Concierge medicine is a relationship
between a patient and a primary
care physician
in which the patient pays an annual fee. This may (or may not) be in addition
to other charges. In exchange for the fee, doctors agree to provide enhanced
care including principally a commitment to limit patient loads to ensure
adequate time and availability for each patient.
While all concierge medicine practices share similarities, they vary widely in their structure, payment requirements, and form of operation. In particular, they differ in the level of service provided and the fee charged. U.S. doctor estimates practicing concierge medicine range from fewer than 800 to 5,000. If you’re considering signing up for this form of medical care, here’s what you need to know about concierge medicine:
And
get to know all about you. The
opportunity to build a relationship with a doctor is a top selling point. Your
annual physical may include preventive procedures that insurance plans are not
required to cover under the Affordable Care Act, such as an expanded blood
panel and screening for Alzheimer's disease. Concierge doctors are able to give
patients quicker diagnoses.
They can order
tests and read the results in a matter of days for a patient, then arrange then
arrange the needed procedures for a serious condition. The process would likely
have taken weeks at another practice—and left the patient anxiously waiting
results for much longer.
Check
your insurance. The relationship between health
coverage and concierge care varies from state to state and practice to
practice. Your health policy may cover procedures that the retainer doesn't
cover, such as laboratory tests and diagnostic screenings. You'll likely have
to pay out of pocket for the membership fee, although you may be able to use
funds from a flexible spending account (or health savings account) to pay it.
Find
the right doctor. Start with the American Academy of Private
Physicians, which offers a search tool to
locate concierge doctors by state. Or, search through a network of concierge
physicians, such as Medical
Doctor and Value in Prevention (MDVIP). Doctors affiliated with MDVIP
charge a membership fee of $1,500 to $1,800 per year and limit their practices
to no more than 600 patients. If you become ill while traveling, you may visit
the nearest MDVIP doctor.
Is
it worth it? If you’re exasperated with long
waits or if enhanced preventive screenings will help you sleep better,
concierge service may be for you. If, however, you already have strong
relationships with high-quality doctors, concierge service may not provide much
benefit. The Affordable Care Act will pull more patients into the health care
system, and may result in more-crowded waiting rooms. Such overcrowding is
unlikely in the affluent areas where concierge services operate.
Make
a house call. Before you write a check, visit the
doctor's office to see whether you like the practice. Ask how long appointments
are and what services are included. Because concierge physicians limit the
number of patients they see, you may end up on a waitlist for your doctor of
choice.
The
doctor will see you as soon as possible. A small but growing number of doctors are
using the concierge model to offer more-personalized care. Among the perks are
the ability to contact your physician at any time and to schedule same-day
appointments. In return for this enhanced service, patients pay an annual or
monthly fee, which often totals about $1,200 to $5,000 per year. Doctors who
practice in expensive areas tend to charge a high fee may also mean, which means
that they limit their practice to fewer patients.
“When doctors
talk about concierge medicine being “the oldest, new form of medicine,” they’re
not speaking figuratively—they are trying to reframe the identity of their
practice and an over-worked industry.” (Catherine Sykes) [i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“6
Things to Know About Concierge Medicine” By Lisa Gerstner
·
“Concierge
medicine” From Wikipedia
·
“Pros
and Cons of Concierge Medical Care” By
Tracy Anderman
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