Traditional fee-for-service (FFS) medical practices typically give doctors an average of 7 minutes of face-to-face appointments with their patients because of the amount of administrative work required by the insurance companies. In many cases, this short amount of time is not nearly enough for a careful and well-thought-out visit.
On the other hand, concierge medical practices are not burdened with tedious administrative work as they have minimal interactions with insurance companies. Therefore, doctors in a concierge practice can allow as much time as patients need for a high-quality consult, which can translate into a highly personalized brand of medicine.
Despite its high price, this vast difference in quality drives a concierge practice in droves. So, if you’re considering signing up for a concierge practice, we’ve rounded up a couple of common mistakes to avoid:
The clamor for concierge medicine is at a fever pitch these days as more and more people realize that access to their physicians is one of the critical elements of maintaining good health. However, like with most agreements, a concierge medicine membership contract is not a document that you should sign haphazardly.
The concierge medicine format is a relatively new concept for most Americans. Therefore, some aspects of it might be quite surprising, especially for patients coming from traditional medical institutions. So, if you’re considering a shift into a concierge membership, don’t take anyone’s word for it. There may be some inclusions in your contract that other concierge practices aren’t offering and vice versa.
Lab work, for example, may be offered by default by one concierge practice and not by another concierge practice. Due diligence can go a long way in helping you get a grasp of exactly what you’re getting with the fees you’re paying for.
If the concierge practice allows, you may even negotiate add-ons to your contract.
While the quality of service is usually the primary reason members sign up for concierge medicine, some people also consider whether memberships can be used in clinics or with doctors from other locations. This is an incredibly enticing feature for people who often find themselves traveling across the country.
While you can probably expect the same quality of service, having a checkup at a concierge doctor from a location other than the one you typically visit may feel slightly different.
Concierge practices, even those part of the same medical group, might not have precisely the same facilities, making some lab tests and medical procedures unavailable. Furthermore, physician specialization might also be different from your home clinic so that you can expect a slight difference in service.
Many primary care doctors who convert their traditional FFS practices into a concierge practice have been able to convince a lot of their patients to sign up for their service because of the relationship they’ve already built. However, it would be unrealistic to expect the same doctor to handle your cases, especially during unforeseen emergencies.
You might sometimes have to see other physicians that are members of the same practice. However, you can expect to have access to a specific physician as long as they’re available and you go through the proper established channels to set up an appointment.
Admittedly, the financial cost of signing up for a concierge practice may be higher than other traditional options, especially when compared to FFS models. However, some ways can help bring the price gap a bit closer. One of the main ones is through insurance.
While the monthly membership fees are not typically covered by medical insurance plans, lab work, medicine, and some medical procedures may be covered. Know how to use HSA for concierge medicine. Luckily, most concierge practices have skilled office administrators who look for areas where insurance can be used. This should significantly reduce the overall cost of high-quality and personalized healthcare that only concierge medicine can provide.
In a way, concierge physicians will be the gatekeeper to your health. They’ll be the first ones to know whether you’re at risk for an illness. This type of relationship requires a lot of trust on your end as you’ll be putting quite a lot of your health outcomes in your concierge physician’s hands.
On the other side, your concierge doctors need to trust you to give them the complete picture when it comes to your health. Having accurate information at all times is key to your physician’s ability to give you the best recommendations.
So, you must assess whether your concierge physician or the other physicians within the practice’s roster can be trusted entirely with your health. Gender, diversity, and other personal considerations you might have that can affect your level of trust with your physician should all be settled before you even sign a membership contract.
There are plenty of benefits of concierge medicine driving people to consider shifting to a concierge doctor these days. However, it’s still important to fully understand the agreement you’ll sign up for. So make a comprehensive list of concierge medicine pros and cons so that you can evaluate the merits of this health model from your perspective.
There are still some considerations that you need to consider to help you get the most value out of your concierge medicine contract. Whether it’s the roster of physicians, the types of services and inclusions, or other important considerations, you can pick and choose which practices have everything you want.
Here’s to hoping you find the perfect concierge practice for your needs! Enjoy the best that healthcare has to offer, and find a concierge doctor in your area.
