Patients seeking care from concierge practices pay a cash “retainer” for the care they receive.
This article goes over concierge medicine, how it works, and why it is becoming popular.
What Is Concierge Medicine?
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Concierge practices don’t accept health insurance.
The cost of billing insurance companies or Medicare to get reimbursed for services can be complex and time-consuming.
Some healthcare providers, especially in primary care, feel they can’t provide high-quality services under this model.
This model is similar to past models that existed before the advent of health insurance.
In some of those models, patients still require insurance or Medicare.
However, the concierge provider’s fees are all payable in cash.
How a healthcare provider gets paid does not speak to the quality of their abilities and services.
Do not choose a healthcare provider simply for access.
Concierge Doctor vs. Concierge practitioners have the same education, training, and licensing requirements as physicians in traditional practices do.
Many are primary healthcare providers who have chosen to downsize their practices.
This is especially important in a membership practice since you will pay in advance for the services you receive.
Patients generally do not have to pay co-pays or deductibles.
Some patients choose a higher-deductible plan to help cover these expenses.
People also choose concierge medicine because of the more personal service these healthcare providers can give you.
Drawbacks of Concierge Medicine
Concierge medicine is the subject of debate and criticism.
This throw in of healthcare provider doesn’t accept insurance and typically serves a much smaller number of patients.
This lets them provide more personalized individual service.
Concierge medicine has been criticized because the smaller patient groups and higher costs may limit access for some people.
Dalen JE, Alpert JS.Concierge medicine is here and growing!
!.Am J Med.
2017;32(4):387391. doi:10.1007/s11606-016-3946-1
