Direct Primary Care Membership: What’s Included and How It Works

Navigating healthcare can feel like wading through a maze of insurance claims, surprise bills, and rushed doctor visits. If you’re looking for a simpler, more affordable, and patient-focused way to manage your health in the Phoenix area, Direct Primary Care (DPC) might be the answer. 

At Ark Family Health, we’re redefining healthcare with our DPC membership model, prioritizing you—our patient—over paperwork. Here, we’ll explain what a Direct Primary Care membership is, its benefits, what’s included (and what’s not), and how Ark Family Health makes it work for individuals, families, and businesses across the Phoenix area. Let’s dive into how our approach puts the care back in healthcare.

 

What Is Direct Primary Care Membership?

Direct Primary Care is a straightforward healthcare model that cuts out the middleman (insurance companies) and focuses on a direct relationship between you and your doctor. Instead of paying co-pays, deductibles, or navigating complex billing, you pay a flat monthly membership fee for 24/7/365 access to primary care services. Think of it like a gym membership for your health: one predictable fee gives you access to a wide range of care, whenever you need it.

At Ark Family Health, our Direct Primary Care membership means you get personalized, high-quality care without the red tape. Serving communities across the Phoenix Metro area, including Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, Gilbert, Chandler, and beyond, we focus on building authentic relationships with our patients. Our core values—Love, Grit, Light, and Honest Humility—drive our mission to empower your health and happiness. With offices in Peoria and Gilbert, plus telemedicine options, we make it easy to stay connected to your care team.

 

Benefits of a Direct Primary Care Membership

 

Why choose a DPC membership over traditional healthcare? Here are the key advantages that make this model a game-changer for Phoenix residents:

• 24/7/365 Access to Your Doctor: No co-pays or visit limits. Whether it’s a quick question via chat or a comprehensive in-person visit, you can reach your provider 24/7/365. This flexibility is perfect for busy families or professionals who need answers fast.
• Same-Day or Next-Day Appointments: For urgent needs, established patients can get appointments quickly, saving you the time and expense of urgent care visits. (Note: we’re not an emergency room—true emergencies require 911 or hospital care.)
• Personalized, Unrushed Care: Without insurance dictating visit lengths, we spend as much time as needed to help guide your care. This leads to better continuity of care, stronger relationships, and more accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.
• Transparent Pricing: No surprise bills. If a service isn’t covered by your membership, we provide clear cost estimates upfront. Plus, we’ve negotiated discounted rates for labs, imaging, and medications to keep your out-of-pocket costs low.
• Cost Savings for Individuals and Employers: DPC is often more affordable than traditional insurance-based plans, especially when paired with high-deductible plans or HSAs. For businesses, offering DPC as a benefit can reduce healthcare costs while boosting employee satisfaction and retention.
• Focus on Prevention and Wellness: With 24/7/365 access, you’re more likely to seek preventive care, catch issues early, and manage chronic conditions effectively, saving money and improving health outcomes.

By choosing Ark Family Health’s DPC membership, you’re investing in a healthcare experience that’s built around you—your needs, your schedule, and your peace of mind.

 

What’s Included in DPC Membership at Ark Family Health?

Our DPC membership is designed to cover a wide range of primary care needs, making healthcare accessible, affordable, and stress-free. Here’s what’s included:

• General Primary Care: Comprehensive care for preventive needs, common illnesses (like colds or infections), and chronic conditions (like diabetes or hypertension). This includes all in-person and telemedicine appointments, plus 24/7/365 provider access via chat or phone for quick questions or triage.
• Same or Next-Day Appointments: For established patients with urgent needs, we offer fast scheduling to address issues like infections or injuries, helping you avoid costly urgent care visits.
• 24/7 Urgent Care Triage: Our team is available around the clock for urgent situations to triage and provide care or direction. (Again, for true emergencies, call 911 or visit an ER.)
• In-House Procedures: Minor outpatient procedures like certain abscess drainage, earwax removal, skin tag or wart removal, certain biopsies, and injections. Note: Some procedures may have additional supply costs, but we’ll always inform you upfront.
• On-Site Diagnostics: In-office testing includes urine analysis, strep/flu tests, EKGs, COVID tests, mono tests, pregnancy tests, basic visual screenings, health risk assessments, peak flow testing, and spirometry. These help us diagnose and treat you quickly without extra trips.
• Gynecology Services: Routine women’s health care, including annual exams and cervical screenings like pap smears. Note: Some lab-based procedures may incur additional costs.
• Behavioral Health Support: Short-term interventions, medication management, and resource connections for mental health needs, all integrated into your primary care experience.
• Discounted Labs, Imaging, and Medications: For tests we can’t do in-house, we refer to facilities with transparent, wholesale pricing. Common medications like Lisinopril, Metformin, or Escitalopram are offered at a fraction of pharmacy costs, with a 10% admin fee to keep things simple.

This comprehensive package ensures most of your primary care needs are covered under one flat fee, with no hidden charges or co-pays.

 

What’s Not Included in Your Direct Primary Care Membership?

While our DPC membership covers a broad spectrum of care, there are a few things it doesn’t include:

• Emergency Care: Ark Family Health is not an emergency room. For life-threatening conditions like heart attacks or severe injuries, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
• Hospitalizations or Specialist Care: If you need inpatient care or a specialist (e.g., a cardiologist), we’ll help coordinate referrals, but these services fall outside the membership. However, our discounted lab and imaging partnerships can reduce related costs.
• Some Procedure Supplies or Labs: Certain in-house procedures (like biopsies) or off-site lab tests may have additional costs for supplies or processing. We always provide clear estimates beforehand.
• Non-Member Services: Same or next-day appointments and urgent care triage are for established patients only. New patients must join the membership and first establish care to access these benefits.

By keeping these exclusions transparent, we ensure you know exactly what to expect from your membership.

 

How Ark Family Health Makes Direct Primary Care Work for You

At Ark Family Health, we’ve tailored our DPC model to fit the needs of Phoenix-area residents, from busy parents in Chandler to entrepreneurs in Scottsdale. Here’s how we make it work:

• Accessible Locations and Telemedicine: Visit us in person at our Peoria or Gilbert offices, or connect via virtual appointments for ultimate convenience. We serve Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale, and beyond.
• Personalized Support: Our team takes the time to know you, your health history, and your goals. Whether it’s managing a chronic condition like diabetes or getting a quick flu test, we’re here to listen and empower you.
• Affordable for All: Individuals and families benefit from predictable costs, while employers can offer our memberships as a high-value benefit to reduce healthcare spending and keep employees healthy. Check out our membership pricing for details.
• Seamless Integration: Our 24/7/365 access, in-house diagnostics, and low-cost medications make it easy to handle everything from routine check-ups to urgent needs without leaving your primary care provider.

 

Ready to Be Heard, Connected, and Empowered?

A Direct Primary Care membership with Ark Family Health is more than just healthcare—it’s a partnership built on trust, transparency, and genuine care. Whether you’re managing a chronic condition, seeking preventive care, or just want a doctor who’s always there when you need them, our DPC model delivers. Serving the Phoenix Metro area with offices in Peoria and Gilbert, we’re here to make your health journey simpler and more affordable.

Ready to take the next step? Explore our membership options and join today. Your health and happiness matter—let us help you thrive!