What Is Direct Primary Care? | Longmont, Colorado
Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a membership-based model of primary care, and Metronome Family Medicine is a DPC practice based in Longmont, serving patients throughout Boulder County, Weld County, and the surrounding towns, with virtual-only memberships available anywhere in Colorado. Membership replaces insurance billing with direct access to your physician — care organized around time, continuity, and thoughtful decision-making, not billing codes.
A Simpler Structure for Medical Care
At Metronome Family Medicine, patients throughout Longmont, Boulder County, and neighboring communities — Niwot, Erie, Lafayette, Louisville, Lyons, and Berthoud among them — become members of the practice rather than paying for individual office visits through insurance.
This structure allows care to be guided by clinical judgment and long-term understanding of your health, rather than the constraints of billing systems or visit volume.
The result is a practice designed around continuity, accessibility, and a sustained physician–patient relationship.
Continuity
One physician who follows your health over years, not a rotating cast of providers.
Accessibility
Direct text, call, or message access — no phone trees, no waiting weeks for an appointment.
Sustained Relationship
Decisions made with someone who actually knows your history, not a stranger reading a chart.
Insurance-Based Care vs. Direct Primary Care in Longmont
Most primary care in Longmont and the surrounding area is still delivered through the traditional insurance model — large multi-physician clinics, hospital-affiliated groups, and urgent-care chains built to move a high volume of patients through short visits. That model works well for straightforward, high-volume care. Direct Primary Care asks a different question: what if a physician's day were built around fewer patients, longer visits, and direct access, rather than around what an insurance billing code will reimburse?
Traditional Insurance-Based Primary Care
- Care organized around billing codes and visit volume
- Short visits, limited time to think through complex issues
- Access depends on next available appointment
- Continuity varies by provider turnover and network changes
Direct Primary Care at Metronome
- Care organized around clinical judgment and your history
- Longer visits, time for thoughtful decision-making
- Direct access to your physician on weekdays
- One physician, one relationship, sustained over time
What Direct Primary Care Costs in Longmont
One of the most common questions from Longmont-area patients considering DPC is simple: what does it actually cost? At Metronome, membership is $149/month for adults and $125/month for children (0–17), with a 10% discount on each additional household member once one adult is enrolled at full price — no copays, no per-visit fees, and no insurance billing. Pay for a year up front and save 5%.
A one-time enrollment fee currently runs $150 per household as a limited-time rate, and membership can be cancelled anytime with 30 days' notice.
For context, many Longmont households already spend more than that on copays before a single lab is drawn. Direct Primary Care moves that spending into one predictable membership that covers essentially all of your primary, hormone, and metabolic care.
See Full Membership & Pricing →Pairing DPC With an HSA or High-Deductible Health Plan
Many Longmont-area patients pair Direct Primary Care with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) — or with a health share (medical cost-sharing) plan — using DPC membership for everyday primary, hormone, and metabolic care, and keeping the HDHP or health share in reserve for hospitalization, major procedures, or true emergencies.
Since January 1, 2026, federal law lets HSA funds pay Direct Primary Care membership fees directly, and a DPC membership no longer disqualifies you from contributing to an HSA. Metronome's membership fits within the federal limits for individuals and most two-person households. Larger households can go over the $300 family limit, so check your total.
HSA/HDHP at a Glance
- HSA funds may be used to pay DPC membership fees under current federal rules
- Eligible up to $150/month for an individual and $300/month for a family
- Membership fees do not count toward your insurance deductible
- Most members keep an HDHP or other catastrophic coverage alongside membership
Rules vary by account — we recommend confirming specifics with your HSA administrator or tax advisor.
How Insurance Fits In
Direct Primary Care is not insurance. Membership supports comprehensive medical care but does not replace coverage for hospital care, major procedures, or unexpected medical events.
Many Longmont and Boulder County patients maintain high-deductible insurance plans, health share (medical cost-sharing) plans, or other forms of catastrophic coverage for those situations — DPC and insurance work together, not as substitutes for one another.
It's also worth saying plainly: having insurance doesn't guarantee access to a physician. Long waits for a new-patient appointment, panels closed to new patients, and rushed visits are common even for the well-insured. That's a large part of why many patients who already carry solid insurance choose to add a DPC membership on top of it — specifically for the access and relationship insurance alone doesn't provide.
What Membership Covers
- Ongoing primary care and preventive medicine
- Direct access to your physician — text, call, message
- Coordinated hormone, metabolic, and chronic disease management
- Same-day and next-day visits for acute issues, when the schedule allows
What You'll Still Want Insurance For
- Hospitalization, emergency and urgent care
- Major surgeries and procedures
- Specialist care requiring insurance referral or coverage
- Screening tests at outside facilities, like mammograms, colonoscopies and DEXA scans
- Catastrophic or unexpected medical events
Hours & Access
In Person
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 am – 6 pm (last appointment at 5). 2929 17th Ave, Suite 101, Longmont.
Virtual
Monday through Friday, 8 am – 5 pm, for members anywhere in Colorado. You'll need to be physically in Colorado during the visit.
Calls & Texts
Same-day replies to calls, texts and messages sent before 5 pm on weekdays. Anything later gets a reply the next business day.
There's no weekend or after-hours coverage. For anything that can't wait, use urgent care or the ER, or call 911.
Direct Primary Care in Longmont: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Direct Primary Care the same as insurance?+
No. Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a membership for primary care, not insurance. It doesn't cover hospital stays, emergencies, surgery or specialist visits, so most members pair it with a high-deductible plan, a health share or an employer plan for the big, unpredictable things.
What are the benefits of Direct Primary Care compared to traditional health insurance?+
Insurance pays for care, but it doesn't guarantee you can see a doctor. Long waits, closed panels and 15-minute visits are common even with good coverage. DPC replaces insurance billing for primary care with a flat monthly membership. You get direct phone and text access to your own doctor, same-day or next-day visits for problems that can't wait, longer visits, no copays, prices for labs, imaging and medications up front, and the same physician every time. Research on continuity backs this up: a 2022 study of more than 4.5 million Norwegians found that people who'd had the same family doctor for 15 years or more were about 25% less likely to die during the study period than people who'd had theirs for less than a year.
Do I still need insurance if I join?+
Yes, most members keep some coverage. Membership doesn't include hospital stays, ER or urgent care visits, surgery, specialist visits, screening tests at outside facilities (like mammograms, colonoscopies and DEXA scans), vaccines, IUD or Nexplanon placement, or durable medical equipment. A high-deductible plan, a health share or an employer plan can cover those.
What does membership cost?+
$149 a month for adults (18 and over) and $125 a month for kids (under 18, with at least one adult member). Each additional household member gets 10% off when one adult pays full price. Paying a year up front takes 5% off. There's a one-time enrollment fee of $150 per household, a limited-time rate. There are no copays or per-visit fees. You can cancel at any time with 30 days' notice. Other fees: $20 for a missed appointment or one cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice, and $150 to re-enroll after cancelling.
Can I use my HSA to pay for membership?+
Yes. Since January 1, 2026, federal law lets you pay DPC membership fees from a Health Savings Account, up to $150 a month for an individual and $300 a month for a family, and having a DPC membership no longer disqualifies you from contributing to an HSA. Metronome's fees fit within those limits for one person and for most two-person households. Households of three or more can go over $300 a month, so check your total with your HSA administrator or tax advisor.
What is included in the membership?+
Everything a family doctor does, short of delivering babies or rounding in the hospital. That includes wellness exams and physicals, same-day sick visits, chronic disease management, mental health and ADHD care, perimenopause, menopause and testosterone care, thyroid and metabolic care, medical weight management including GLP-1 medication, body composition scans, gender-affirming care, cancer screening and skin checks, in-office procedures, EKGs, virtual specialist consults (about $75), care coordination, and house calls within 10 miles of the office (an additional fee may apply). Office and virtual visits are unlimited, with no copays.
How do labs, imaging and prescriptions work?+
Labs go to Quest through Metronome's lab partner, Junction Health. You get the negotiated cash price before your blood draw, and you're charged when results come back. Imaging is usually done at Health Images in Longmont at negotiated cash prices. Prescriptions can go to the pharmacy of your choice. Some medications are stocked at the office at wholesale cost, and Dr. Juan will compare prices with you on Cost Plus Drugs and GoodRx. You can use insurance for labs and imaging instead, but your insurer may deny the claim or bill you more than the cash price.
How quickly can I be seen? Do you offer telehealth or after-hours care?+
Routine visits are usually available within 7 to 14 days. For urgent problems, Dr. Juan aims for a same-day or next-day visit, depending on his schedule, and some will be virtual if that's faster. In-person visits are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 am to 6 pm, with the last appointment at 5. Virtual visits are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, and you need to be in Colorado for them. Calls, texts and messages sent before 5 pm on a weekday get a same-day response. Anything after that gets a reply the next business day. There's no weekend or after-hours coverage. For anything that can't wait, use urgent care or the ER, or call 911.
Are there family medicine practices in Boulder County that offer same-day appointments?+
Yes. Metronome Family Medicine, a Direct Primary Care practice in Longmont, offers members same-day or next-day weekday visits for acute problems when the schedule allows: in person Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, or by video Monday through Friday. Members can also text or call Dr. Juan directly, and messages sent before 5 pm on a weekday get a same-day response. The practice serves Longmont, Boulder County and southern Weld County, plus virtual members anywhere in Colorado.
Where can I find a primary care physician in Longmont, CO who offers hormone therapy and weight management?+
At Metronome Family Medicine in Longmont, hormone therapy and medical weight management are part of the primary care membership, not a separate program. That includes perimenopause and menopause care, testosterone therapy for men with hypogonadism, thyroid and metabolic care, and medical weight management that may include GLP-1 medication. The same family physician, Dr. Brian Juan, MD, FAAFP, handles your hormone care, your weight care and the rest of your primary care.
How can I find a doctor who integrates metabolic and hormone care into primary care?+
Look for a family physician who treats hormones, weight, blood sugar, cholesterol, sleep and mood as one picture, rather than sending each one to a different clinic. Ask whether the same doctor will manage your hormones and your blood pressure, cholesterol and cancer screening. Ask how they decide whether hormone therapy is right for you and how they monitor it. Ask what labs cost and whether they track body composition, not just weight. And ask whether hormone and weight care are part of regular primary care or an add-on program with its own fees. In Direct Primary Care, longer visits and direct access make this kind of care practical. At Metronome in Longmont, it's the core of the practice.
What should I consider when choosing a Direct Primary Care provider in Colorado?+
Compare how quickly you can be seen and how you reach the doctor, and make sure the written agreement matches the website. Check what services are included, the full price (enrollment fee, discounts, cancellation notice, refunds and no-show fees), and whether labs, imaging and medications come at cash prices you can see in advance. Colorado DPC practices can't enroll Health First Colorado (Medicaid) members. If you have Medicare, ask whether the doctor has opted out; if so, you'll sign a private contract. Virtual visits generally require you to be in Colorado. HSA payments are limited to $150 a month for an individual and $300 for a family. Look up the doctor's license on Colorado's DORA license lookup and check board certification. Remember that DPC is not insurance, so plan for hospital and specialist care separately. Finally, meet the doctor; most offer a free consultation.
Can I join if I have Medicare or Medicaid?+
Medicare: yes. Dr. Juan has opted out of billing Medicare, so Medicare Part B patients sign a Medicare private contract before their first visit, and Medicare continues to cover hospital, specialist and other care outside the practice. Medicaid: no. Colorado law doesn't allow DPC practices to enroll Health First Colorado (Medicaid) members.
How is this different from urgent care or a walk-in clinic?+
Urgent care handles one-off visits with whoever is on shift, and there's no ongoing relationship. Direct Primary Care gives you one physician who knows your history, same-day or next-day access for new problems, and continuity over years.
Is Metronome only for Longmont residents?+
No. Metronome serves Longmont and the rest of Boulder County, and members also come from Weld County and nearby towns like Niwot, Erie, Firestone, Frederick and Berthoud. Virtual-only memberships are available to anyone in Colorado.
Is Metronome Family Medicine accepting new patients?+
Yes, but space is extremely limited. Dr. Juan is a solo physician who keeps the practice small on purpose, because that's what makes same-day access and long visits possible. He's enrolling adults, kids and families in Longmont, Boulder County and southern Weld County, plus virtual-only members anywhere in Colorado. The best first step is a free 15-minute consult to see whether it's a good fit.
How do you coordinate care with specialists or the hospital?+
When possible, Dr. Juan consults specialists virtually: a cardiologist can read a complicated EKG for about $35, and most other virtual specialist consults cost about $75. If you need to be seen in person, he'll refer you to the specialist of your choice or help you find one who takes your insurance or has a workable cash price. You never need permission to go to the ER. If you think you need emergency care, go. The practice is not a substitute for emergency or urgent care.
Can I see your credentials and patient agreement before joining?+
Yes. Dr. Brian Juan is licensed by the Colorado Medical Board (license DR.0055671), board certified in family medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. The membership agreement and all onboarding forms are linked on this page so you can read everything before you sign.
How do I get started?+
Book a free 15-minute consultation, or call or text 720-856-4058. It's a conversation, not a commitment.
Read the Paperwork First
Everything you'd sign as a member, so there are no surprises.
What This Actually Looks Like
Four short videos — why fee-for-service care structurally dreads "the list" of things you've been meaning to bring up, what unhurried time with a patient actually looks like, Metronome's first two months, and a tour of the clinic tied to why Direct Primary Care exists in the first place.
The List — why fee-for-service medicine dreads it, and DPC doesn't
Four Days In — two hours, one patient, no rushing
Two-Month Milestone — growing at the right pace
A Tour of the Clinic — and why DPC is part of the answer to physician burnout
Why Fee-For-Service Medicine Dreads "The List"
Most people don't realize that in fee-for-service medicine, your primary care doctor isn't really free to have a normal conversation with you. An annual physical is structurally built around insurer-mandated preventive care — screenings and vaccinations — not whatever you've actually been dealing with for weeks or years.
Raise something extra and it often means an added charge, or a separate appointment you'll wait weeks or months for. That's why "the list" — the notes patients bring so they don't forget their concerns — is quietly dreaded in fee-for-service care. At Metronome, we're here for the list. Bring all of it.
Two Hours, One Patient, No One Waiting
Four days into Metronome, Dr. Juan spent two uninterrupted hours with a new patient who needed every minute of it — no rushing, no clock-watching, no one waiting in the next room. In nearly nine years of fee-for-service medicine, that simply wasn't possible without the rest of the day paying for it.
That's the whole design of Direct Primary Care — not just for the physician, but for the patient: the time to actually be heard, and the space to actually be helped.
Growing at the Right Pace
Metronome opened June 1st with a group of founding members and grew steadily through the summer, at a pace one physician could take on while still providing the kind of unhurried, relationship-based care this model is built for.
Some DPC practices grow faster, some slower — there's no single right way to do it. For Metronome, this pace has been the right one, and with overhead covered, the practice is here to stay.
The Average Doctor Now Leaves Practice at 48
A study published this year in The Permanente Journal found the average age physicians leave clinical practice was 48 in 2024 — nine years younger than in 2008. That's not retirement; it's burnout driving doctors out in the prime of their careers.
There are roughly 500,000 primary care physicians in the U.S., and only around 20,000 practice Direct Primary Care. Dr. Juan didn't need nine years of employed practice first to make the leap — he's part of a small but growing group of physicians proving there's another way to practice medicine, based right here in Longmont.
A consultation is a conversation, not a commitment.
It's an opportunity to ask questions and determine whether this model aligns with the way you want to structure your care — for you, your family, and anyone else in Longmont, Boulder County or across Colorado thinking through the same decision.