Quick answer: The honest answer is “it depends how often you go,” so here’s the math for three different people instead of one generic example. A light user (1 to 2 visits a year) may not see much difference either way. A moderate user (3 to 5 visits, occasional labs) usually comes out ahead with a direct primary care membership. A patient managing a chronic condition, with quarterly visits and regular labs, tends to see the largest savings, often several hundred dollars a year, alongside better access.
Why This Is Hard to Answer With One Number
Traditional primary care costs are split across three separate line items: your monthly premium, your per-visit copay, and whatever gets applied toward your deductible before insurance starts covering anything. A direct primary care membership collapses that into one flat monthly fee that covers unlimited visits. That structural difference means the “cheaper” option depends entirely on how much care you actually use in a year, not just which option sounds simpler.
Scenario 1: The Light User
This is someone who sees a primary care provider once or twice a year for a wellness check and maybe one sick visit.
| Cost Category | Traditional (insurance-based) | EBO MD Membership |
|---|---|---|
| Annual visits | 2 | 2 (unlimited, but only uses 2) |
| Copay per visit | $30–$50 | $0 |
| Annual visit cost | $60–$100 | $708 ($59/month) |
| Labs (1 basic panel) | $150–$250 against deductible | $15–$30 wholesale |
For a light user, the flat membership fee can actually cost more than sporadic insurance-based visits, since you’re paying for access you’re not using much. This is the one scenario where DPC’s savings case is weakest on cost alone. The access benefits (same-day scheduling, longer visits, direct provider contact) still apply, but the dollar math doesn’t favor membership the way it does for heavier users.
Scenario 2: The Moderate User
This is someone who sees a provider 3 to 5 times a year for routine care, an occasional sick visit, and one or two lab panels.
| Cost Category | Traditional (insurance-based) | EBO MD Membership |
|---|---|---|
| Annual visits | 4 | 4+ (unlimited) |
| Copay per visit | $30–$50 | $0 |
| Annual visit cost | $120–$200 | $708 ($59/month) |
| Labs (2 panels/year) | $300–$500 against deductible | $30–$60 wholesale |
| Total annual cost | $420–$700 | $738–$768 |
At this usage level, the two options land close to each other, but the membership includes unlimited additional visits at no extra cost, same-day access, and longer appointment times, none of which the insurance-based total reflects. Most moderate users find the membership pays for itself the first time they need an unplanned visit that would otherwise mean another copay and a multi-week wait.
Scenario 3: The Chronic Condition Patient
This is someone managing an ongoing condition like diabetes, hypertension, or thyroid disease, with quarterly check-ins and regular labs.
| Cost Category | Traditional (insurance-based) | EBO MD Membership |
|---|---|---|
| Annual visits | 4–6 | 4–6+ (unlimited) |
| Copay per visit | $30–$50 | $0 |
| Annual visit cost | $150–$300 | $708 ($59/month) |
| Labs (quarterly panels) | $800–$1,200 against deductible | $80–$150 wholesale |
| Common generic medication (monthly) | $10–$40 copay, $120–$480/year | $3–$15/month, $36–$180/year |
| Total annual cost | $1,070–$1,980 | $824–$1,038 |
This is where the membership model shows up most clearly. The combination of unlimited visits, wholesale lab pricing, and wholesale generic medication pricing typically saves several hundred dollars a year compared to running the same care through insurance against a deductible, on top of easier access when something changes and needs a same-week check-in.
What These Numbers Don’t Include
None of these scenarios include the value of same-day scheduling, 30-minute appointments, or having a provider who already knows your history when something unexpected comes up. They also don’t include what happens when insurance-based care leads to delayed treatment because an appointment isn’t available for three weeks. Those factors are harder to put a dollar figure on, but they’re part of why many patients who “break even” on paper still choose the membership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a DPC membership always cheaper than insurance-based primary care?
Not always. Light users who rarely see a doctor may not save money on the membership fee alone, though they still get better access. Moderate and chronic-condition patients typically see real savings.
Does this cost replace my health insurance?
No. The membership covers primary care specifically. Most members keep separate insurance for hospital care, emergency room visits, and specialists.
Why is the deductible such a big factor in the traditional cost column?
Because until you hit your deductible, you’re paying close to full price for labs and often a significant copay for visits. The membership sidesteps that by pricing routine care outside the insurance deductible system entirely.
Figure Out Your Own Numbers
Your actual costs depend on how often you use primary care and what your current plan’s copays and deductible look like. Call (573) 872-4171 and we’ll run the comparison for your specific situation. For the full picture of what the membership includes, see What’s Included in an EBO MD Membership, and if you’re still weighing whether the model fits you.
