By Colton Storla, CPBS, GBDS – December 9, 2025
The same pushback comes up in almost every conversation I have with employers about DPC. Let’s clear up what’s real and what’s just noise.
“My Employees Already Have a Doctor They Love”
Here’s the thing. That established relationship you’re picturing? For most of your workforce, it doesn’t exist.
Younger employees are bouncing between telemedicine, the ER, or urgent care clinics. They don’t have a primary care physician. And with all the turnover in healthcare right now, even the people who had a doctor they liked might not have them anymore.
For those who do have a long-time doctor, great. They don’t have to switch. Get your labs done at DPC and send them over to your regular doc. Use both.
We make DPC free to employees and their families. If they want to pay a copay to go somewhere else, that’s their call. We’re giving them options, not telling them what to do.
“This Sounds Too Good to Be True”
Free primary care. Same day appointments. Your doctor actually has time to talk to you.
Yeah, it sounds crazy because it’s the opposite of the current system.
But here’s why it works. DPC doctors aren’t cramming 40 patients into a day just to hit billing numbers. They have time to actually care for people.
And when people get real access to care, they use it. That means fewer ER visits, fewer hospital stays, lower claims, and lower premiums.
“My Employees Won’t Switch”
Maybe. But ask them again after they’ve tried to get into their doctor and been told it’ll be two or three weeks.
That’s when someone remembers the DPC option. They give it a shot. And then the water cooler talk starts.
Once people experience what real healthcare access looks like, they don’t want to go back.
Don’t Send Out a Survey
Here’s a trap I see employers fall into: “Let me survey my employees to see if they’d use DPC.”
Don’t do this. You’re asking people to vote on something they haven’t experienced. Of course they’re going to be skeptical.
What the Data Actually Shows
I’ve got 12 to 15 employer groups with DPC in place. Two of my bigger ones are showing over 50% participation in the first year.
Here’s what’s wild. The Affordable Care Act mandates that preventive exams be free. But if we looked at how many people actually got their preventive wellness exam the year before DPC, I bet it would be less than 20%.
The current system doesn’t work. You can’t get in when you need to. Appointments are 10 minutes or less. You get surprise bills even for “preventive” visits.
One employee at a meeting said it best. “Yeah, it’s a freaking joke. And that’s why I don’t go.”
What You’re Actually Offering
Free primary care. Same or next day visits. Free medication programs. Free diabetes management.
All while paying less than the national average.
Employees who try it love it. Those who don’t want to switch don’t have to. But when they can’t get into their regular doctor for weeks, they have an option that doesn’t involve the ER.
That’s not too good to be true. That’s just what healthcare should look like.
