What's the difference between concierge medicine and direct primary care?

Both replace insurance-driven visits with a direct relationship with your physician; the difference is scope and price. Direct primary care (DPC) costs about $55–$150 per month and covers everyday primary care with longer visits and direct messaging. Concierge medicine typically runs $2,000–$50,000+ per year across entry, premium, and ultra-premium tiers, and adds advanced preventive testing, specialist coordination, and higher-touch access such as a direct physician line.

Which is cheaper, concierge medicine or direct primary care?

Direct primary care is cheaper on paper — roughly $660–$1,800 per year versus $2,000–$50,000+ for concierge. The comparison changes once diagnostics are included: many DPC memberships cover basic labs only, so advanced biomarker panels, body composition, and coordination are paid separately. Aure Health sits at the affordable end of each tier: the flagship membership is $5,868 per year — at the low end of the premium tier ($5,000–$10,000) — with concierge-level access and a preventive program included, and the Concierge Membership is $12,000–$15,000 per year, below the $15,000 ultra-premium floor, for ultra-premium-level access at well under typical $15,000–$40,000 pricing.

Is Aure Health concierge medicine or direct primary care?

Both, deliberately. We operate on a direct-care model — no insurance billing, transparent membership pricing — while delivering concierge-level access: direct physician communication, same-day or next-day scheduling, unhurried visits, and advanced preventive testing. You get concierge access at a direct-care price.

Do concierge or direct primary care practices take insurance?

Neither bills insurance for the membership itself. Aure Health does not accept insurance, which is what allows longer visits and direct access. We can provide a superbill on request so you can submit to your insurer for possible out-of-network reimbursement, and membership is generally HSA/FSA eligible. Most labs are included with membership; imaging and medications are billed separately and can often be run through your existing insurance.

Do I still need health insurance with a concierge or DPC membership?

Yes. Neither model replaces insurance. Membership covers your physician relationship and preventive care; you still want coverage for hospitalization, surgery, emergency care, imaging, and specialist treatment. Many members pair a membership with a high-deductible plan and an HSA.

Is concierge medicine worth it compared to a regular PCP?

It depends on how much your time is worth and how proactive you want to be. The core differences are measurable: 0–2 day waits versus a roughly 26-day national average for new patients, 45–60 minute visits versus 7–15, and a panel of hundreds rather than 2,000+ patients. If you rarely need care, a traditional PCP may be sufficient.

Model Comparison

Concierge medicine vs. direct primary care

Both models replace insurance-driven visits with a direct relationship with your physician. Direct primary care is the lower-cost option at roughly $55–$150 per month for everyday care. Concierge medicine runs $2,000–$50,000+ per year and adds advanced preventive testing, coordination, and a direct line to your physician. Aure Health runs a direct-care model with concierge-level access: $489 per month, no insurance billing, superbill available on request.

Reviewed by Dr. Sara Hammond, D.O. · Last updated September 1, 2026

Side-by-side comparison

Concierge medicine, direct primary care, and traditional primary care compared
Feature	Concierge medicine	Direct primary care	Traditional primary care
Typical cost	$2,000–$50,000+/year	$55–$150/month (avg $92)	Insurance premiums + copays
Appointment wait	0–2 days	Same week	~26 days for new patients
Visit length	45–60 minutes	30–45 minutes	7–15 minutes
Physician access	Direct line to your physician	Direct messaging	Office line and portal
Preventive testing	Advanced biomarker panels	Basic labs	Standard screening panels
Care coordination	Included, physician-led	Limited	Referral only
Panel size	Small (hundreds)	Small to moderate	2,000+ patients
Insurance billed	No — cash-pay	No — cash-pay	Yes
Superbill for reimbursement	Often available	Sometimes	Not applicable

Figures reflect general 2026 U.S. market ranges and are provided for comparison, not as a quote.

Where Aure Health sits: direct care with concierge access

We are structured like a direct primary care practice — transparent membership pricing, no insurance billing, no coding pressure shaping your visit — but the access and diagnostics are concierge-level. That is the whole point of the model: you should not have to pay $12,000 a year to reach your doctor the same day.

How the Aure Health model works
Pricing model	Direct care — $489/month ($5,868/year), no insurance billing
Access level	Concierge — direct physician communication, same-day and next-day scheduling
Insurance	We don't bill insurance; a superbill is available on request for out-of-network reimbursement
Payment	Cash-pay, generally HSA/FSA eligible
Coverage	Telehealth in all 50 states, in-person care in Alpharetta and metro Atlanta
Labs	Included with membership (most labs); not included fee-for-service — $150–$600 typical, billed separately by the lab
Medications	Billed separately by your pharmacy

Which model is right for you?

Choose direct primary care if you mainly want affordable everyday primary care with longer visits and text access.
Choose concierge medicine if you want advanced preventive testing, care coordination, and a direct line to your physician.
Choose traditional primary care if your care needs are minimal and you want insurance to cover visits.
Choose Aure Health if you want the direct-care price structure with concierge-level access and a preventive, longitudinal program behind it.

Common questions

Decide with real numbers

See full concierge medicine pricing or review Aure Health membership tiers.