Open Enrollment Is Your Time to Shine

Open enrollment is more than just another busy season. For Direct Primary Care (DPC) practices, it’s a golden opportunity to grow your patient base and build connections with employers. During this short window, people are actively looking for better healthcare options—making it the perfect time to show why your practice is the smarter, more personalized choice.

That said, standing out isn’t always easy. With traditional insurance companies flooding the market with flashy ads and complicated plans, how do you cut through the noise? You need to educate people about what DPC offers, show employers how it can benefit their teams, and keep your operations running smoothly to handle the extra demand. It’s a lot to manage, but it’s also an incredible chance to make a lasting impact.

In this guide, we’ll share five actionable strategies to help you maximize open enrollment. These tips will help you connect with the right patients, appeal to employers, and set your practice up for success—without feeling overwhelmed.

Strategy 1: Educate Your Audience on DPC Benefits

The first step to maximizing open enrollment is ensuring your audience understands what makes Direct Primary Care unique. Many people still don’t know how DPC works or how it’s different from traditional insurance. This is your chance to tell a clear, compelling story about why your practice is the better choice.

Patients want healthcare to feel simple and stress-free. Highlight how DPC offers a straightforward, hassle-free experience. Compare it to traditional insurance by emphasizing key benefits like no hidden fees or copays, unlimited access to their doctor, and affordable monthly fees that feel like a gym membership. Help patients picture a life where managing their healthcare is as easy as sending a text to their doctor. 

Employers care about keeping costs predictable while supporting their employees’ health. Explain how DPC reduces healthcare expenses with fixed pricing, improves employee satisfaction with quality care, and boosts productivity by reducing sick days and other disruptions. Sharing success stories from other businesses can help employers see the real-world benefits DPC can provide to their teams. 

Sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Use infographics, charts, or videos to explain how DPC works. Make your content easy to share so your audience can spread the word for you.

Educating your audience is the foundation for open enrollment success. The clearer your message, the more likely patients and employers will see the value in what you offer.

Strategy 2: Partner with DPC-Friendly Health Plans and Networks

You don’t have to go it alone during open enrollment. Partnering with health plans and networks that support Direct Primary Care can make a big impact. The right partners can help you reach more patients, connect with employers, and grow your practice faster.

When you align with DPC-friendly plans, you build credibility and open the door to opportunities inaccessible on your own. These partnerships make it easier to reach employers who might not be familiar with DPC. Plus, they provide the tools and resources to help you stand out in a crowded market.

Hint Connect is one example of a network that bridges the gap between DPC practices and employers. It’s especially useful for businesses with employees in multiple locations. By joining a network like this, you can attract employers who want to simplify healthcare for their teams. For more details, check out Hint’s case study: Bridging the DPC-Employer Gap.

Decent is a health plan designed specifically with DPC in mind. Unlike traditional insurance, Decent works to support the DPC model by focusing on affordability, accessibility, and personalized care. Decent plans are built to align with how DPC practices operate, making it easy for employers to offer DPC as part of their benefits package. This allows your practice to serve more patients without the usual administrative headaches that come with insurance. Decent also advocates for DPC practices by helping employers see the long-term value of this model, including healthier employees and reduced costs.

Hint is proud to partner with Decent for all 2025 Hint Employee Health Plans. This collaboration allows us to support the health and well-being of our team and their families through Decent's DPC-friendly plans. Throughout the year, we'll share our experiences with Decent to offer insights into how this partnership supports our commitment to Direct Primary Care. 

Partnering with organizations like Hint and Decent can help your practice unlock its full potential. During open enrollment, these connections can make all the difference in reaching new patients and employers.

Strategy 3: Tailor Your Marketing for Open Enrollment

Open enrollment is your chance to show patients and employers what makes your DPC practice unique, but a one-size-fits-all approach won’t cut it. To stand out, you need marketing that speaks directly to each audience—patients and employers—on the platforms they use and in ways they understand.

Patients want to feel a personal connection to their healthcare choices. Use social media to highlight real-life examples of how your practice has improved lives. Create posts or videos showing how you’ve helped patients save money while receiving better care. Share testimonials from happy patients who love having direct access to their doctor. Simple, relatable language will make DPC approachable and easy to understand for new audiences. 

Employers need to see the numbers. Show them how DPC can save their business money while keeping employees healthier. Create employer-focused content, like white papers, case studies, or presentations that explain the return on investment. Highlight how DPC can reduce healthcare costs, improve employee satisfaction, and boost retention. Showing specific results–like healthier employees and fewer sick days–helps employers see the practical value DPC can bring to their teams. 

Reaching the right audience at the right time is key. Use LinkedIn to connect with employers and share professional, data-driven content. Attend or host local events to engage directly with potential patients and share the benefits of DPC. Additionally, networks like Hint Connect can help make your practice appealing to employers with multi-location teams by simplifying access to DPC services across regions. 

Tailoring your marketing to fit the needs of patients and employers will make your message more effective and help you stand out during this busy season. With the right strategy, open enrollment can be your practice’s biggest opportunity for growth.

Strategy 4: Streamline Your Onboarding Process

A smooth onboarding process can make or break a new patient or employer’s experience with your practice. Open enrollment is a busy time, and the easier you make it for people to sign up, the more likely they are to choose your DPC practice. A seamless onboarding experience shows professionalism, builds trust, and sets the tone for a strong relationship.

Automation saves time and ensures nothing falls through the cracks during open enrollment. Set up an online system that allows patients to complete forms and schedule their first appointments easily. Automated email follow-ups can confirm sign-ups, provide next steps, and answer common questions. These tools create a smooth experience for both your patients and your team.

Clear, easy-to-access resources can make new patients and employers feel confident about joining your practice. Welcome kits are a great way to introduce people to how your practice works, what’s included in their membership, and how to get started. Including a simple FAQ document helps address common concerns upfront, reducing the number of questions your team needs to handle.

Even with automation and great materials, a personal touch matters. Assign a team member to be the go-to contact for onboarding-related questions or concerns. This role helps resolve issues quickly and leaves a positive impression on new patients and employers.

Platforms like Hint’s practice management resources simplify the enrollment process for everyone. These tools save time, reduce errors, and keep your operations running smoothly.

A well-thought-out onboarding process not only makes open enrollment more manageable but also helps turn new sign-ups into loyal members. It’s not just about efficiency—it’s about making a great first impression that builds lasting relationships.

Strategy 5: Use Data to Demonstrate DPC’s Value

Sometimes, numbers speak louder than words. During open enrollment, data can be one of your best tools to show patients and employers why your DPC practice is worth it. Clear, compelling data helps people see the real impact of DPC—on their health, their budget, and their overall experience.

Patients want proof that DPC works for them. Highlight data points that demonstrate better health outcomes and savings: high patient satisfaction scores, fewer ER visits, and improved chronic disease management. Show how DPC saves patients money with lower out-of pocket costs compared to traditional insurance. These numbers build confidence that choosing DPC is a smart, affordable choice for their healthcare. 

Employers need to see how DPC benefits their business. Share case studies or examples that illustrate lower healthcare costs, improved employee satisfaction, and increased retention. Highlight how fewer sick days and better productivity have helped other businesses thrive. Tailored, data-driven stories can help employers understand the financial and cultural value of offering DPC to their teams.

Overwhelming people with too much information can backfire. Use simple visuals like charts, infographics, or one-page summaries to make your data more accessible. These tools make it easier for patients and employers to understand and share your insights.

Platforms like Hint and Decent provide resources to help you collect, organize, and present data effectively. By partnering with these organizations, you can create professional, persuasive materials that showcase the true value of your practice.

Using data effectively during open enrollment isn’t just about sharing numbers—it’s about telling a story that shows the real-world impact of DPC. That story can inspire both patients and employers to join your practice.

Actionable Next Steps for DPC Practices

Open enrollment is your time to shine, but success requires preparation. Start by educating your audience about the unique benefits of DPC. Partner with health plans and networks that align with your goals. Tailor your marketing to connect with patients and employers, streamline your onboarding process, and use data to tell a compelling story about your practice’s value.

Ready to take the next step? Hint and Decent both offer tools and resources to help you attract patients and employers while simplifying your operations. Visit Hint’s resource hub or contact Decent to learn more and set your practice up for open enrollment success.