Can You See a Primary Care Doctor Without Insurance in Columbus, Ohio?

Yes. You can receive primary care without using traditional health insurance.

At Firebird Direct Primary Care in Worthington, Ohio, health insurance is not required to become a member. Instead of billing an insurance company for routine primary care visits, patients pay a predictable membership fee for primary care provided through the practice.

This model is called direct primary care, or DPC.

For people who are uninsured, self-employed, between insurance plans, or simply looking for a different way to access primary care, understanding how DPC works can help determine whether it fits their needs.

How Can You Get Primary Care Without Insurance?

In a traditional medical practice, an office visit may be billed to an insurance company or paid directly by the patient.

Direct primary care uses a different model.

Patients pay the primary care practice directly through a membership rather than having the practice bill insurance for routine primary care services included in that membership.

At Firebird DPC, this creates an ongoing relationship with a family physician rather than requiring patients to find a new cash-pay clinic whenever they need care.

Learn more about primary care without insurance in Columbus, Ohio.

What Does Direct Primary Care Include?

Direct primary care is intended to provide ongoing primary care rather than simply an occasional office visit.

Depending on an individual patient's needs, primary care at Firebird DPC may include:

• Preventive care and routine health visits
• Evaluation of new illnesses and symptoms
• Chronic disease management
• Medication management
• Blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol follow-up
• Blood draws and selected laboratory services
• Coordination of specialty care when needed
• Selected office procedures
• Osteopathic evaluation and treatment when appropriate

The goal is to give patients a consistent place to turn for everyday health concerns and long-term primary care.

See the primary care services available at Firebird DPC.

Is Direct Primary Care the Same as Health Insurance?

No.

This is an important distinction.

Direct primary care is a way of providing and paying for primary care. It is not health insurance and should not be viewed as coverage for every type of medical expense.

A DPC membership does not replace coverage for expenses such as:

• Emergency department care
• Hospitalization
• Surgery
• Specialist care outside the practice
• Advanced imaging
• Medications purchased outside the practice
• Other medical services provided by outside organizations

Some patients choose to combine direct primary care with health insurance or another form of coverage for larger and unexpected medical expenses.

Learn more about how direct primary care works.

What About Lab Tests, Imaging, and Specialists?

Not every medical service takes place inside a primary care office.

When outside laboratory testing, imaging, specialty consultation, hospital care, or other services are needed, those costs are separate from the Firebird DPC membership unless specifically stated otherwise.

Part of good primary care is helping patients understand what evaluation is appropriate and coordinating additional care when it is needed.

For someone paying cash, knowing that an outside service will have a separate cost can also make it easier to ask about pricing before proceeding when circumstances allow.

Who Might Consider Primary Care Without Insurance Billing?

There is no single type of patient who uses direct primary care.

The model may be worth exploring for people who:

• Do not currently have health insurance
• Are self-employed
• Have a high-deductible health plan
• Want more predictable primary care expenses
• Want an ongoing relationship with a family physician
• Prefer a primary care practice that is not billing insurance for routine membership care

Whether it makes sense depends on your medical needs, finances, and plans for covering medical expenses outside primary care.

Can My Family Use Direct Primary Care?

Yes. Direct primary care can be used by individuals and families.

Family medicine allows a physician to care for patients across a wide range of ages and health needs. Having an established primary care relationship can also provide continuity as health needs change over time.

Firebird Direct Primary Care provides family medicine from our office in Worthington and serves patients from Worthington, Columbus, and surrounding Central Ohio communities.

How Much Does Firebird DPC Membership Cost?

Firebird uses transparent membership pricing rather than billing insurance for routine membership care.

Current membership options and pricing are available on our Membership page.

Because services provided outside Firebird DPC may involve additional charges, patients should consider both the primary care membership and how they plan to handle larger medical expenses when evaluating their overall healthcare costs.

Looking for Primary Care Without Insurance in Columbus?

Not having traditional health insurance does not mean you have to go without an ongoing primary care relationship.

Firebird Direct Primary Care offers membership-based family medicine in Worthington, Ohio, without requiring health insurance to join the practice.

If you would like to learn more, you can review our membership options, read about how direct primary care works, or schedule a free 15-minute Meet & Greet with Dr. Mark Hagen.

Firebird Direct Primary Care
7100 N. High Street, Suite 202
Worthington, Ohio 43085