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How it works

Direct primary care replaces the insurance-driven visit with a simple membership. Here's what that actually means for you.

The problem with the usual visit

In insurance-based primary care, a doctor's income depends on volume — seeing as many patients as the schedule allows. That's how you end up waiting weeks for an appointment, then getting ten rushed minutes, then a bill you can't predict. The system isn't broken on purpose; it's just built around billing codes instead of around you.

How Foothill is different

1. You join as a member. One flat monthly fee covers your primary care with your physician. No copays, no per-visit charges.
2. You get real time. Longer appointments, a deliberately small panel, and same-day or next-day visits when something comes up.
3. You reach your doctor directly. Call, message, or text — often the question gets answered without a visit at all.
4. You pay wholesale for the extras. Many labs and common medications are available at or near cost, with no markup and no surprise billing.

How it fits with insurance and your HSA

Membership is for your primary care. You'll still want a health plan — typically a high-deductible plan — for the big stuff: hospital stays, surgery, specialists, imaging, and emergencies. Many members pair a lower-cost high-deductible plan with their Foothill membership and come out ahead.

As of 2026, many people can also pay direct primary care fees from a Health Savings Account. We keep a plain-English guide to the rules at howtohsa.com. (It's educational, not tax advice — confirm your own situation with your tax advisor.)