Home › Options › Direct Primary Care

Direct primary care

Direct Primary Care in Wilmington: Concierge vs DPC, Costs

A flat monthly fee for your own primary care team, with no copays. Here's how it works in North Carolina, how it differs from a concierge doctor, and why it's never enough on its own.

See my optionsCall (910) 812-0954
  • Free, no obligation
  • Not an insurance agency
  • Honest about the limits
Healthcare AssessmentStep 1 of 6
Who needs care?

Answer 6 quick questions to see what Direct Primary Care plus health sharing could cost your household.

The short answer

Direct primary care (DPC) is a membership with a primary care practice. You pay a flat monthly fee, and sick visits, checkups, questions and follow-ups are included, with no copay each time. It isn't insurance, and it doesn't pay for specialists, hospitals or emergencies. Most people pair it with something for big bills.

In the Wilmington market, "primary care near me" gets about 110 searches a month, "concierge doctor" about 50, and "direct primary care wilmington nc" about 40, more than the plain "direct primary care" (30) (source). Many people know DPC as a concierge doctor, though the two aren't quite the same (see below).

What North Carolina law says

North Carolina added N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-3-8 in 2020. It says a medical direct primary care agreement is not insurance and isn't subject to the state's insurance laws, and a doctor doesn't need an insurance license to offer one (source). The agreement must be in writing and signed, let either side end it with written notice, state the periodic fee and the services it includes, give its length and any automatic renewal, and say prominently that it is not health insurance.

In practice, that means a DPC membership is a contract with a medical practice, not a health plan. It doesn't count as minimum essential coverage under the ACA, and it won't pay for anything outside the practice.

What a DPC membership usually includes

  • Sick visits and checkups, in person or by video, without a copay
  • Direct contact with your doctor's team by phone, text or video
  • Help managing common conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes
  • Often, low cash prices on basic labs and generic medications (varies by practice)

What it doesn't include

  • Hospital stays, surgery and emergencies
  • Specialists, imaging such as MRI, and most procedures
  • Anything outside primary care

That gap is why a DPC membership is never enough by itself. For big bills, the options are a Marketplace plan or health care sharing.

Concierge doctor or direct primary care?

Concierge practice (typical)Direct primary care (typical)
Membership feeYes, often higherYes, a flat monthly fee
Bills your insurance too?Often yesUsually no
Needs insurance to make sense?UsuallyNo, but you need something for big bills
Pairs with health sharing?SometimesYes, that's the usual pairing

General comparison. Practices vary; ask each one how it bills.

Local practice or virtual membership?

Local DPC practiceVirtual primary care membership (our pairing)
WhereAn office you can drive toPhone and video, anywhere in North Carolina, and when you travel
Hands-on careExams, stitches, in-office testsYou go in person elsewhere when needed
Best forFamilies near a practice who want the same doctor in personBusy schedules, commuters over the bridge, households in rural Pender or Brunswick
PriceSet by each practice; ask for adult and child feesBuilt into the combined monthly amount on our price table

Practices set their own fees and services. Confirm them with the practice before you join. We don't rank practices, and no Cape Fear practice pays to appear here.

Questions to ask any DPC practice

  1. What's the monthly fee for adults and for children, and is there a sign-up fee?
  2. How fast can I get a same-day or next-day visit?
  3. Which labs and medications do you offer at cost, and what do they cost?
  4. Can I reach the doctor after hours?
  5. How much notice do I need to cancel?

Where it fits

Most households we help pair three things: a primary care membership for everyday care, health sharing for big unexpected bills, and a dental savings plan for teeth. See what the full combination costs.

Common questions

Is direct primary care legal in North Carolina?

Yes. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-3-8 (2020) says a medical direct primary care agreement is not insurance and isn't subject to the state's insurance laws. The agreement must be in writing, list the fee and services, let either side cancel with written notice, and say prominently that it is not health insurance.

Is direct primary care the same as a concierge doctor?

Not quite. Both charge a membership fee. Concierge practices often also bill your insurance and tend to charge more. Direct primary care usually doesn't bill insurance at all; the membership is the whole price for primary care.

Do I still need something for big bills?

Yes. Direct primary care doesn't pay for hospitals, surgery, specialists or emergencies. That's why we pair it with health sharing or point you to insurance.

Can I use a local Wilmington DPC doctor instead of the virtual one?

Tell us. Our standard pairing includes a virtual membership that works anywhere in the state. If you already have, or want, a local DPC practice in the Cape Fear region, we'll talk through how that fits with health sharing.

Written and reviewed by Graham Kerswell. Last updated November 5, 2026. Facts and prices are checked against the sources named on this page.

Sources

Want to see what this would cost your household?

Tell us who needs care and what you pay now. We'll walk you through the options, including when insurance is the better fit.

Get my optionsCall (910) 812-0954

Free, no obligation. Wilmington, Brunswick, Pender and Cape Fear households.

Health care sharing
Health care sharing ministries are not insurance and are not regulated as insurance. Sharing of medical expenses is voluntary and not guaranteed. Review each organization's guidelines for details, limitations, and state-specific notices.

North Carolina notice (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-49-12)
North Carolina law asks health care sharing organizations to give members this notice: “NOTICE: The organization facilitating the sharing of medical expenses is not an insurance company and neither its guidelines nor its plan of operation is an insurance policy. Whether anyone chooses to assist you with your medical bills will be voluntary. No other participant will be compelled by law to contribute toward your medical bills. As such, participation in the organization or a subscription to any of its documents should never be considered to be insurance. Regardless of whether you receive any payment for medical expenses or whether this organization continues to operate, you are always personally liable for the payment of your own medical bills.” Health care sharing is not Minimum Essential Coverage.

Direct primary care
Direct primary care is a membership with a primary care practice. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-3-8, a medical direct primary care agreement is not insurance and is not subject to North Carolina's insurance laws; the agreement must be in writing and must state prominently that it is not health insurance. A DPC membership does not pay for specialists, hospital care or emergencies, and it is not Minimum Essential Coverage.

Discount plans
THIS PLAN IS NOT INSURANCE and is not intended to replace health insurance. A discount plan provides discounts at participating providers and does not make payments to providers; the member pays the discounted fee. Discount plan organization: Careington International Corporation, 7400 Gaylord Parkway, Frisco, TX 75034. Discount plans are not ACA Qualified Health Plans.

How we're paid
We may receive compensation from some organizations we recommend. This does not change our evaluation of how they work. See our Referral Marketing Disclosure.

Not advice
This page is general information, not medical, legal, tax or financial advice. Prices are examples, not quotes; they depend on your household and can change. Affordable Healthcare Wilmington is not an insurance agency and does not sell insurance. We help individuals and families explore alternatives to insurance, including direct primary care, health care sharing and discount plans.