What is a Concierge Doctor?
No one wants to sit in a crowded waiting room waiting to see the doctor. It’s loud. The wait times are long. And there’s the risk of catching a nasty bug from one of the other patients.
There is an alternative. Concierge doctors were once the preserve of the wealthy. However, in recent years, the cost of concierge medicine has become much more affordable, opening its availability to a broader swathe of people. Indeed, as the prices have lowered, many people are now opting for a concierge doctor.
This article will explain what a concierge doctor is, how concierge medicine works, and why you should consider it as a healthcare option.
What is a concierge doctor?
A concierge doctor provides medical services to patients in exchange for an upfront fee. This can be a monthly retainer or an annual charge. Concierge doctors are also known as direct primary care (DPC) or personalized medical service providers. There is no difference in the treatment you receive from a concierge doctor.
Costs for concierge doctors can vary widely, depending on the services you expect. For example, annual fees can range from $1,500 a year for basic care up to $20,000 a year for specialized services.
What is concierge medicine?
Concierge medicine is an alternative healthcare system to the insurance-based model. Similar to the legal system, you “hire” a physician or group directly through the retainer fee. For patients (or small businesses) battling rising healthcare costs, concierge medicine is a more cost-effective alternative that cuts out the middleman.
Even better, patients can pay a single flat fee for services and see the doctor whenever it’s needed. No complex insurance documents. No confusing premiums. Under some concierge services, you can also see a specialist. Your primary doctor will merely refer you to a specialist who is part of their service – for no additional charge.
The key benefit is the flat fee. It gains you access to every physician within a concierge practice. So, you don’t need to pay for every consultation. For small businesses or the self-employed, it’s often a more financially sensible option.
Who are concierge doctors?
Concierge doctors often form a private practice to limit their patient numbers. They may also want to minimize the volume of paperwork common with insurance payouts, preferring to focus on you, the patient. For example, the average doctor is estimated to see between 3,000 to 4,000 patients a year. In contrast, a concierge doctor may see only 100 to 1,000 patients annually.
So, more time to focus on your care.
Concierge doctors receive the same training and licensing to practice medicine despite the financial differences. They earn a four-year undergraduate degree, complete four years of medical school, followed by three to eight years of internships and residencies. Concierge doctors are often equivalent to general practitioners. Although, they can possess additional certifications to provide a more comprehensive medical service.
What happens when you see a concierge doctor?
Concierge doctors, as mentioned, function like general practitioners. In general, you’ll receive all the same services you can expect from a conventional insurance plan, such as:
Blood test
Lab work
Annual physicals
Preventative screenings
You can also receive consultations from your concierge doctor over the phone, via text message, or video chat. The aim is to save you any unnecessary visits and provide the most efficient medical service possible. Indeed, the primary difference between concierge doctors and traditional physicians is the wait times – they’re much shorter!
In fact, they’re so efficient and effective some people even consider adding a concierge physician onto their existing health care plan. It is a particularly good option if you have a high deductible for a chronic condition requiring frequent doctor visits
What are the benefits of seeing a concierge doctor?
You might be able to guess some of the benefits already. As we’ve discussed, concierge doctors are a suitable option when frequent visits are needed. After all, you’d likely be spending a lot more money through a regular insurance plan.
For those who can afford the retainer, there are several other benefits, including:
Unlimited access to your physician
If you need to see a doctor, you shouldn’t be concerned about deductibles or insurance premiums. With concierge medicine, you don’t have to. Under the flat fee, patients are covered for unlimited office visits. Or you can organize a video chat or phone call to discuss a condition when appropriate.
Just think – access to medicine whenever you need it. Considering many insurance plans don’t even offer virtual visits, it’s a level of convenience unparalleled elsewhere.
Short wait times
With a greater choice between in-person and virtual visits, wait times are also reduced. Your concierge doctor doesn’t see thousands of different patients. So, they’re ready to fit you in, as and when you need it. Meaning same-day appointments or quick email or text replies are the norm, not the exception.
Develop a personal connection
Wouldn’t we all rather see the same doctor every time? Isn’t it better for a single physician to follow and manage our condition? Yes, and yes! Not only can you develop a personal rapport with your physician, but you can also expect another level of personalized care. After all, that’s why many concierge doctors opt to go for this model anyway – they want to spend more time with fewer patients. So, you can avoid mistakes or confusion about your care. And you’re more comfortable opening up to your physician about your condition (particularly when it’s psychiatric or sexual in nature).
Disadvantages of concierge medicine
Nothing is perfect. The most obvious downside of concierge medicine is access to services outside your retainer fee – for example, in emergency situations. You’ll need to budget and save for such occasions. Balancing these costs is important when deciding if the convenience of concierge care is worth the potential medical debt.
Furthermore, access to specialty services can be limited under some schemes.
Nevertheless, concierge medicine is an efficient and cost-effective solution to the stress and confusion of insurance-based medicine. Be sure to consider all your options and circumstances when deciding if this model is suitable for you.