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 FOLLOW HOW TO AGE WELL WITH AMY KASZAK • Instagram: https://instagram.com/howtoagewell_podcast/ • Amy on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/amy-kaszak-6702963/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
