Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a modern return to a classic idea — a time when medicine was about connection, not paperwork. Instead of billing insurance companies for every visit, DPC practices work directly with patients through a simple monthly membership. That means no surprise bills, no rushed appointments, and no middlemen deciding what’s best for you — just you and your doctor, working together.
The concept of direct care isn’t new. For most of medical history, patients had a personal relationship with their doctor — someone who knew their story, their family, and their health over time. As insurance companies and corporate health systems grew, medicine became more fragmented. Visits got shorter, paperwork got longer, and doctors found themselves spending more time behind computers than with patients. DPC was born as a movement to change that.
In a traditional insurance-based practice, a typical family physician may care for 2,500–3,000 patients. With that kind of volume, it’s nearly impossible to provide the time and attention every person deserves. In contrast, most DPC doctors limit their panels to a few hundred patients — at Luna Health, that number is around 450. This smaller scale allows for same-day or next-day visits, longer appointments, and truly personal care.
The difference isn’t just in access — it’s in focus. When a doctor isn’t buried in insurance paperwork or rushing to meet productivity quotas, they can do what they were trained to do: listen, think, and care. That means more preventive care, fewer ER visits, and a doctor who actually knows your history and your goals. DPC gives your physician the time and space to be fully present for you.
At Luna Health, we’ve paired the DPC model with a micropractice approach — meaning there’s no staff between you and your doctor. Technology helps handle scheduling, records, and payments, keeping overhead low and your membership affordable. When you call, text, or email, you’re reaching your doctor directly — not a call center. Messages for non-urgent matters are returned the same day, and urgent needs are handled right away.
Direct Primary Care brings medicine back to its roots — a trusted relationship between doctor and patient — while embracing the best of modern technology. It’s care that’s simple, transparent, and human. When your doctor has the freedom to focus entirely on you, better health naturally follows.
| Feature | Luna Care | Traditional Care |
|---|---|---|
| Patient Panel Size | ~400–600 patients per doctor | 2,500–3,000+ patients per doctor |
| Visit Length | 30–60 minutes or more | 10–15 minutes on average |
| Access to Your Doctor | Direct phone, text, and email access | Messages routed through staff or call centers |
| Cost Transparency | Simple monthly membership | Copays, deductibles, surprise bills |
| Focus | Preventive care & long-term relationships | Volume, documentation, and billing codes |
| Availability | Same- or next-day appointments | Weeks-long waits for appointments |
| Billing | No insurance billing — just care | Complex insurance claims and approvals |
Direct Primary Care removes the noise from healthcare so your doctor can focus on what truly matters — you. By cutting out insurance barriers and keeping patient panels small, DPC brings back the personal, accessible, and compassionate care that medicine was always meant to deliver.