unlimited visits with their doctor (no additional cost)
- Same-day or next-day scheduling
- Chronic disease support (for conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure)
- Preventive screenings and physicals
- Basic in-office lab work
- Direct phone/text/email access to their doctor
- Telehealth when appropriate
For employers, we offer customized pricing, simple enrollment, and easy onboarding so your team knows exactly how to use their new benefit.
You can find more details about what’s included here.
Why It Works for Local Businesses
Whether you own a café, manage a construction crew, or run a small law firm, keeping your people healthy and showing them you care makes a big difference. DPC offers:
- A meaningful benefit without the cost of full insurance
- Retention and hiring power—in today’s market, employees value wellness support
- Less HR stress—no chasing claims, confusing networks, or endless paperwork
- Flexible options—tailor coverage levels based on what your team actually needs
At Gold Direct Care, we’ve worked with a wide range of Massachusetts businesses to build healthcare plans that feel more like partnerships than transactions.
How to Talk to Your Team About DPC
For employees who are used to insurance-based systems, the idea of direct care might sound a little unfamiliar. Here’s how to frame it in a way that’s easy to understand:
- “You’ll have a doctor you can actually reach when you need them.”
- “There’s no waiting two weeks for an appointment or spending hours in a waiting room.”
- “You don’t pay anything extra to see your doctor—it’s all covered in the membership.”
- “You can text or email your doctor for quick questions, even after hours.”
Once people see how simple and personal the model is, they usually never want to go back.
Is a Direct Primary Care Plan Right for Your Company?
DPC isn’t the right fit for every business—but if you’re looking for a way to offer something valuable without getting crushed by premiums, it’s worth considering. These plans work especially well for:
- Companies with 5–100 employees
- Businesses that don’t currently offer healthcare, but want to
- Teams with mostly healthy individuals who just need regular access to care
- Employers tired of navigating insurance red tape
If you already have insurance, DPC can still complement your plan and help reduce claims.
You can check out our pricing page for plan options and cost breakdowns.
How to Get Started
If you’re curious about how DPC could work for your business, getting started is easy:
- Book a free consultation with our team at Gold Direct Care.
- Review your goals and budget so we can tailor a plan that fits.
- Enroll your team and give them the tools to take control of their health.
- Track the savings and impact as your employees begin using the service.
We’ll help you through every step so there’s no confusion—just clear, accessible care for your team.
Final Thoughts: Better Care, Lower Cost, Less Hassle
Direct primary care plans are more than a trend—they’re a smart way for local businesses to take care of their employees without breaking the bank. If you’re tired of unpredictable premiums, limited access, and employee frustration, DPC offers a better path forward.
At Gold Direct Care, we’re proud to support Massachusetts businesses with healthcare that’s personal, honest, and affordable.Want to learn more? Contact us today to see how we can help your team stay healthier—without the headaches.
