If you've ever felt rushed through a seven-minute appointment, struggled to find a doctor who accepts Medicare, or waited weeks to be seen, this episode is for you. Part 2 of our Medicare Month series explores direct primary care (DPC), a fast-growing membership model where you pay your doctor directly for unlimited primary care, with no insurance billing, no co-pays, and a real relationship with your physician.

Amy's guest is her dad, Dr. Crawford Allison, a family physician with more than 40 years of experience in the U.S. Army, rural Texas, and Waco. After three decades of fee-for-service medicine, he founded Patient First Direct Primary Care in Waco to bring back the personal, relationship-based care he grew up with. Together they break down how DPC works alongside Medicare, what it costs, how to find and vet a practice, and why--in addition to being a great option for Medicare enrollees-- it also can be a fit for early retirees, working adults, and employers too.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN

• What direct primary care is and how it differs from concierge medicine

• How DPC works with Medicare Parts A, B, and D (you keep all of your coverage)

• What a membership typically covers, and what still gets billed to Medicare

• What DPC costs compared with concierge care

• How to find a DPC practice near you and what to look for before you join

• Why DPC pairs well with high-deductible plans and early retirement

• The 2026 change that lets you pay DPC fees with your HSA

• How employers are using DPC as an employee benefit

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Why DPC belongs in your Medicare decision

02:26 – What is direct primary care, and where did it start?

04:44 – 3,193 DPC practices and counting

05:52 – The moment Dr. Allison knew there had to be a better way

07:09 – Concierge medicine vs. DPC, and how Medicare direct contracting works

09:25 – A relationship with a doctor, not a health system

10:28 – What DPC costs, and access by phone, text, and video

11:30 – "If I get sick, who's responsible?"

12:29 – Recap: what you keep under Medicare and what the membership covers

15:45 – No visit limits, home visits, and nursing home check-ins

16:40 – Same-day care and what patients say they love most

18:15 – A word from Naborforce

18:50 – Where to start: DPC Frontier and the practice mapper

20:20 – How to vet a DPC practice: credentials, free visits, and money-back trials

23:07 – Ask for the "what's covered" list

24:50 – Early retirees, high-deductible plans, and the uninsured

27:11 – New for 2026: paying your DPC membership with an HSA

28:20 – Employers, DPC benefits, and workers' comp first aid

30:41 – What's next for direct primary care

31:20 – Key takeaways

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Patient First Direct Primary Care (Waco, TX) – Dr. Allison's practice: https://www.patientfirstdirect.com

• Meet Dr. Crawford Allison: https://www.patientfirstdirect.com/dr-crawford-allison/

• DPC Frontier – find a direct primary care practice near you: https://www.dpcfrontier.com

• DPC Alliance – standards and information on direct primary care: https://www.dpcalliance.org

SPONSOR

This episode is sponsored by Naborforce, connecting older adults with vetted, caring companions for rides, errands, tech help, and more. Learn more at https://naborforce.com

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