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Many of us have experienced the frustration of trying to find a physician who\u2019s accepting new patients, waiting a long time to see a doctor, and rushed appointments. Enter concierge medicine.<\/p>\n
\u201cConcierge medicine is when people pay an annual membership fee for a more personalized approach to their health care,\u201d says Bret Jorgensen, CEO of MDVIP<\/a>, the largest network of concierge providers, with over 1,100 affiliated primary care physicians.<\/p>\n Given the rise in chronic diseases and the rapid growth in the older adult population, there\u2019s an increased need for healthcare services. As a result, the global concierge medicine market is booming, with North America leading the way.<\/a><\/p>\n While there is no national registry of physicians using a concierge model, one industry publication<\/a> estimates there are between 12,000 and 13,000 physicians in the U.S. offering a subscription-based medical program.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a drop in the bucket compared to the over 500,000 primary care physicians in the U.S.<\/a>, but the number of concierge physicians is growing at a rate of 3% to 5% annually.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cMost of our members are aged 50 to 80, and are more focused on their health trajectory,\u201d says Jorgensen. \u201cThey want to get a more personalized relationship with their doctor and delay or avoid chronic illnesses, or manage them better.\u201d<\/p>\n All of MDVIP\u2019s concierge physicians accept Medicare, and over half of its 400,000 members are on Medicare.\u00a0<\/p>\n The average cost of an annual concierge membership<\/a> ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 per year. This allows concierge doctors to serve a smaller number of patients<\/a>, generally ranging from 400 to 600, compared with 2,000-3,000 in a traditional primary care practice.<\/p>\n According to Jorgensen, the membership fee typically covers:<\/p>\n Some concierge medicine doctors also include these benefits as part of the membership fee:<\/p>\n Just like any medical provider, concierge doctors may or may not choose to accept insurance, including Medicare.<\/p>\n \u201cIf a concierge doctor accepts Medicare, then the doctor must accept the Medicare-approvedcharge for all covered services to Medicare patients,\u201d \u00a0says Diane Omdahl, author of Medicare for You<\/em> and cofounder of the Medicare advisory firm 65 Incorporated<\/a>. Medicare deductibles and co-pays will also apply.<\/p>\n Typical services covered under Medicare include blood tests associated with a diagnosis, MRIs and x-rays, and same-day surgery, says Omdahl.<\/p>\n \u201cMembership fees charged by concierge doctors are not covered by either Medicare or Medicare Advantage<\/a>,\u201d says Omdahl.<\/p>\n If the doctors have contracts with Medicare Advantage plans, services and payments are based on the plans\u2019 coverage criteria, deductibles, and co-pays, says Omdahl.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nConcierge medicine: A growing option for older patients<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How much does a concierge membership cost?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What services are included<\/strong> in a concierge membership?<\/h2>\n
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What Medicare covers<\/strong><\/h2>\n