The concierge medicine model for healthcare started way back in 1996. As of 2023, its market size was valued at $19.12 million and is growing with a CAGR of 6.7%. Its prevalence in today’s healthcare world is more than apparent.
As a highly appealing model for executives and busy patients, the success of concierge medicine has many reasons. No wait times, extended visits with higher dedication, and 24/7 access to care are just some of the benefits it has over traditional primary care.
In this article, we will tell you all you need to know about concierge medicine, including its purpose, advantages, and how it compares to other healthcare models. Let’s get started.
What is concierge medicine?
Concierge medicine is a private healthcare model that is like retainer medicine where patients pay a certain annual fee or subscription fee to be able to receive better quality care.
With this model, concierge doctors usually have a smaller load of patients, which gives them the space to hold longer and more comprehensive appointments. Patients have 24/7 access to care and don’t need to wait in long lines to see their doctors.
The main purpose of concierge medicine and concierge doctors is to give patients the ability to achieve better health results through more proactive care.
Since coverage of concierge medicine is not as widespread as primary care, researching how to find a concierge doctor in your area can be a smart decision.
Each practice has its own specialization, but usually, this model is great for those with chronic illnesses, busy schedules, and the need for timely access to care.
Benefits of concierge doctors
The reasons behind huge retainer and subscription fees for concierge doctors are many. While insurance will not cover these fees and may only cover other medical expenses partially, concierge practices are still worth your consideration.
Let’s talk about the 3 main benefits you stand to gain from switching to a concierge doctor.
24/7 and immediate access to care
Usually, concierge medical practices are available 24/7 in case you need them. Getting appointments is easier due to the lighter patient load concierge doctors have. Plus, your visit won’t be rushed, and you’ll get a higher quality of care than elsewhere.
Most of the time, you’ll be able to get a same-day or next-day appointment. In case you’re having an emergency, you won’t have to worry about long wait times in the ER.
Proactive and tailor-made health plans
Concierge doctors don’t use a one-size-fits-all medicine model to deliver your care. Instead, every little aspect of your well-being journey is personalized to your exact needs and situation.
Preventive care is yet another huge advantage with concierge doctors. Instead of being reactive and trying to fix symptoms whenever there’s something wrong, they take proactive measures to ensure the longevity of your well-being.
If a patient is looking for a doctor who will look at the bigger picture of their health and the sources of their issues, concierge doctors are the key.
Holistic wellness approach
Lastly, we’d like to highlight the comprehensive range of services that concierge doctors offer. This allows them to address your immediate health concerns and care about your well-being over the longer term.
To get more specific, these are the 3 key features you should consider:
- Yearly physicals with in-depth examinations ranging from blood tests to lifestyle choice assessments.
- Overall wellness programs that tackle your nutrition, fitness, and stress management issues.
- Managing chronic diseases that need constant attention and care, ultimately aiming to improve your quality of life.
These advantages are only the tip of the iceberg when we put concierge doctors and primary care under the microscope. However, looking at the other side of the coin is also important.
Disadvantages of concierge doctors
Since we want to give you the full story, let us also tell you a bit about the drawbacks you may get from switching to the concierge model.
Budget-related issues are one part of the picture, but the rest might make you want to use both concierge and primary care models – each for a different purpose.
Price
Retainer fees for concierge doctors usually range from $1,200 upwards to tens of thousands. However, this is only a fee to be able to keep your doctors on standby if anything were to happen.
Other medical costs are not included in the retainer fee. So, you’ll have to pay additionally for specialist visits, hospitalizations, and more.
Insurance coverage
Concierge doctors usually work as private healthcare providers, so insurance usually won’t cover their retainer fees. However, other specific procedures and visits may still be covered by insurance.
As a result, some patients choose to keep both their concierge doctor subscription and their primary care that is covered by insurance. This is not an efficient model, but it’s a way to keep costs down with insurance.
Potential for over-treatment
Last but not least, we consider the potential for over-treatment a disadvantage with concierge medicine. While being preventive and personalized is a benefit with concierge doctors, this may lead to unnecessary tests and procedures.
This holistic approach to your well-being requires frequent check-ups that may be redundant. Nobody likes the anxiety of waiting for test results even if they are routine. Nevertheless, concierge doctors say it’s better to be safe than to be sorry.
Conclusion
To wrap it all up, let us remind you that concierge medicine is an attractive healthcare model for many patient groups who value more personalized care.
With countless benefits and advantages over other healthcare models, more and more people are making the choice to switch. Nevertheless, there are drawbacks in terms of cost and insurance.
For those who value this personalized and preventive approach to medicine, the investment in their health is worthwhile.
