Do you participate in MDVIP or another "concierge" type Medical Plan?

[Anonymous]

Just reading about it in this month's Washingtonian.

Sounds wonderful! I checked the website and it's about $1600/year for the MDs in Maryland.

Is it really as good as they make it sound? For $150 a month, I'd be willing to pay for a better doctor experience.

[Anonymous]

Nobody?

[Anonymous]

I just had my second child with a certified professional midwife, and in many ways this was concierge pregnancy care at its finest. All my appointments were at my house and all prenatal testing, with the exception of ultrasound, was done in my living room: hemoglobin, gestational diabetes, GBS culture, nonstress test and (obviously) the regular heartrate checks. I never had to cool my heels in a waiting room or lab, and I got to eat jellybeans instead of that nasty glucola for the GD test. When I wasn't sure if my water was slowly leaking or if my bladder had just finally given up, she was at my house within 20 minutes to check things out.

She called me with test results as soon as she got them. If I had a question, she returned my calls within minutes and my e-mails the same day. Rescheduling an appointment was never a problem. During labor, she was by my side the whole time, providing whatever physical and emotional support I needed (or didn't even know I needed) -- I never had to share her with another patient down the hall.

Best of all, because I have a PPO, 80% of her costs were picked up by my insurer.

[Anonymous]

Sounds wonderful! Did you use a midwife for your first also?

[Anonymous]

NP Here.

That sounds really interesting OP. Whats the website?

[Anonymous]

I don't use a concierge plan, but my internist doesn't take insurance so I have to pay out-of-pocket and get whatever piddly reimbursement BCBS deems to give me (which is almost nothing because BCBS's "allowable" reimbursement amounts are ridiculously low for internists and OB/gyns.) As I don't have any chronic conditions and don't get sick very often, I only see my internist every few years. Last time I went, it was about $500 out of pocket (most of if for labs). For me this works out to be a better deal than a concierge plan, as I get most of the perks of a concierge medical service (little wait time, long visits with detailed discussions, quick and reliable service from the assistant (such as faxing documents, submission of bills to my insurance company, etc.), short waits to get appointments, and quick call backs from my doctor) but I don't have to pay the added concierge fee. I don't get guaranteed evening/weekend access or freedom to email her, although I think that if I had a serious condition that needed to be monitored she would do one of those.

[Anonymous]

My parents participate in MDVIP. They are pretty happy with the care. Their primary Doctor makes himself readily available and has many contacts. My parents are not wealthy so for them the 3000k a year is a lot of $$.

My DH and I see a Doctor that doesn't participate with insurance. We pay upfront and then submit to our insurance. Insurance pays a lower % but does pay a portion. Our Doctor is very knowledgable, has great contacts and has great follow-up. It is definitely more expensive than going in plan. Not sure how it adds up compared to the MDVIP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP Here.

That sounds really interesting OP. Whats the website?

www.mdvip.com

If you have access to The Washingtonian magazine, check out the article!