Concierge Doctor vs. Direct Primary Care vs. Traditional Practice: What’s the Difference?

Healthcare has changed. Your primary care shouldn't have to feel like one more thing you have to manage.

The U.S. is facing a growing physician shortage, with the AAMC projecting a potential shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036. At the same time, patients are navigating increasingly complex health needs and fragmented care.

For many people, this has led to a closer look at alternatives to traditional primary care, including concierge medicine and direct primary care (DPC).

So what’s actually the difference?

Traditional Primary Care: The Model Most People Know

Traditional primary care typically operates through an insurance-based, fee-for-service model. You schedule appointments when you need them, and your insurance is billed for covered services.

Primary care can provide comprehensive preventive care, screenings, acute and chronic condition management, and specialist coordination. But high patient volumes, administrative demands, and limited appointment time can make it difficult to create the continuity and access many patients want.

For someone looking for more time, proactive planning, and coordinated care, other models may be worth considering.

Direct Primary Care: Primary Care, Paid Directly

Direct primary care, or DPC, is a membership-based model in which patients pay their physician or practice directly, typically through a monthly, quarterly, or annual fee.

Because DPC practices generally don't rely on traditional fee-for-service insurance billing, they may be able to offer longer visits, more direct communication, and greater access to their physicians.

DPC is primarily a primary care model, meaning specialty care, hospital care, and services outside the practice typically require separate coverage or payment.

Concierge Medicine: A More Personalized Model of Care

Concierge medicine is also membership-based, but the model varies from practice to practice.

Generally, patients pay a membership fee in exchange for enhanced access, more personalized care, and a smaller patient panel. Some practices continue to bill insurance separately for covered medical services like bloodwork. 

The important question isn't simply what you pay. It's what your membership actually includes.

Some concierge practices focus primarily on enhanced primary care. Others incorporate preventive medicine, functional medicine, nutrition, longevity, and broader care coordination.

Concierge vs. Direct Primary Care vs. Traditional Primary Care

There is no single model that works for everyone. The right question is what you want your primary care relationship to look like and how much of the work of managing your health you want your care team to take on.

What Makes The Lanby Different?

At The Lanby, we believe primary care shouldn't exist in a silo.

Primary care, functional medicine, and wellness — one team, one plan.

Our multidisciplinary Care Team works from the same plan, looking at your health history, labs, nutrition, lifestyle, symptoms, and goals as a whole.

Your team includes:

Board-Certified Physician: Your clinical strategy, focused on primary care, prevention, and longevity.

Registered Dietitian: Personalized nutrition informed by your labs, lifestyle, and goals.

Nurse Practitioner: Acute care when something comes up, with access to your complete health history and care plan.

Member Advocate: Support with referrals, scheduling, care coordination, and membership logistics.

This is what we mean by one team, one plan.

One Membership. More of Your Care, Connected.

At The Lanby, membership includes:

• Sick and well visits, in-office and virtual
• After-hours care, 365 days a year
• Annual baseline assessment
• Body composition analysis
• On-site blood draws and comprehensive functional testing
• Personalized Care Plan
• Quarterly Care Team check-ins
• In-app chat for on-demand support
• Prescription management
• Supplement recommendations
• Wearable data analysis
• Peptide therapy guidance, including GLP-1 prescriptions and monitoring

No copays. No surprise bills. Ever.

And if something falls outside of your membership, you're not on your own. The Lanby coordinates specialist referrals, advanced diagnostics, preventive screenings, diagnostic imaging, urgent home visits, and holistic services.

If it's not covered, it's coordinated.

Insurance may cover some outside services, and your Member Advocate can help clarify what's eligible.

More Connected Care, Not Just More Care

More appointments don't necessarily mean better healthcare. The goal is the right care, at the right time, with the right context.

Your membership at The Lanby starts with an 80-minute Baseline Visit that brings together your health history, lifestyle, goals, physical health, body composition, and labs.

From there, your results become a roadmap. Your Care Team builds an actionable plan around your priorities and continues to work with you through quarterly check-ins, acute care, ongoing messaging, and regular Care Plan updates.

It's proactive care designed around your actual life.

The Bottom Line

Traditional primary care, direct primary care, and concierge medicine all approach healthcare differently.

Traditional primary care operates primarily within the insurance-based system.

Direct primary care creates a direct financial relationship between patient and practice through a membership model.

Concierge medicine uses a membership model to create a more personalized, accessible experience, with what’s included varying by practice.

The Lanby brings primary care, functional medicine, nutrition, lifestyle, longevity, and care coordination together under one roof.

Because your health doesn't exist in separate categories. Why should your healthcare?

Book a Discovery Call to learn more about The Lanby, our membership, and whether our model is the right fit for you.

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