Trumansburg & Ithaca, NY Finger Lakes
Direct Primary Care for Small Businesses Near Ithaca, NY
A smarter alternative to rising health insurance
Give your team real access to a provider they know, at a predictable monthly cost, without copays, deductibles, or insurance runaround. Homesteady Health makes healthcare a benefit your employees actually use, right here in the Finger Lakes.
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The short version
Small business direct primary care, at a glance
Direct primary care is a monthly membership that covers your team's everyday primary care directly through the practice. It is not health insurance, but it pairs well with a high-deductible or health-sharing plan if you also want coverage for major medical events.
What it is
A membership that gives employees direct access to a primary care provider
Who it is for
Small businesses and teams near Ithaca and across the Finger Lakes
What's included
Same and next-day visits, direct messaging, telehealth, preventive and chronic care, discounted labs
What it costs
A predictable flat monthly fee per employee, custom to your team size
Pairs well with
An optional high-deductible or health-sharing plan for catastrophic coverage
Your provider
Matthew Simone, FNP-BC, board-certified and locally based in Trumansburg
No copays, no deductibles, no insurance barriers
A simple membership that gives your employees personalized, unlimited care
When your team can reach a provider quickly, small problems get handled before they become missed workdays. Membership covers the everyday care employees actually need, delivered directly, without claims or surprise bills.
✓Same-day or next-day appointments for quick care
✓Direct messaging with their provider for urgent questions
✓Telehealth visits for convenience, wherever they are
✓Preventive care and ongoing support for long-term health
✓Minor emergency care, including stitches and wound treatment, without ER costs
✓Discounted labs and straightforward pricing on everything else
Why employers choose it
Why direct primary care works for small businesses
Your team is your greatest asset, and healthcare benefits should not be complicated or break the bank. Here is why Finger Lakes businesses choose Homesteady Health.
Attract and retain talent
A real healthcare benefit helps a small employer compete with larger companies and keep good people.
Fewer sick days
Healthier employees who can reach a provider fast mean fewer absences and less illness moving through the team.
Predictable costs
A clear, flat monthly fee per employee makes budgeting simple, with no year-end claims surprises.
Convenient access
Same-day appointments, telehealth, and direct messaging save your team time and stress.
Fewer costly ER trips
Employees can handle non-emergencies with an affordable urgent care alternative instead of the emergency room.
Scales with your team
Larger teams see lower per-employee costs, so the benefit gets more affordable as you grow.
Direct primary care vs. traditional insurance
Is direct primary care a replacement for health insurance?
Not on its own. Direct primary care replaces how your team gets everyday and preventive care. If you also want coverage for hospital stays and major events, it pairs well with a high-deductible or health-sharing plan, and together the two often cost a small business less than a traditional group plan while giving employees far more access.
Direct primary care is not health insurance. It is a monthly membership covering your team's everyday primary care, and it pairs well with a high-deductible or health-sharing plan for major medical events.
Traditional small-group insurance
×Industry surveys put employer premiums near $8,000 to $10,000 per employee a year, and $20,000 or more for family coverage
×High deductibles mean employees still pay out of pocket before coverage helps
×Limited access and long waits for a new-patient appointment
×Care is filtered through claims, networks, and prior authorizations
Homesteady Health direct primary care
✓A predictable, flat monthly fee per employee with no claims to file
✓Unlimited visits and direct access to the same provider every time
✓Same and next-day appointments, telehealth, and direct messaging
✓Care built to keep employees healthy, productive, and out of the ER
What it costs a small business
Clear monthly pricing, built around your team
Employers pay a predictable flat monthly fee per enrolled employee, so your healthcare line item is easy to budget and there are no year-end surprises. Because there are no claims, networks, or middlemen, that fee covers unlimited primary care visits, direct messaging, and telehealth, plus discounted labs when your team needs them.
For a flat monthly fee per employee, your team gets same-day and next-day visits, direct messaging with their provider, and telehealth, with no copay at the visit.
Exact pricing depends on your team size, and larger teams qualify for lower per-employee rates. The simplest way to see the numbers for your business is a short, no-pressure consultation where we build a plan around your headcount and how your team actually uses care. You can also review membership details and what is included to see how the model works day to day.
Built for the Finger Lakes
Why Ithaca-area employers choose Homesteady Health
Tompkins County runs on small employers: downtown Ithaca shops and restaurants, Cornell and Ithaca College spinouts, trades, farms, and the wineries and tasting rooms around Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. Many are too small to land an affordable group plan, and New York's premiums are among the highest in the country. Direct primary care gives those teams a benefit they can afford and employees will actually use.
Access matters even more out here. The area's hospital system can mean long waits for a new-patient primary care appointment, and your people are spread across Trumansburg, Ithaca, Lansing, Newfield, Enfield, Dryden, Groton, and out toward Cortland. Our office sits on Route 96, about 20 minutes from downtown Ithaca and central to that whole spread, so a visit does not cost a half-day of work. When Finger Lakes winters make the drive rough, same-day telehealth and direct messaging keep care moving without anyone leaving the jobsite.
It is also a genuinely active place, from the gorges and lake trails to a workforce that stays on its feet. Consistent preventive care and fast answers to everyday issues keep that team healthy through every season.
Covering the big stuff too
Pairing direct primary care with catastrophic coverage
Direct primary care is not insurance, so it does not cover major medical events like a hospital stay or surgery. Some employers offer membership on its own, and others add a high-deductible health plan or a health-sharing program alongside it to cover those larger costs affordably. Either way works, and the choice is yours.
If a health-sharing program interests you, Homesteady Health partners with Zion Health Share, an option built to pair with direct primary care. You can compare Zion Health Share membership options. Because plan design and tax treatment vary, it is worth confirming the right structure with your benefits advisor, and we are glad to walk through how membership fits alongside any existing coverage.
Simple to set up
How to set your team up
Getting started is quick, and there is no long enrollment process or open-enrollment window to wait for.
1
Book a free consultation
We learn your team size, budget, and how your employees use care today.
2
Get a plan and pricing
You receive a clear per-employee monthly rate and a simple rollout for your team.
3
Your team starts care
Employees meet their provider and get direct access from day one.
Your provider
About Matthew Simone, FNP-BC
Matthew Simone is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with more than 25 years in healthcare, including leading urgent care centers and working in emergency medicine before founding Homesteady Health. He built the practice to make care personal and effective, and he is the provider your team sees.
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC)
2025 Nurse Practitioner of the Year, NPA of New York State
President, Region 2, NPA of New York State
25+ years in healthcare
"I wanted to create a system where patients come first. Direct primary care gives me the freedom to provide the time, care, and attention my patients and their employers deserve."
A longtime Finger Lakes resident, Matthew lives the active Finger Lakes lifestyle and cares for the community he is part of. You can read more about Homesteady Health or meet the care team.
"My initial visit with Matt was a dream. We spent over an hour talking, and by the end I had a clear plan on what to do next."
Francis T., member
Ready to give your team better care?
Book a free, no-pressure consultation and we will build a direct primary care plan around your team size and budget, a simpler and more affordable alternative to traditional health insurance.
Or call 607-882-6001
Good to know
Small business DPC questions, answered
Is direct primary care a replacement for health insurance?
No. Direct primary care replaces how your team gets everyday and preventive care, but it is not insurance. Membership works on its own, and it also pairs well with a high-deductible health plan or a health-sharing program if you want major events like a hospital stay or surgery covered too.
How much does direct primary care cost per employee?
Employers pay a predictable flat monthly fee per enrolled employee. The exact rate depends on your team size, and larger teams qualify for lower per-employee pricing. A short consultation gives you a clear number built around your headcount, with no claims or copays on top.
Do employees still need insurance?
Not to use the membership. Direct primary care covers everyday and preventive care directly, with no insurance required. Because it does not cover major medical costs like a hospital stay, some teams also keep or add an insurance or health-sharing plan for that side, and together the two often cost a small business less than a traditional group plan.
How is this different from a small-business group health plan?
A group plan routes care through premiums, deductibles, networks, and claims. Direct primary care removes that layer for primary care: employees get unlimited visits and direct access to their provider for a flat monthly fee, and you can pair it with a plan that handles the catastrophic side if you choose.
How many employees do we need to offer this?
There is no large minimum. Direct primary care works for very small teams and growing businesses alike, and per-employee pricing improves as your team grows. We will tailor a plan to whatever size you are today.
Where are you located, and who do you serve?
Homesteady Health is at 1859 Trumansburg Road, about 20 minutes from downtown Ithaca, serving Trumansburg, Ithaca, Lansing, Newfield, Enfield, Dryden, Groton, and the wider Finger Lakes.
How do we get started?
Book a free, no-pressure consultation or call 607-882-6001. We will talk through your team size and goals and build the right plan for your business. You can also contact us to set up your team.