Beyond Insurance — The Healthcare Model That’s Changing Everything

What if healthcare wasn’t tied to insurance at all? In this episode, Dia dives into the direct primary care model — a growing movement that’s reimagining how we access and pay for healthcare by cutting out the middleman entirely.

From affordability and accessibility to the simple power of a doctor who actually knows your name, this conversation explores what happens when healthcare is built on relationships instead of billing codes.

In This Episode

• How direct primary care works — and why it’s more affordable than you think
• The case for relationship-focused health solutions over insurance-driven care
• What this model means for rural and underserved communities
• Why Ithaca is a natural home for healthcare alternatives

The Practically Real Team

• Ithaca Local Economy Lab
• Jake Gribschaw — Technical Advisor — LinkedIn
• Stacey Cornelius — Associate Producer — Agency of Words
• Sonia Simone — Content Strategist — Remarkable Communication
• Erin O’Shaughnessy — Creative Consultant
• Yen Ospina — Artist — yenospina.com
• Carsie Blanton — Musician — carsieblanton.com