Concierge medicine is a health care model that is committed to patient-centred care. Concierge medicine is a membership-based model wherein patients pay a direct fee to their concierge doctor for enhanced access and a defined set of personalized services, often alongside their existing insurance for other medical needs.
Having a concierge medicine membership entails 24/7 access to your doctor’s personal line, same-day appointments, extended consultation times, and more.
One of the many good things about concierge medicine is that doctors only have a limited number of patients that they see in a day or week, which gives them enough time to spend with each of their patients.
Another benefit of this model is that patients have an option to pay their membership fees monthly, quarterly, or annually – which provide predictable costs for the included primary care services, a different approach compared to the traditional fee-for-service model
While the model feels like a return to the era of 'house calls,' the 2025 version is powered by 21st-century science. It combines the deep, personal trust of a small-town doctor with the data-driven precision of a modern longevity lab.
Concierge medicine is, at its most basic, a return to the age when doctors made house calls and were paid directly by the patients they treated. - Paul Sisson, UT San Diego
The interaction was simple, straightforward, and highly personalized – not to mention, these doctor-patient relationships transcended generations and were as tight-knit as could be.
We have seen America’s health care industry take a turn for the worst within the past few decades. The takeover of third parties, such as insurance companies and corporate hospitals, has created a complicated web of a system that is detriment to doctor, patient, and the fundamental relationship between the two.
This insurance-based, fee-for-service health care system requires patients to spend more and more each year for amenities that don’t even have their health and well-being as the top priority.
That’s faster than the rate of inflation and average wages. Pretty alarming, don’t you think? Family care physicians definitely believe it’s a cause for concern.
That being said, America’s health care industry is undergoing an evolution of sorts as we speak. As patients are made to bear heavier financial responsibility, it naturally follows that they will also demand the quality of patient centered care that is equivalent to what they are paying for.
This demand has not been met for a long time and it seems that the current health care system is looking a little worse for wear. Family care physicians are unhappy with not being able to provide their patients with the attention and care they deserve. Hence, the development of a health care model that is focused on patient-centred care called concierge medicine.
Originally regarded as a hefty health care system that’s exclusive to the rich and famous, concierge medicine has transformed over the years to offer various levels of service, some of which are accessible to a broader range of American citizens.
Concierge medicine is now widely available and more affordable than its earliest iterations, featuring a more direct doctor-patient relationship, premium patient-centred care, and a simple, straightforward system that streamlines access to the physician for services covered by the membership fee.
While this new and improved model initially began with primary care specialties (i.e., internal medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, concierge family medicine, and direct primary care or DPC), it has since branched out to include specialties such as dentistry, general surgery, gynecology, cardiology, and oncology, to name a few.
The global concierge medicine market is estimated to exceed $21 billion in 2025, with continued growth projected through the early 2030s. Pricing has become increasingly tiered as the model matures.
In the U.S., concierge primary care fees typically fall into these ranges:
Basic concierge care: $150–$300 per month
Mid-tier plans: $300–$600 per month
Executive or longevity-focused plans: $600–$1,500+ per month
Higher-tier memberships may include advanced preventive testing, extended annual health evaluations, wellness planning, and enhanced care coordination. Insurance is usually billed separately for services not included in the membership agreement.
In this blog, we will cover all the important questions about concierge medicine – what it can offer, how it takes care of patients like you better, what is the difference between concierge medicine and direct primary care, and how much it will cost to avail of the health care you deserve (hint: it’s not as outrageous as you think!).
If you would like to know how concierge medicine works and how it differs from the traditional insurance-based healthcare system, here is some key information to keep in mind:
| Feature | Direct Primary Care (DPC) | Concierge Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | No insurance billing; all-inclusive fee. | Retainer fee + Insurance billing for clinical visits. |
| Monthly Cost | Typically $50 – $150. | Typically $150 – $800+ (Tiered). |
| Panel Size | 400 – 800 patients. | 100 – 600 patients (smaller is common). |
| Best For | Predictable, affordable primary care. | Premium access, longevity, and specialty coordination. |
A common myth about DPC and concierge medicine is that the former is an inferior version of the latter. Although it is true that the DPC practice is more affordable by nature, there are deeper differentiating factors between the two than just price points.
According to Concierge Medicine Today, “What distinguishes DPC and concierge medicine from each other is not price alone, but demography, insurance participation of the concierge doctor, billing methods, and the number of services offered within the subscription.”
First and foremost, the membership fee transactions are limited between concierge doctor and patient, which can reduce some administrative burdens compared to purely insurance-based models. However, if a concierge practice also bills insurance for certain services, they will still have administrative processes for that.
You’ll be surprised how simple, affordable, and stress-free direct patient care is once you take some of the middlemen out of the equation for the services covered by the direct fee.
With concierge doctors, long-term health management and patient relationships are superior in any given situation. Concierge Medicine Today puts the advocacy of concierge doctors into words so perfectly:
Premium patient-centred care, for one? This new breed of concierge doctors is reminiscent of the ones our grandparents have come to know and trust.
Here are key definitions you should keep in mind if you’re considering making the switch:
Physicians and patients alike are switching to the concierge medicine practice and its time you hear what they have to say about it.
This new and improved health care model is motivated by patient dissatisfaction over America’s failing health care system and it’s the solution this industry needs.
Who knew the bulk of the solution was simply all about allowing more time spent between doctor and patient?
While offerings vary by practice, concierge memberships commonly include:
Comprehensive annual exams
Same-day or extended visits
Preventive screenings and wellness planning
Chronic condition management
Care coordination with specialists
Telehealth and secure messaging
Services outside the membership, such as hospital care, imaging, or specialist procedures, are typically billed through insurance.
Primary care physicians, first and foremost, want an ongoing relationship with their patients and concierge medicine is able to provide exactly that. - Gary LeRoy, President of the American Academy of Family Physicians
Happier doctors equal satisfied patients. When doctors are able to sit down and spend time with their patients, it restores the layer of trust between doctor and patient.
There are a few concierge medicine benefits that help you to choose Concierge Medicine over traditional insurance-based health care.
What we found was that the value was in being able to reach the doctor any time for any reason and that he always had time for them. If anything, the greatest endeavor concierge medicine can achieve is to restore the level of health care our grandparents were accustomed to, says - Sean Dougherty, a 52-year-old public relations executive from New York City
Physicians and patients alike are switching to the concierge medicine practice and its time you hear what they have to say about it.
This new and improved health care model is motivated by patient dissatisfaction over America’s failing health care system.
It is a transforming solution that this industry needs. Who knew the bulk of the solution was simply all about allowing more time spent between doctor and patient?
The most important benefit [of concierge medicine] for the patient is that their concierge doctor is far more accessible. The office visits last much longer – in fact, as long as the patient needs. -Jim Williams, MD, a concierge doctor in the primary care practice
Modern concierge medicine has evolved beyond 24/7 phone calls. Today’s top practices focus on Healthspan—not just how long you live, but how well you live.
This is what FindMyDirectDoctor.com stands for. Our life’s work is to improve the health and well-being of patients like you by doing well on two very important things:
Join the movement for improved patient-centred care and see a concierge doctor in your area today. Find your nearest concierge doctor at – findmydirectdoctor.com
