What is concierge medicine?

What does it mean? How is it different? How do you know it's right for you?

What is concierge medicine?

The first concierge medicine practice was started in Seattle in 1996. The model has only been around 25 years, so it's not surprising that many people still have questions about concierge medicine.

As a leading concierge medicine practice since 2003, we've been answering these questions from patients for years. And we're more than happy to answer them for you, too. Questions like:

What is concierge medicine?
How is it different than traditional primary care?
How is it better than traditional primary care?
How much does it cost?
Am I a good fit?

And probably many more.

Keep reading below to find all the answers, or download a free copy of our Understanding Concierge Medicine Guide to read on your own time.

No time to read this right now? Download the PDF.

The first concierge medicine practice was started in Seattle in 1996. The model has only been around 25 years, so it's not surprising that many people still have questions about concierge medicine.

As a leading concierge medicine practice since 2003, we've been answering these questions from patients for years. And we're more than happy to answer them for you, too. Questions like:

What is concierge medicine?
How is it different than traditional primary care?
How is it better than traditional primary care?
How much does it cost?
Am I a good fit?

And probably many more.

Keep reading below to find all the answers, or download a free copy of our Understanding Concierge Medicine Guide to read on your own time.

Understanding Concierge Medicine: Table of Contents

So what exactly is concierge medicine?

What is typically in a concierge medicine membership?

What are the pros and cons of concierge medicine?

What is the cost of concierge medicine?

How does insurance work with concierge medicine?

What's the difference between traditional primary care and concierge medicine?

Why do people switch to concierge medicine?

How does PartnerMD do concierge medicine?

What is the PartnerMD approach?

What is concierge medicine?

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So, what exactly is concierge medicine?

Concierge medicine is a relationship between a patient and a primary care physician in which the patient pays a fee, often referred to as a membership fee.

At its heart, concierge medicine is about building a personal relationship between physician and patient.

The membership fee allows doctors to drastically shrink their panel size, usually from 2,300+ patients to somewhere between 400-600 patients.

Concierge medicine goes by many other names, including retainer medicine, membership medicine, subscription-based medicine, and boutique medicine, among others. Hybrid models exist as well.

The most important thing to keep in mind as you evaluate different options is that not all concierge practices are the same. Terms, costs, and benefits vary widely.

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What is typically included in a concierge medicine membership?

What's included in a concierge medicine membership varies from practice to practice. Generally, you'll see some form of these three features:

1. Enhanced access to a primary care physician.

Includes features like longer appointments, same-day or next-day acute care visits, little to no waiting in the office, and 24/7 access to care.
The most standard form of concierge medicine.

2. Advanced Physicals

In addition to primary care, some concierge medicine practices also offer an advanced physical.
Advanced physicals go beyond what insurance typically covers and could last anywhere from 90 minutes to a full, 8-hour day.

3. Wellness

Compared to primary care and advanced physicals, wellness services are much less frequent in concierge medicine.
Wellness could mean a lot of things. It's quite abstract. It could be anything from a doctor who focuses on wellness as a concept to relationships with third-party wellness resources to on-site health coaches and dedicated wellness programs.
At PartnerMD, we’ve made wellness services and access to health coaches a standard part of our membership since our founding.

“PartnerMD allows me to take a more integrative approach to patient care. More time with the patient means we can focus on diet, exercise, and gut health. A 15-minute appointment just doesn’t allow for deep conversation into the “Hows & Whys” of a recommended treatment, let alone to follow up, see what’s working, and make adjustments.”

—Dr. Rob Norris, PartnerMD Sandy Springs

What are the pros and cons of concierge medicine?

The Pros

A relationship with a doctor who truly knows you and your goals.

Peace of mind from knowing you'll get the care you need, when you need it.

Convenience from handling the simple matters the way you prefer, whether that's over the phone, via telehealth, or electronically.

A quarterback for your care, streamlining conversations among your various doctors and specialists. Oh, and handling scheduling for your specialist appointments.

The Cons

Membership fees can be prohibitive for some. No way around that.

Not a solution for all out-of-pocket costs. Expect to have the same out-of-pocket expenses for specialist consultations, prescriptions, and hospital visits that you would expect with a traditional primary care doctor.

While most concierge practices do accept many of the major insurance plans (for treatment, not the medicine fee), there are some practices that accept fewer carriers than a traditional primary care practice. Many practices do not work with Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare. We recommend checking with each practice if you are under one of those plans.

While concierge medicine is gaining popularity, there’s still a chance, depending on where you live, that your nearby options are limited.

How much does concierge medicine cost?

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What is the cost of concierge medicine?

Since its launch in 1996, the cost of concierge medicine has come down significantly. Yes, you will continue to hear about the outlier, like the so-called “elite” practice that costs $20,000 or more a year, but we tend to call that VIP medicine or luxury medicine. Most concierge practices cost considerably less.

As a leading concierge medicine practice, our research has shown that annual fees for concierge medicine membership now tend to fall between $2,000 and $5,000 per year.

At PartnerMD, our fees definitely fall in this range. We transparently provide our costs through our online cost calculator.

Get Your Instant Quote

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How does insurance work with concierge medicine?

Most concierge medicine practices work with health insurance the same way a traditional practice would. Here are a few things to know about insurance and concierge medicine.

Your membership fee does not replace your health insurance.
Your health insurance will be billed for medical care, including office visits, lab work, and tests.
You are responsible for co-pays/deductibles, but your health insurance will cover the costs of approved services/procedures, just as it would if you were seeing a traditional PCP.
Some concierge practices accept fewer carriers than a traditional practice, and some may not accept Medicare or Tricare.
If you're exploring a concierge medicine practice that does not accept insurance at all, it might be better described as direct primary care.

So be sure to double-check that a concierge office works with your specific carrier. See if they take government plans, like Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare, that you might use now or in the future.

You can check out a list of insurance plans we accept here.

What's the difference between traditional primary care and concierge medicine?

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Before we go any further, you’re probably wondering…ok, so what’s the difference from the traditional primary care that we all grew up with? And it’s a good question.

Nearly 20 years have passed since the first concierge medicine practices opened and it’s still not a well-known or understood concept in healthcare.

First, it’s important to understand the difference is not in the doctor. Primary care doctors, regardless of the type of practice, are typically family or internal medicine physicians and can be either medical doctors or doctors of osteopathy.

Within both traditional and concierge practices, you’ll find capable doctors who strive to provide the best possible care to their patients.

The big difference is the environment in which the primary care physician practice. See the chart below for a comparison of the big differences.

Patient Panel Size

2,000+

500-600

Patients Seen Per Day

20-35

6-10

Average Time With Each Patient

7-15 minutes

30 minutes

Schedules

Booked weeks in advance

Same-day or next-day appointments available

Availability

Weekdays during business hours, some after-hours call or answering service

Guaranteed access to care 24/7/365

“PartnerMD’s practice model gives physicians more time with their patients. This is so important to me because I went into family practice so I could treat my patients like family. And I never rush family.”

— Dr. Mark Petrizzi, PartnerMD Short Pump

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Why do people switch to concierge medicine?

Pretty much everyone who thinks about joining concierge care has something in common: They’re ready to ditch 7-minute medicine. The question is, why now? Why is now the time to make the jump?

Let’s look at the 5 top reasons for joining a concierge practice.

High achievers like concierge medicine. If you’re the type of informed consumer and health advocate who wants a proactive outlook, not a disaster relief mentality, from your physician, then you’re fitting in with many who choose concierge care.
Existing condition requires attentive care. If you have a condition that necessitates a doctor’s in-depth attention, then 7-minute medicine is likely driving you crazy, bankrupt, or both.
Medical scare. Plenty of people choosing concierge care came from a moment of reckoning. They have a jarring experience that makes them re-examine their decisions, including their physical wellness choice.
Done with the waiting. If you're tired of waiting days or weeks to get an appointment and then waiting again in the lobby or the exam room, then concierge medicine is a fit for you.
Peace of mind for themselves or their loved ones (or both). For many, the deeper relationship with a physician and the 24/7 access to care provides peace of mind. You know you, or your loved ones, will get the care they need, when they need it, whether it’s the middle of the day or the middle of the night.

What is the PartnerMD approach?

PartnerMD provides membership-based concierge medicine as an alternative to traditional healthcare, which meaningfully improves the lives of members through personalized medical care. Members are empowered to take their health into their own hands through education, accountability, and support.

Here’s How We Do Concierge Medicine:

Active listening. Your PartnerMD physician wants to hear what you have to say. He or she will listen, ask thoughtful questions, carefully observe, and listen some more.
Unrushed office visits. You and your doctor have plenty of time to talk, learn, and brainstorm. Appointments typically last 30 minutes and start on time. Same or next day appointments are always available for acute care.
Better access. You have 24/7 access to physician care via phone, including after-hours, on the weekends, and on holidays. It’s part of our pledge to provide the care you need, when you need it.
Advanced physicals that go above and beyond what insurance covers. You have access to the most customizable physicals on the market with advanced tests and screenings available to help identify where you are most vulnerable, hopefully before symptoms occur. With 3 options available, your annual physical becomes more than just a basic annual checkup. It becomes a roadmap for prevention, longevity, and peak performance.
Exclusive access to Wellness University and our certified health coaches. As a PartnerMD member, you have exclusive access to Wellness University, our members-only wellness platform featuring more than 70 courses on the four body systems (adrenal, cognitive, metabolic, and muscular) that are most associated with long-term positive health outcomes. You will work hand-in-hand with your physician and our team of certified health coaches to execute a plan to improve your health and your life.
Coordination of your specialist care. One pain point within traditional primary care is specialist care. You don’t know which specialists to go to, and it’s a chore to schedule an appointment with them. At PartnerMD, our team of referral coordinators manages this process for you. Your physician will make the referral to their recommended specialist. Our team will reach out and handle scheduling the appointment for you and then communicate your appointment date and time. And then after your specialist visits, we will make sure your records and information get returned to PartnerMD, so all of your health information is available in one place. We call it quarterbacking your care.
Special offers for additional family members, young adults, and children. We offer a reduced rate on annual membership rate for each additional adult (for example, you and your spouse), as well as for young adults (ages 22-25) and children (ages 6-21). In addition, we do not lock you into a contract. You can cancel at any time with 30 days written notice.

Explore Membership at PartnerMD

Ready to develop a true relationship with a PartnerMD physician?

Relationships begin with a conversation. We invite you to visit your local PartnerMD office for a tour, to meet your care team, and to have a conversation with one of our physicians. There’s no cost and no obligation for this visit, and it can be done either virtually or in person.

It’s simply an opportunity to see what we’re all about and what it feels like to have a personal physician who wants to get to know you, not just your symptoms.

Ready to develop a true relationship with a PartnerMD physician?

It’s simply an opportunity to see what we’re all about and what it feels like to have a personal physician who wants to get to know you, not just your symptoms.