Do you have more than one concierge doctor?

[badatmath]

I made some calls for a particular specialty doctor and found they seem to be going the way of the concierge PCP. . . I can't really imagine paying for 3x fees per year for say a pcp and a couple of more specialized options. I certainly can't afford it but . . . is this common?

 

[Sunset]

I don't have any concierges.

 

[planuntilthefisthits]

I have a friend who uses a concierge doctor. All I hear from him is complaints. Don’t know why he stays with the goy.

 

[Luvtoride]

I haven’t heard of it for other than PCP here in New Jersey. Some specialists can take weeks to get an appointment with (the good ones). Our concierge PCP also handles pediatrics and can get us into other specialists doctors much quicker if needed. We love our concierge PCP and it’s worth the cost that we and our daughter pays to have access to them.

 

[rk911]

I don't have any concierges.

Neither do we. We can usually score an appointment for our PCP witjin a week or two....faster if truly needed.

 

[braumeister]

I made some calls for a particular specialty doctor and found they seem to be going the way of the concierge PCP. . . I can't really imagine paying for 3x fees per year for say a pcp and a couple of more specialized options. I certainly can't afford it but . . . is this common?

Normally, a concierge physician is your PCP, and will refer you to a specialist when needed. I have never heard of a concierge specialist, so this is new to me, and I question whether such a referral would require a new concierge subscription. Are you sure that's how it works in your area?

 

[NW-Bound]

Only if there's a concierge doctor that accepts Medicare/Medigap.

 

[Just_Steve]

I have a friend who uses a concierge doctor. All I hear from him is complaints. Don’t know why he stays with the goy.

That could be the first problem.

 

[badatmath]

Normally, a concierge physician is your PCP, and will refer you to a specialist when needed. I have never heard of a concierge specialist, so this is new to me, and I question whether such a referral would require a new concierge subscription. Are you sure that's how it works in your area?

Not for all things but yes I'm hearing some specialists will not take you on unless you "join". I asked locals for good choice and that came up. This wasn't the specialty I was seeking but i see one for heart who says "offer concierge cardiovascular care for an additional membership fee". I even found a "mobile medical" that comes to you. . .

 

[elvis76]

I made some calls for a particular specialty doctor and found they seem to be going the way of the concierge PCP. . . I can't really imagine paying for 3x fees per year for say a pcp and a couple of more specialized options. I certainly can't afford it but . . . is this common?

Yeah having multiple concierge docs is kinda a rich-people hobby lol, most folks don’t do that. Usually it’s one concierge PCP for access and coordination, then normal specialists through insurance when needed. Paying 2 or 3 retainers a year sounds brutal and honestly unnecessary unless you’re using them constantly. Feels like some specialties are testing the waters with that model, but it’s far from standard. I’d stick to one, or none, and just be picky about referrals instead of stacking subscriptions.

 

[pb4uski]

We don't but DD has one for her family.

 

[FlaMariner]

Not understanding the value proposition of a "concierge".....

Went to see our APRN who is our general practice for annual checkup.....I've got to see a couple of folks ...... she sent in the referrals ..... first up was a neurologist and I set appointment for next week....2nd up is for another CT scan and the hospital called to set up that one for basically whenever I wanted....Got script refills....good to go.

Even though we are in a very rural area (no MD lives in the county), the great state of Florida has excellent medical care nearby.....(Mayo Clinic and UF Health Gainesville are 90 minutes away).

What is different if I had a "concierge"?

 

[MC Rider]

What is different if I had a "concierge"?

You pay more I suppose. I am fine with my HMO and PCP, no need for a concierge.

 

[tutan]

Supposedly certain concierge PCPs have some special relationship with specialists and can get you in sooner like how CLEAR boosts you to the front of the TSA queue. I guess that may be worth a few thousand bucks a year for some patients.

 

[badatmath]

Not understanding the value proposition of a "concierge".....

Went to see our APRN who is our general practice for annual checkup.....I've got to see a couple of folks ...... she sent in the referrals ..... first up was a neurologist and I set appointment for next week....2nd up is for another CT scan and the hospital called to set up that one for basically whenever I wanted....Got script refills....good to go.

Even though we are in a very rural area (no MD lives in the county), the great state of Florida has excellent medical care nearby.....(Mayo Clinic and UF Health Gainesville are 90 minutes away).

What is different if I had a "concierge"?

Well I don't have one but waits for PCP are around 2 months and specialists I've tried at 6-8 months out. One that replied better to portal messages would be a real plus.

 

[erkevin]

Up until 10 months ago, I didn't have any doctor (except for urologist).

 

[mcso]

I haven’t heard of it for other than PCP here in New Jersey. Some specialists can take weeks to get an appointment with (the good ones). Our concierge PCP also handles pediatrics and can get us into other specialists doctors much quicker if needed. We love our concierge PCP and it’s worth the cost that we and our daughter pays to have access to them.

Weeks?! I needed to see a neurologist and waited 7 months in Michigan and I have blue cross/blue shield (which is good insurance here). I was put on cancellation list and ended up only waiting 3 months. When the scheduler said 7 months I replied "I'll be dead in 7 months!" They offered the cancellation list.

 

[Broland]

Our PP offered a concierge service this year for the first time. It's not cheap ($7k for the 2 of us) but the personal touch he gives us is immeasurable. If you really like your PP and trust him/her, I would highly recommend it.

 

[OmegaDog]

Only if there's a concierge doctor that accepts Medicare/Medigap.

From the MDVIP website:
"MDVIP works alongside your existing insurance or Medicare coverage. Routine care, specialist visits, and hospital services remain covered and billed through your insurance as usual."

 

[Luvtoride]

We are leaving for a 2 week trip to Europe tomorrow. I was coughing during the night last night and my wife (a nurse) said I should get checked out at our PCP (concierge) doctor (who accepts Medicare and our Emblem Health 2nd insurance ). I went on the chat function at 8:30AM and got an appointment for 1:30 PM today. They did a strep test (negative )and examination and I’m fine.
He prescribed a z-pack and steroids to take with me just in case anything symptoms develops.
Picked up the scripts at CVS and I’m all set for my trip.
The best decision we ever made to enroll with this practice when they first opened. We got in at a bargain rate which is grandfathered in vs what they are charging new patients.

 

[Box of Rain]

I don't have experience as a physician or patient with concierge medicine. But as a mostly-retired specialist physician, I can see the idea of a concierge specialist. Many Primary care providers refuse to manage chronic conditions for their patients, even if those conditions are actually very, very common in their patient populations (i.e., they should have, and probably did learn all they need to know about managing those conditions in their training). For example, (not my fields, but just an example), high blood pressure, or managing cholesterol, etc. So, then patients HAVE to see a specialist and continue seeing that specialist for years and years with lots of on-going refills needed, chats by portal messages, acute phone calls when sick, etc. I had thousands of patients who I followed over many years who did not really ever need to see me, even for their first visit, let alone their 12th or 20th or 50th. Any willing, and basically competent PCP could have taken care of them. So, if the PCPs (and the patients to some extent -- some just want to be managed by a specialist no matter what) force this patient volume on specialists, then I can totally understand the idea of some specialists adopting the concierge model.

What I do now after retiring last year is working 4 days a month seeing only NEW patients and then I pass them to other specialists in our group for follow up. MOST of them do not need to be seen by a specialist at all because their problem is basic and any PCP should be able to manage it, but the PCPs do not even try to help these patients. The issue is so disturbing to me that it is a major source of dissatisfaction with my work, and even though I don't otherwise mind the 4 days of work and 26 days of "vacation" each month, I am going to quit this part time thing soon. I feel like I am helping perpetuate a stupid system of duplication, high costs, unnecessary layers of care, etc. I feel like being part of something that is stupid makes me stupid. The only thing that keeps me going is that I get a free Wall Street Journal subscription out of this deal because the university associated with my work has a library subscription that is extended for free to all of the "professors".

 

[hesperus]

I made some calls for a particular specialty doctor and found they seem to be going the way of the concierge PCP. . . I can't really imagine paying for 3x fees per year for say a pcp and a couple of more specialized options. I certainly can't afford it but . . . is this common?

nah having multiple concierge docs isn’t really common, that gets expensive fast… most people who go that route just pick one PCP for access and coordination, then use regular specialists through insurance, paying concierge fees for several doctors is more of a high income niche thing, not typical at all, your reaction is pretty normal