Concierge Healthcare: Personalized, Proactive, and Prioritized Care

First, what is Concierge Care, otherwise known as concierge medicine, and how is it different from a traditional insurance-based model of care delivery?

At its core, concierge care is a healthcare delivery model where the patients pay an extra fee or retainer to the provider or clinic in exchange for enhanced access and personalized services. It represents a shift from conventional insurance based model, to one that is much more highly personalized and proactive in its approach to patient care. The concierge model emphasizes building a strong doctor-patient relationship, ensuring ample time for consultations, and developing a deeper understanding of individual health needs.

The concierge approach is made possible due to the much smaller patient load that each provider must carry in order for the clinic to remain financially solvent. In a traditional insurance-based model, a provider might have a panel of 1500 to 3000 thousand patients that would be cared for on a rotational basis throughout the year, with clinic income based solely on patient insurance claims/payments. As we know, given that insurance often will either outright deny payment or pay as little as possible to the provider for a rendered service (appointment or procedure), in order for a clinic to be profitable in this insurance model, the provider must see many more patients during a typical work day than in a concierge practice. In my own career I've seen providers routinely see up to even 30 patients in a day. As one can imagine, this translates into high stress and ever dwindling returns for all involved: the patient feels unheard and rushed, the provider feels overwhelmed with stress and feelings of uncertainty that their patients are not receiving the safe, high quality care they deserve, and the practice may suffer reputation harm for this cycle of high-volume, low-quality care. 

In a concierge model, this patient panel number is dramatically reduced, often to just 200-300 hundred membered patients per provider. While the patient must cover the cost of an extra membership fee, this fee allows the provider to offer their patients extended appointment times, no rushed care, direct access via phone or email, minimal wait times, and expedited scheduling. The outcome goal can then be better realized: a happier and healthier patient and a much better healthcare experience for all.

The core principle of concierge healthcare is prioritizing the patient through offering increased medical service access. Like an insurance-based model, this care access includes all preventative and wellness visits, but in much greater detail, as the provider is able to focus on a smaller, more exclusive group of membered patients. It is a system that addresses immediate health concerns while also allowing for the necessary time to attend to the patient’s more complex long-term wellness needs.

To be clear, this extra fee mentioned above is not covered by Medicare or any other private insurance. It is seen as a membership fee that is separate from insurance and which must be paid directly by the patient. Many concierge practices require it to be paid annually, with typical monthly membership rates ranging anywhere from $220 to $1000 per month. At Highland Healthcare, this fee is paid quarterly and ranges from $100 to $200 per month, depending on your preferred membership level.  Remember, the concierge member must have and maintain either Medicare or another private insurance. This insurance will cover all non-member care including the labs, medications, image orders, referrals, and even hospital visits that the patient might need.