DPC vs ICHRA

Direct Primary Care (DPC) and ICHRA-funded individual coverage solve the same problem in different ways. Direct Primary Care is a membership model where you pay your primary care practice a flat monthly fee for unlimited visits, longer appointments, and direct messaging — with no insurance billing for that care. DPC is not insurance and does not cover hospitalization or specialists, so members typically pair it with a high-deductible plan, catastrophic plan, or health sharing to handle large expenses. It shines for people who value accessible primary care and predictable costs. By contrast, An ICHRA lets employers give workers a tax-free allowance to buy individual health coverage, often on the ACA Marketplace. Employees keep consumer protections of individual plans while employers control contribution amounts by employee class. Below we compare them on cost, coverage, eligibility, and who each one fits best — with sources you can check.