Today we’d like to introduce you to Neer Patel
Hi Neer, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2015 I helped my wife, Dr. Katriny Ikbal, start her Direct Primary Care practice called DirectMed DPC in Austin TX after she came home from an exhausting urgent care shift completely defeated and told me she wanted to quit practicing medicine. We leased a small room and opened up shop with zero patients under an affordable membership model. Today we can proudly say that DirectMed DPC is one of the largest DPC practices that operates multiple offices across Central Texas with multiple physicians who all provide super affordable and high quality care to their patients. Dr. Ikbal and I feel extremely rewarded to have the opportunity to save patients and physicians from our nation’s broken healthcare system.
In 2020, Angel Saucedo and I teamed up together to create Virtuous Benefits which is an innovative health insurance agency that helps businesses of all sizes across the country disrupt the broken system by creating ACA compliant health insurance plans that are affordable, transparent and which provide the highest quality care to employees and their families while minimizing and nearly eliminating their out of pocket costs. The heart of our strategy is Direct Primary Care (DPC) which helps employees and their families get the best care they’ve ever had while steering unnecessary claims away from our health plans so that we can refund unused premiums back to our employer clients allowing them to reinvest into their health plan and improve it year over year for employees from both a cost and quality of care standpoint. Today Virtuous Benefits has grown to a full-service benefits agency serving employers of all sizes across the United States.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road—but looking back, every challenge was a stepping stone to where we are today.
When we started DirectMed DPC in 2015, we had zero patients, no marketing budget, and an uphill battle convincing people to pay for a membership-based primary care model they had never heard of. The first few years required persistence, education, and trust-building—not just with patients, but also with other physicians who were skeptical of stepping outside the traditional insurance-driven system. However, seeing firsthand how DPC transformed both Dr. Ikbal’s career satisfaction and our patients’ access to care reassured us that we were on the right path.
In 2020, we took on an even bigger challenge with Virtuous Benefits, tackling the deeply entrenched, broken health insurance industry. The biggest struggle? Employers were (and still are) conditioned to believe that the only way to provide health benefits is through traditional, expensive, and restrictive insurance networks. Helping them unlearn this and embrace a self-funded, open-access approach required—and still requires—relentless education and proof of concept. But as more businesses experience cost savings and better care, momentum is building.
Scaling both businesses hasn’t been easy, from managing rapid growth to ensuring we stay true to our mission. But the reward—helping patients, doctors, and businesses escape a system designed to work against them—makes every obstacle worth it. Today, both DirectMed DPC and Virtuous Benefits are thriving, and while the road ahead will surely have more challenges, we welcome them because we know the impact we’re making is life-changing.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
DirectMed DPC:
DirectMed DPC is a Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice that provides high-quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare without the restrictions of traditional insurance. We offer a flat, low-cost monthly membership that gives our patients unlimited access to their doctor—no copays, no deductibles, no surprise bills. Members get same-day or next-day appointments, direct access to their physician via call or text, extended visits, and deeply discounted labs, imaging, and medications.
We are known for putting patients first—our doctors focus on building real relationships instead of rushing through appointments dictated by insurance companies. Since opening in 2015 with zero patients, DirectMed DPC has grown into one of the largest DPC practices in Central Texas, operating multiple locations with multiple physicians.
What sets us apart? Our commitment to fixing what’s broken in healthcare. We give patients the time, attention, and care they deserve, while also helping physicians escape the burnout of insurance-based medicine. Brand-wise, we’re most proud of creating a model that proves healthcare doesn’t have to be expensive or frustrating—it can be simple, affordable, and life-changing.
For anyone frustrated with traditional healthcare, DirectMed DPC is the solution. We invite individuals, families, and employers to experience what primary care should be—focused on the patient, not paperwork.
Virtuous Benefits:
Virtuous Benefits is redefining health insurance for businesses of all sizes. We specialize in self-funded, open-access health plans that eliminate restrictive networks, lower costs year-over-year, and prioritize high-quality care for employees and their families.
Unlike traditional insurance plans that drive up costs and limit choices, our approach puts Direct Primary Care (DPC) at the heart of the strategy. By providing employees with direct, unlimited access to primary care doctors, we prevent unnecessary claims, control costs, and improve healthcare outcomes. The result? Employers save money, employees pay little to nothing out of pocket, and unused premiums are refunded back to the company.
What sets us apart? Transparency, cost control, and better care. We don’t just sell insurance—we build smarter health plans that fix what’s broken in the system. We’ve helped companies across the U.S. break free from overpriced, restrictive health insurance and adopt a model that benefits both the business and its employees.
Brand-wise, we’re most proud of leading a movement—giving businesses an alternative to the status quo and proving that high-quality healthcare doesn’t have to come with skyrocketing costs. If you’re a business owner tired of paying more and getting less, Virtuous Benefits offers a better way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Luck—both good and bad—has undoubtedly played a role in shaping the journey of DirectMed DPC and Virtuous Benefits over the last decade. However, I’ve learned that luck alone isn’t enough—it’s what you do with it that matters.
Bad Luck: Challenges That Became Opportunities
Burnout Led to a New Beginning – In 2015, when my wife, Dr. Katriny Ikbal, came home from an exhausting urgent care shift, completely defeated and ready to quit medicine, it felt like bad luck at the time. But that moment forced us to rethink everything, leading to the creation of DirectMed DPC, which has now grown into one of the largest DPC practices in Central Texas.
The Broken Healthcare System – The rising costs and bureaucracy in traditional insurance could be seen as bad luck, but instead of accepting it, we built Virtuous Benefits in 2020 to create better health plans that put employers and employees first. The system was broken, but that challenge gave us a unique opportunity to disrupt and improve it.
Good Luck: Right People, Right Timing
Early Adoption of DPC – Direct Primary Care was still relatively unknown in 2015. We were lucky to get in early, but we also had to fight to educate people about the model. Today, DPC is gaining mainstream attention, and we’re grateful to be part of its growth.
Finding the Right Partners – Meeting Angel Saucedo in 2020 was a stroke of good luck. We shared the same vision for fixing employer-sponsored healthcare, and together, we’ve built Virtuous Benefits into a national solution for businesses.
Employer Demand for Better Healthcare – As healthcare costs have skyrocketed, more businesses have actively sought alternatives like self-funded health plans and DPC. We were fortunate to be positioned at the right time to offer a solution that actually works.
The Takeaway: Luck + Action = Success
Luck, both good and bad, has shaped my journey. But more than luck, taking action, adapting to challenges, and surrounding myself with the right people has been the key to success.
If I relied on luck alone, neither DirectMed DPC nor Virtuous Benefits would be where they are today. The real magic happens when you recognize an opportunity—whether disguised as good luck or bad luck—and take decisive action.
Pricing:
- DPC memberships alone generally cost ~$100/month for adults and ~$50/month for kids
- VBDPC healthCARE insurance plans generally cost 30-50% less than traditional network based health plans with DPC included
Contact Info:
- Website: www.directmed.care // www.virtuousbenefits.care
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/directmeddpc // www.instagram.com/neerp_vbdpc
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/directmeddpc // www.facebook.com/virtuousbenefits
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/directmeddpc // https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtuousbenefits
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DlRECTMED
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPxZx61_5ITxbbt2m677gAQ // https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6wck37ymmmKo9C2cwivBtg
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/directmed-dpc-lakeway-bee-cave // https://www.yelp.com/biz/virtuous-benefits-austin
- Other: https://bit.ly/vbdpcemployerhealthplan
