Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Direct Primary Care and Community Primary Care.
About the DPC Model
Direct Primary Care is a membership-based approach to healthcare. Instead of billing insurance for every visit, you pay a simple monthly fee that covers your primary care — office visits, procedures, communication with your doctor, and more. It removes the insurance company from your everyday healthcare so your doctor can focus on you, not on paperwork and approvals.
No. Your membership covers primary care services at our practice — office visits, basic procedures, chronic disease management, and direct access to Dr. Highley. It does not cover hospital visits, emergency care, specialist visits, or surgeries. We recommend pairing your membership with a health insurance plan or healthshare. Some members use a high-deductible plan to cut costs and have coverage for large or unexpected expenses.
No, and that's by design. By not billing insurance, we eliminate the middleman that drives up costs, limits your time with your doctor, and adds layers of paperwork. This is what allows us to offer longer appointments, same-day availability, and transparent pricing. Everyone pays the same rate — no surprises, no claim denials.
In most cases, yes. DPC membership fees are generally eligible for HSA and FSA spending. We recommend confirming with your plan administrator to be sure.
No. Concierge medicine typically charges a membership fee on top of billing your insurance, and you still pay copays and deductibles. Direct Primary Care does not bill insurance at all. Your membership covers your primary care — no copays, no deductibles, no surprise bills. This keeps costs lower and care simpler.
It replaces most of your primary care spending, not adds to it. Right now, you're likely paying copays every time you see your doctor, plus costs that hit your deductible for labs and screenings, plus the risk of surprise bills or denied claims. A DPC membership replaces all of that with one predictable monthly fee — no copays, no deductibles for primary care, no surprise bills.
We recommend pairing your DPC membership with a health insurance plan or healthshare for hospital, emergency, and specialist coverage. Some members use a high-deductible health plan, which has a lower monthly premium, and let DPC handle the everyday care they actually use. You can use our cost calculator to compare your current spending with a DPC membership.
About Membership
Memberships start at $49/month for children and $94/month for adults. We also offer couples, family, and single-parent family plans. Visit our Membership & Pricing page for full details.
No. There is no enrollment fee to join Community Primary Care.
All memberships include a 3-month initial enrollment period. This gives Dr. Highley time to get to know you, understand your health history, and build a personalized care plan. After your initial 3 months, you may cancel anytime with 30-day notice.
You'll add a payment method when you enroll. Your membership is billed monthly via auto-pay. Billing begins on the date of your first visit. We accept credit cards, debit cards, HSA/FSA cards, and ACH debit.
Yes. After your 3-month initial enrollment period, you may cancel anytime with 30 days' notice. There is no penalty or fee for canceling.
Absolutely not. Your membership rate is based on your age category, not your health history. DPC is especially well-suited for managing chronic conditions because you get more time with your doctor and more frequent check-ins.
About Prescriptions & Medications
Effective April 1, 2026, your membership includes a prescription benefit covering over 400 medications — totaling 1,000+ available doses and strengths — through home delivery at no additional cost, plus 70+ urgent care medications available at over 70,000 pharmacies nationwide. Medications not on our included list can be filled at retail pharmacies using your included prescription discount card. Search included medications.
When Dr. Highley prescribes a medication that is on our included medication list, it can be ordered for home delivery. You will receive a 90-day supply shipped directly to your door. Your membership includes 12 shipments per year. Additional shipments are $7.99 each.
For acute care needs like infections or injuries, Dr. Highley can prescribe from a list of 70+ urgent care medications. You pick these up at any of over 70,000 participating pharmacies nationwide at no additional cost. There is a $250 maximum per person per year for urgent care prescriptions.
You can search included medications on our Medications page. Our included medication list covers over 95% of the most commonly prescribed generic medications for conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, thyroid conditions, depression, anxiety, and many more. If you are unsure, Dr. Highley can check during your visit. The included medication list is subject to change.
Your membership includes a prescription discount card that can be used at retail pharmacies for medications not on our included list. Dr. Highley may also be able to suggest an included alternative that works for your condition. Some medications are also available in-office at wholesale pricing.
No. This is a prescription benefit program, not insurance, and it is not regulated as insurance. It is a membership benefit provided through our partnership with ManifestRx. Limitations apply.
Yes. Community Primary Care stocks certain common medications in-office and can dispense them at wholesale pricing during your visit. This is separate from and complementary to the home delivery and urgent care prescription benefit.
About Access & Appointments
Yes. Because we keep our patient panel small, we can offer same-day or next-day appointments for sick and urgent visits. No more waiting weeks to see your doctor.
Yes, for established patients. Video and phone visits are available for follow-ups, medication management, and certain sick visits. Your first visit needs to be in person so Dr. Highley can get to know you.
Dr. Highley will coordinate your referral and continue to be involved in your care. Having a doctor who knows you well and communicates directly with your specialists leads to better, more coordinated outcomes.
All ages — from newborns to seniors. Community Primary Care is a family medicine practice, and we welcome patients of every age.
We are not offering vaccines in-office at launch, but this is something we plan to add. In the meantime, Dr. Highley will help coordinate your vaccinations through local providers.
You'll always be notified well in advance of any planned time away. Dr. Highley is also available via text, call, or message for urgent questions even when out of the office, unless otherwise communicated.
About Medicare
We are not able to see Medicare patients at this time. However, we are maintaining a waitlist for Medicare patients who are interested in joining when this becomes available. Please contact us to be added to the waitlist.