Why Montana Small Businesses Are Looking at Direct Primary Care in 2026

Health care costs are climbing again in 2026, and small businesses are feeling it first. Employers are bracing for a median increase around 9 percent this year, and small-group premiums are expected to rise even more, closer to 11 percent. For a Montana business with a handful of employees, that is not a rounding error. It is a real hit to the budget.

So a lot of owners are asking a fair question. Is there a better way to take care of our team without the cost climbing every single year? More and more of them are landing on the same answer: direct primary care.

First, what direct primary care actually is

Direct primary care, or DPC, is simple. Instead of billing insurance for every visit, a practice charges one flat monthly membership fee. In exchange, patients get direct access to their doctor. Longer visits that are not rushed. Same-day or next-day appointments when something comes up. A real relationship with someone who knows their history.

One thing to be clear about. Direct primary care is not insurance, and it is not meant to replace it. It handles the everyday primary care that people use most, while insurance stays in place for the big things like hospital stays, specialists, and emergencies. The two work together.

Why employers are paying attention in 2026

The interest is not just talk. In a recent piece on curbing health care costs, SHRM pointed to direct primary care as a practical lever for employers who are tired of watching premiums rise with nothing to show for it. When a business pairs DPC with a high-deductible health plan, employees get faster, better primary care up front, and the company often sees less spending on urgent care and avoidable visits down the line.

There is also a new reason to look this year. Starting January 1, 2026, direct primary care fees can be paid with tax-advantaged accounts like HSAs, FSAs, and HRAs, up to 150 dollars a month for an individual or 300 dollars for a family. For an employer, that changes the math in a real way.

What it looks like for a Montana small business

Picture a shop or a small office here in the valley. Instead of a benefit nobody understands and everybody dreads using, each employee gets a local doctor who actually has time for them. No phone tree. No three-week wait for a fifteen-minute visit. Just care that is easy to get and easy to explain.

For the owner, the appeal is predictability. A flat per-employee membership is easy to budget, and it is a benefit people actually use and appreciate. For some businesses, pairing direct primary care with a high-deductible plan can run meaningfully less than a traditional group insurance setup, while giving employees better access, not worse.

Is it right for every business? No.

Direct primary care is not a silver bullet, and it is not the right fit for every company or every situation. The smartest move is to look at your own numbers, talk with your benefits broker or advisor, and decide what makes sense for your team. This article is general information, not medical or financial advice.

What we can say is this. The reason more Montana employers keep circling back to direct primary care is not complicated. People want a doctor who knows them, and owners want costs they can actually plan around. DPC gives both a real shot.

Want to see what it could look like for your team?

CoreMed offers membership-based care across six Montana regions, and we work with local businesses to set up direct primary care for their employees. If you run a Montana business and you are curious what this would look like for your team, we would be glad to talk it through. No pressure, just a real conversation. Visit coremedhealth.com or reach out anytime at [email protected].

Source: SHRM, Direct Primary Care: An Alternative Way to Curb Health Care Costs. Cost-trend figures via 2026 employer health surveys.