Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

Uncommon Benefits: Direct Primary Care

More than 60% of rental dealers provide some kind of benefit to their employees – but what sort of benefits do RTO companies offer beyond the basics of PTO, and health, dental, or vision insurance?

We asked APRO members, What non-traditional benefits does your organization offer employees to stand out from competitors? And we received some awesome answers!

Katie Marie Meyer is glad to be able to offer DPC as part of Central Rent 2 Own’s complete benefits package.

One of our favorite responses came from Katie Marie Meyer of Idaho-based Central Rent 2 Own, who provides a benefit called Direct Primary Care (DPC). DPC is a medical benefit that works like a gym membership, and just like a gym, the monthly fee is the same no matter how often you go. The employer pays $60 a month per employee (depending upon age), which provides employees with access to a licensed doctor – typically a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, who considers the body holistically.

Because DPC is a bona fide health benefit and not insurance, it doesn’t affect other insurance or Medicaid. Employees don’t pay co-pays, are incentivized to get issues addressed promptly, and build a relationship with a dedicated primary care physician who comes from the local community and is available to them via text and after hours. They also receive access to wellness services – like strep testing and women’s health – as well as a pharmacy.

“Dr. Josh gives personalized care, he doesn’t make you wait for hours in a waiting room, and he offers telehealth easily,” says Meyer. “He knows all about the work at our company and takes care of our drivers especially well.”

Josh Wright enjoys the relationship he’s built with his DPC provider.

“Dr. Josh has a true compassion for people, adds manager Josh Wright. “He actually cares about his clients, and that is hard to find.”

DPC also benefits employers. For example, the Department of Transportation screening is covered under the monthly fee, saving the company valuable resources. And if an employee quits, then the business simply pays out the rest of the month and is done.

There are some critical facts to know as you consider a DPC benefit for your company. For instance, critical care and emergency room services may not be included. The cost of the service increases with employee age, e.g., you might pay $60/month for staff ages 20-39, but $85/month for staff ages 40-59. DPC can also serve as a supplement for rental dealers who already offer insurance and want to switch to a higher deductible plan paired with DPC for convenience and higher quality of care.

Central Rent 2 Own’s Angel Duncan discovered the benefits of DPC after she and her son went swimming with sharks and manta rays while on vacation; when they got home, her son had a mysterious infection under the skin on his toe.

“It was a Sunday night, and urgent care was 1.5-hour wait, so while we were waiting, I called Dr. Josh, even though my son wasn’t on my membership,” says Duncan. “Dr. Josh responded within 15 minutes, asked for a photo to see what was happening, and came up with a plan of action – including ordering antibiotics from an open pharmacy. And he was out of town on his own vacation!”

If you want to learn more about DPC or locate a program near you, please contact Katie Marie at katiemariem@centralrent2own.com.

APRO wants to share other exceptional examples of unique benefits helping keep your team members engaged and happy! Please send info about your uncommon benefits to info@rtohq.org by October 15, 2023.

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Mike Lewis

Mike Lewis is a Premier Rental Purchase franchisee with multiple stores and currently serves as Vice President of Operations. With 33 years of experience in the rent-to-own industry, he has spent the past 20 years working closely with franchisee owners and previously spent 12 years in Corporate RTO, gaining a strong foundation in the business.

For the past five years, Mike has been sharing his knowledge by teaching managers and franchisees at the company’s Training Center.

Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life – especially riding his Harley Davidson with the sun on his face. If you know, you know!

Lauren Talicska

Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials

Lauren Talicska is an experienced multi-channel marketing specialist and the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arona Home Essentials. She has found her home in the RTO community, supporting stores in branding, growth, and increasing traffic.

You may recognize Lauren as a former RTO vendor, including her time as a partner for Nationwide RentDirect, or her previous participation in the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. Lauren calls Columbus, Ohio, home and spends her workday crafting and executing marketing promotions from inception to realization, all while supporting the branding and social media needs of all the Arona stores in 12 states (plus Puerto Rico!).

Charles Smitherman

APRO

Charles Smitherman, JD, PhD, CAE, became CEO of APRO in 2023, bringing years of legal and executive experience in the rent-to-own industry. 

Prior to joining the association, Charles served as COO, General Counsel, and Vice President of PTS Financial Services, where he played an active role in the rent-to-own industry by representing his company through PTS’s club program offering with APRO member dealers. Charles is an attorney with two decades of experience across a wide variety of areas, including RTO, consumer financial services, antitrust, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, franchise law, and privacy law. Following law school at the University of Georgia, Charles earned a Master of Legal Studies and PhD in Law from the University of Oxford in England.

Charles is credentialed as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives, a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) with the International Franchise Association, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. As APRO’s sixth CEO in its 45-year history, he brings a collaborative, member-focused approach to association leadership, emphasizing transparency, advocacy, and value creation. Outside of work, Charles is an active ultra runner and open water swimmer.

Mike Kays

Ashley Furniture Industries

As VP of Rental Sales for Ashley Furniture Industries, Mike thrives on building relationships with our RTO industry veterans, and helping businesses grow through new product, new marketing, and new supply chain options.

Mike works to leverage a wide breadth of relationships and influence, intimate knowledge of market trends, and unique knowledge of what RTO dealers need from a supplier to be successful.

The saying goes that a high tide raises all boats, and our goal is to leverage the world’s largest furniture manufacturer to drive the continued growth of the RTO industry and all the suppliers.

Mike Tissot

Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own

Mike grew up in the rent-to-own industry under the guidance of his father, former APRO President and RTO legend Darrell Tissot. For nearly 25 years, Mike’s innovative leadership has helped expand the family business to more than 40 stores across Ohio and Kentucky while also shaping the industry as a whole.

He has served as President of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association, an APRO board member and Treasurer, and President and Treasurer of the TRIB Group. His contributions have earned him the APRO President’s Award of Excellence and the title of APRO Rental Dealer of the Year.

Outside of RTO, Mike enjoys time at the lake house or in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his girlfriend, Angela Strong McCool. A passionate Cincinnati Reds fan, he rarely misses a game, whether watching or listening alongside his parents. He also takes every opportunity to visit Arizona, where his daughter is currently attending Arizona State University.