Open enrollment season is fast approaching. For most families, that means a familiar wave of dread: staring down confusing health insurance options, trying to figure out which one will cost you the least while still giving you some level of care.
As you research your healthcare options, keep in mind a liberating truth: The smartest plan might not be the most expensive one.
The average family health insurance plan has now reached over $26,000 in premiums alone, which doesn’t even factor in the steep copays, prescription costs, or high deductibles you have to pay before your insurance actually kicks in to cover a dime.
For years, we’ve been conditioned to believe that more expensive insurance equals better healthcare. But in reality, families are paying more than ever while getting rushed appointments, red tape, and less meaningful face-time with their doctor.
Pairing the right insurance or cost-sharing strategy with Direct Primary Care (DPC) can actually save you money while transforming your healthcare experience. Here is how you can use Table Health DPC in Traverse City and Petoskey to take control of your healthcare dollars this open enrollment:
3 Ways to Structure Your Care
1. Standalone DPC: Perfect if you want predictable, flat-rate primary care for your everyday needs, routine checkups, and wholesale labs and common medications without dealing with insurance red tape. (Note: Standalone DPC covers your primary care, but you’ll want a separate safety net for major emergencies).
2. DPC + High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP): Pair a low-cost, high-deductible insurance plan (acting as your safety net for major events like emergencies or hospital visits) with Table Health DPC. Your DPC then handles 90% of your actual, everyday healthcare needs with zero copays and zero deductible hurdles.
3. DPC + Sedera (or another Health Share): Instead of traditional insurance, you pair your Table Health DPC membership with a medical cost-sharing community like Sedera. Table Health Direct Primary Care handles your day-to-day care, primary care, and prevention. And then, Sedera handles large, unexpected medical needs (hospitalizations, major surgeries, ER visits) through a peer-to-peer sharing model governed by an Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA, similar to a deductible).
Medical cost-sharing programs combined with DPC routinely save members up to 50% or more compared to traditional commercial insurance. Studies and case tracking across DPC cohorts show that removing third-party billing and administrative waste drops costs significantly while slashing everyday lab and procedure costs by up to 80-90% (e.g., comprehensive metabolic panels dropping from $48 to under $4).
Better News For Your Budget: HSAs and DPC:
As of January 1, 2026, you can use your Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for your DPC membership. This is a financial advantage and means your DPC membership fees can now be paid with pre-tax dollars, lowering your overall taxable income while securing the proactive, root-cause care you and your family deserve.
Action Plan for Open Enrollment
Calculate Your Baseline: Add up your current family health insurance premiums for the year plus what you typically spend out-of-pocket on copays and deductibles.
Explore Alternatives: Look into high-deductible health plan quotes or review guidelines for medical cost-sharing communities like Sedera.
Connect with a DPC practice: Visit tablehealth.com to talk through membership tiers for your household at either our Traverse City or Petoskey locations, ensuring your primary care is locked down before open enrollment deadlines pass.