Doctor's office switching to "concierge" (additional cost outside of insurance)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blame the insurance companies.

Or rather insurance CEOs who need another yacht.

Or rather government that won't regulate this abuse

Or rather Republicans who oppose single payer

Blame the venture capital vultures who buy up practices. THEY force the excess patient load and create a set of frazzled, overworked salaried providers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are they doing extra for $2200 a year if you still have to pay for appointments and your insurance is billed? That's what almost $200 a month, and for that I'd expect one charge appointment at least monthly.

Seeing far fewer patients and spending more time with them.

People seem to be misunderstanding the concept of what you are paying for. Any doctor’s office has to pay for the office space and the salaries & healthcare of all of their employees. They either rely on insurance payments and book 5 patients an hour, 8 hours a day. Or they go concierge and see 4-6 patients per day and spend 1 hour with them. I view paying for concierge more as insurance (easy access when I need it) than fee-for-service. YMMV

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised that you’re surprised by this. Over the past 5 years lots of PCPs have moved to a concierge model. My doctor explained that she would now be able to see 400 patients instead of the 2200 she was previously seeing. It’s up to you to decide whether the premium is worth it. My doctor still took my regular insurance so there were no surprises there.

I decided it wasn't worth it. I see several specialists for a complicated condition and a PCP doesn't add much value, especially for $2200. I'm not sure what they're going to do during the superduper annual check up. They certainly do not coordinate the specialists, and when I was diagnosed the PCP knew less about the condition than I did from Dr Google.

My suggestion would to find a PCP who uses the same portal as your specialist. Having them share records is the best care coordination for me.

2200 is dirt cheap to get (assuming you would) same day or next day care, extended time with doctor, and full annual more extensive visit.

Agree. My concierge practice charges 3200

Ha. 3200 happens to be right around the annual FSA limit. They just expect people to max out their FSA and hand it to them. Fat chance.

Does concierge fees qualify for FSA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised that you’re surprised by this. Over the past 5 years lots of PCPs have moved to a concierge model. My doctor explained that she would now be able to see 400 patients instead of the 2200 she was previously seeing. It’s up to you to decide whether the premium is worth it. My doctor still took my regular insurance so there were no surprises there.

I decided it wasn't worth it. I see several specialists for a complicated condition and a PCP doesn't add much value, especially for $2200. I'm not sure what they're going to do during the superduper annual check up. They certainly do not coordinate the specialists, and when I was diagnosed the PCP knew less about the condition than I did from Dr Google.

My suggestion would to find a PCP who uses the same portal as your specialist. Having them share records is the best care coordination for me.

2200 is dirt cheap to get (assuming you would) same day or next day care, extended time with doctor, and full annual more extensive visit.

Agree. My concierge practice charges 3200

Ha. 3200 happens to be right around the annual FSA limit. They just expect people to max out their FSA and hand it to them. Fat chance.

Does concierge fees qualify for FSA?

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doctors deserve to get paid. The end. If insurance won’t reimburse at rates that allow doctors to stay in business they have no choice but to do this. They could just start doing cosmetic stuff instead?

Doctors DO deserve to get paid. Maybe med school shouldn't cost so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of PCPs don’t know how to handle these increasing metabolic issues in patients. If you think a concierge doc will play the superhero, make a full stop and seek care somewhere else.

Seriously. I’m in complementary care and of late pretty much everyone I see has autoimmune and or metabolic issues that are not being fully addressed by any one doc. They are seeing multiple specialists and largely paying out of pocket (somehow). A concierge practice that will parse out all the testing and field questions is really helpful.

[Anonymous]

Our insurance companies are not looking out for anyone but their own bottom line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised that you’re surprised by this. Over the past 5 years lots of PCPs have moved to a concierge model. My doctor explained that she would now be able to see 400 patients instead of the 2200 she was previously seeing. It’s up to you to decide whether the premium is worth it. My doctor still took my regular insurance so there were no surprises there.

I decided it wasn't worth it. I see several specialists for a complicated condition and a PCP doesn't add much value, especially for $2200. I'm not sure what they're going to do during the superduper annual check up. They certainly do not coordinate the specialists, and when I was diagnosed the PCP knew less about the condition than I did from Dr Google.

My suggestion would to find a PCP who uses the same portal as your specialist. Having them share records is the best care coordination for me.

Where did you get the $2200?

The PP said her doctor is able to see "400 patients instead of the 2200 (patients)" now. No one said the annaul membership fee is $2200.

That's a typical cost for Concierge medicine. The fee allows them to spend extra time with their patients (having 5.5 times LESS patients) at each visit. Insurance does not pay for a 1 hour physical but that is what you get (I just got 75 mins for my physical). That fee is what allows the doctors to spend more than 10-15 mins at a regular appt and more than 30 at a physical. Not to mention being reachable via text/cellphone 24/7 (at least one doctor is always on call, might not be your own doctor at 7pm on a Sat, but you will reach one within the practice within 5 mins).

If you can afford it, it's very nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are they doing extra for $2200 a year if you still have to pay for appointments and your insurance is billed? That's what almost $200 a month, and for that I'd expect one charge appointment at least monthly.

Yeah, I don't understand this at all. I go to mt PCP once or twice a year. $1100/visit is outrageous.

You aren't like most posters here that need every question answered in 2 hours or their health anxiety spirals out of control into an ER visit.

I have real health issues, and I just use an online doctor service when I get really sick or my doctor or alternate is not available. The online is great as I don't have to go in when I'm sick. Got a little camera for my ears and nose off amazon.

Which one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I listened to a podcast where a doctor quit doing concierge medicine. She said she was mainly seeing the worried well, and because she wasn't seeing enough unusual cases, her skills were deteriorating. She also felt that patients treated her as an employee after paying a large annual fee.

+1 I trust that in a true emergency my doctor will recognize something wrong and refer me for immediate next steps. If I don’t hear back in a day it’s because I’ll be fine or whatever he/she told me the last time I brought it up still stands. Anxiety is the out loud part in all of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doctors deserve to get paid. The end. If insurance won’t reimburse at rates that allow doctors to stay in business they have no choice but to do this. They could just start doing cosmetic stuff instead?

Doctors DO deserve to get paid. Maybe med school shouldn't cost so much.

+1 Yes but new Range Rover second home private for four kids paid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are they doing extra for $2200 a year if you still have to pay for appointments and your insurance is billed? That's what almost $200 a month, and for that I'd expect one charge appointment at least monthly.

Seeing far fewer patients and spending more time with them.

People seem to be misunderstanding the concept of what you are paying for. Any doctor’s office has to pay for the office space and the salaries & healthcare of all of their employees. They either rely on insurance payments and book 5 patients an hour, 8 hours a day. Or they go concierge and see 4-6 patients per day and spend 1 hour with them. I view paying for concierge more as insurance (easy access when I need it) than fee-for-service. YMMV

+ 1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doctors deserve to get paid. The end. If insurance won’t reimburse at rates that allow doctors to stay in business they have no choice but to do this. They could just start doing cosmetic stuff instead?

Doctors DO deserve to get paid. Maybe med school shouldn't cost so much.

+1 Yes but new Range Rover second home private for four kids paid?

The average primary care doctor makes about $277,000 per year, before any money spent on overhead, CME, students loans, and the like. https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/how-much-do-doctors-make/

Are you saying that is too much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doctors deserve to get paid. The end. If insurance won’t reimburse at rates that allow doctors to stay in business they have no choice but to do this. They could just start doing cosmetic stuff instead?

Doctors DO deserve to get paid. Maybe med school shouldn't cost so much.

+1 Yes but new Range Rover second home private for four kids paid?

The average primary care doctor makes about $277,000 per year, before any money spent on overhead, CME, students loans, and the like. https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/how-much-do-doctors-make/

Are you saying that is too much?

don't forget 50% or more in taxes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doctors deserve to get paid. The end. If insurance won’t reimburse at rates that allow doctors to stay in business they have no choice but to do this. They could just start doing cosmetic stuff instead?

Doctors DO deserve to get paid. Maybe med school shouldn't cost so much.

+1 Yes but new Range Rover second home private for four kids paid?

The average primary care doctor makes about $277,000 per year, before any money spent on overhead, CME, students loans, and the like. https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/how-much-do-doctors-make/

Are you saying that is too much?

don't forget 50% or more in taxes!

Tell me you understand nothing about how taxes work without telling me ...