Concierge Medicine

Concierge medicine is a membership-based healthcare model where patients pay an annual or monthly fee for enhanced access to their primary care physician. Benefits typically include longer appointments (30-60 min vs 15 min), same-day or next-day scheduling, direct physician access via phone/text/email, comprehensive annual physicals, and a smaller patient panel allowing more personalized care.

Concierge medicine ranges from $199/year for virtual-first services to $20,000+ for luxury executive programs. Most mid-range concierge practices charge $2,000-5,000 per year. Direct Primary Care (DPC) practices typically cost $50-200/month. The fee covers enhanced access and preventive services;lab tests and specialists may cost extra.

The membership fee itself is typically not covered by insurance since it's considered a retainer for access. However, many concierge practices still bill insurance for specific services like office visits, labs, and procedures. Some practices are entirely fee-based and don't bill insurance at all (Direct Primary Care model).

Yes. Concierge medicine covers primary care access but not hospitalizations, specialists, surgeries, or emergency care. You still need health insurance for major medical expenses. Many people pair concierge medicine with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) and HSA for cost-effective coverage.

Both are membership models, but concierge practices typically bill insurance for services on top of membership fees, while DPC practices charge only the membership fee and don't bill insurance at all. DPC is usually more affordable ($50-200/month) and simpler. Concierge practices often offer more comprehensive executive-level services.

Concierge physicians typically have 300-600 patients compared to 2,000-3,000 for traditional primary care doctors. This smaller panel size allows for longer appointments, same-day availability, and more personalized care. Some luxury practices have even smaller panels of 50-100 patients per physician.

It depends on how the practice structures fees. Membership fees for access alone are generally not HSA/FSA eligible. However, if the fee covers specific medical services (like annual physicals, labs, or procedures), those portions may qualify. Some DPC practices structure their fees to be HSA-eligible. Check with your plan administrator.

Executive physicals are comprehensive health assessments lasting 2-4 hours or even full days. They typically include extensive lab panels (50-100+ biomarkers), advanced imaging (CT scans, MRIs), cardiac stress tests, cancer screenings, cognitive assessments, and detailed physician consultations. Prices range from $2,000-10,000+. Many concierge practices include or offer these.

Value depends on your situation. It's often worth it for:busy professionals who value time and convenience, people with chronic conditions requiring frequent physician contact, those focused on preventive care and optimization, and anyone frustrated with 10-minute rushed appointments. Calculate the time saved and peace of mind versus the annual cost.

Yes, many concierge practices now offer telehealth options. Some services like Forward and Amazon One Medical are primarily virtual with optional in-person visits. Traditional concierge practices often include video visits and phone consultations as part of their membership. Telehealth-first options tend to be more affordable.