I don’t want to derail the statin thread. My PCP is joining the MDVIP program. He is retirement age but loves his job just doesn’t love the paperwork/insurance. Being part of a concierge plan will allow him to go from 1000 patients to 300.
At first I figured I’d just have to find a new doc. It isn’t cheap to join the program. But I had my physical and learned some more about the extra, expanded physical and testing that is included in the program and how he would have more time to work with me on preventative things like monitoring my LDL levels, and some other issues I have.
I don’t have any chronic conditions, but I am at the age where things start to crop up and I would like to be pro-active about my health. He has been my PCP for 20 years and I like his bedside manner and philosophy.
But at the same time, it’s a lot of money. Roughly what our family YMCA membership is, and my two kids are not out of the nest so I could drop that and use that savings.
What do you do when you need to see a specialist, or get admitted to the hospital…or NEED to go to the ER? You will still need some kind of coverage for those situations. The concierge service isn’t going to help at all in that situation.
I will say…I DO like the idea of having sufficient time with a doctor. And I understand why some are sick of dealing with the managed part of health care including billable hours.
My close g/f went VIP. She didn’t charge me the VIP rate at first, but now charges me 1/2price, as she does all her other friends. Honestly, I wouldn’t have sought out this service for many more years. Many of the established doctors in my area have gone VIP.
In 2016, I had a suspicious looking spot. She saw me first thing Monday Am, then had me see the surgeon at 7:00 PM. I had surgery the next day. The office manager noted that this is what VIP service means.
My only issue would be that the doctor is of retirement age. To be honest, it puts off finding a physician when this doctor does retire.
But a good doctor is hard to find. And finding someone who’s accepting new patients… it’s such a pain. And then other than the yearly physical, you see the NP or PA anyways.
@thumper1 the VIP does not replace insurance. You still see all the specialists you need/want to. Of course the marketing material does tout how they have relationships with Johns Hopkins and Cleveland Clinic etc and if you are on vacation and get sick, your doc can refer you to a VIP doc so you don’t have to find a walk0in clinic etc.
@deb922 ironically, my PCP does not have a PA or NP. When I see him, I see only him. Plus he doesn’t have long wait times etc - all those are selling points of the VIP program I have thought about your comment that he is at retirement age. But maybe it would be worth it to join for a year, get all the executive style type physical tests and learn as much as I can, and then think about finding a new doctor if the VIP plan doesn’t seem to warrant its cost.
My plain old PCP doesn’t have a PA or NP. She has a medical assistant who enters data at the start of each visit…but the doc sees the patients herself…each time. Just a regular doc.
@surfcity the VIP doc thing sounds terrific. If it’s affordable to you, try it…and see. It’s not a forever thing.
How much will this service cost you?
What does the service NOT include? Specifically, in terms of lab, radiology, pharmacy, etc.
My thoughts are:
if you are relatively healthy, do you really need lengthy visits with a primary care manager?
If you have serious health issues, you are seeing a specialist for those issues already, so what would the Concierge service add to the care you need?
If you have a good urgent care clinic in your area, what would the concierge do that the urgent care clinic could not?
Exactly how would referrals work with a concierge service?
I’m just throwing those thoughts out there as food for thought.
If you have the money to do it, would use it enough to get a good return on your investment, and don’t have medical problems that require specialist care that a concierge could not provide, then try it out.
My husband’s excellent primary care physician, with whom he has been for over two decades, joined MDVIP several years ago. H joined up because at the time my husband was dealing with a newly diagnosed serious health condition for which this physician had really extended himself to get H excellent treatment. We did not want to “change horses in midstream” so figured we would be on MDVIP until H’s health was stable, and then find another doc. Well, we never changed doctors – simply are too happy with this doc and the care and attention he gives, and decided it was worth paying for. (We pay something over $1,400/year for MDVIP; certain annual testing is included in that price.)
A year or two after H’s primary switched to MDVIP, my own primary announced that she also would be joining that program. I am not exaggerating when I say that this primary doc of mine saved my life twice – and the second time a highly aggressive but non-symptomatic cancer was caught purely by her diligence and persistence in investigating thoroughly and involving three other physicians in what I thought was a minor concern. That cancer was caught early enough to make a major difference in my prognosis. No way did I want to leave her. As the MasterCard commercial used to say, “Priceless.”
So now we pay MDVIP x 2, but have no regrets (are fortunate to have “buffer room” in our personal finances).
It seems that the highly regarded physicians in our area are often drawn into MDVIP. It allows them to practice the way they want to, giving good time and attention to each patient. So beyond losing your own primary if your doc joins and you don’t, you might find your selection of alternative physicians less than ideal.
I do feel uncomfortable knowing that I am benefiting from “premium” medical care while some who need such care just as much can’t afford that luxury. So I have some guilt re that.
There are so many issues and challenges with the provision of medical care, and the financing of it.
But for now, H and I are doing what we decided is best for us.
P.S. Yes, H and I both see specialists for certain conditions. I don’t see how that is a drawback to enrolling in MDVIP. My primary makes sure I get in quickly to see whatever specialist she thinks I should. She will also go “the extra mile” to make sure I get the care I need. She keeps an “eagle eye” on what is going on with me and I am convinced has my best interests at heart. The cost of the specialists is not affected by MDVIP. H and I are both currently on Medicare with a supplement.
@thumper1 , this info on cost is from the MDVIP website:
“The annual fee for MDVIP-affiliated practices ranges between $1,650 and $2,200. It varies based on locale. Patients can typically pay the fee quarterly, semi-annually and annually. You can find a physician’s fee on their page. Go to Find a Physician to see the fee for individual practices.”
I thought I had a bargain at “something over $1,400/year,” but then I checked my primary doc’s MDVIP profile and saw that her current membership rate for patients is $1,650/year. Guess I had her initial rate, from a few years ago, in my mind. (H and I are in suburban Philadelphia, PA.)
$1400/yr/patient is an affordable price for some of us. There is an internist in HNL who is MDVIP. Quite a few of her patients opted to pay for concierge service and she dropped those who wouldn’t pay the extra semi-annual charge (she split the charge into 2 payments rather than one).
The people who stayed with her said they did it because she’s a good MD, thorough and it took a long time for them to find her. They say she gave them thorough physicals and is accessible to them. She asked some MD specialists to give private workshops to her patients—at least the one allergist I’m close to was annoyed and declined to give up get already overscheduled time to do so.
So far, my MDs are not offering concierge prices or service. Nonetheless I DO get amazing service from my MDs. I have the personal cell numbers of 2 of my lung MDs and my internist. I also have email access to my internist and 3 lung specialists.
When I was having a lot of infections and a lot of questions as to why and what was going on with my health, one of my lung docs had me fly to Denver for 10 days where I had multiple tests and saw a series of specialists to get comprehensive answers which could not have easily been duplicated in such s condensed time frame. My lung specialist in Denver, who has been treating me for over 16 years was the one to get this all done and has always treated me like I imagine a concierge patient would be treated like (or better). He is NOT a concierge MD and I just paid my regular copay for the visits with each of the specialists, all of whom were in network with my BCBS.
I’m not sure at this point what a concierge MD would add for me. I do have a serious health condition but it has been mostly stable since it was diagnosed 18 years ago. If the concierge MD could explain what s/he would add and it is something I felt I’d worth the extra charge, I’d seriously consider it.
I don’t pay extra for the specialists or the hospital or labs, just the internist/endocrinologist. Because of her contacts, I get appointments quicker.
My H says he would pay extra if his internist became concierge. I probably would as well, since we have so few internists in our state accepting new patients and even fewer that are exceptional, as mine is.
My PCP went to concierge a couple years ago. $1500/year. With all my medical issues and the lack of communication between specialists, we considered it essential. My PCP is friends with my current cardiologist and had no trouble picking up the phone, calling the cardio, and giving him what-for (politely, but forcefully) about tests that the cardiology office had not forwarded as requested months previously. Dr. P has my back.
I an seriously considering this. $120 a month. Anything will be better than the revolving door of pcp docs at my clinic that seems to be ongoing on ever since the awful brain tumor took away my wonderful Dr. J. May he RIP.
What do your doctors do for their patients who couldn’t afford to pay for premium health care? Do they really offer two levels of care based on a patient’s ability to pay? I expect that philosophy from insurance companies, but I’d hoped doctors had a higher standard.
I believe the patients who don’t want to pay are told to find a new doctor and it is suggested their insurer bay gave names and phone numbers of MDs who are in their plan. At least that’s what my friends were told would happen if they weren’t among the first 500 or so to sign up and pay for concierge with their MD who became MDVIP concierge MD. The concierge docs want and only accept a smaller # of patients than their original practice anyway.
There isn’t any other tier—just all concierge for the docs who convert. If (when) it makes the load on the other providers in the area or state heavier, that’s not really something that I’ve heard addressed. I’ve heard it said that some of the MDs who choose concierge might otherwise retire altogether and thus is a way for them continue practicing and spending more time with patients with less bureaucracy. If those concierge docs were to retire instead, that would create a heavier burden on the remaining providers.
There already are tiers of medicine in the US. Some folks get most of all of their care at urgent care, ERs, and/or community health centers. Some have access to excellent care because they have the resources to get it, wherever in the nation it may be. Many get what their insurance (often provided by insurer) will allow—HMO or PPO or other.
The doctors and other healthcare providers I know are very frustrated with all the paperwork and bureaucracy involved with insurance, Medicare, Medicaid. It impairs the practice of medicine in many ways and requires a lot of staff time and effort.
Just because a tiered system exists doesn’t make it right. Everyone should have access to high quality medical care. I’ve known my primary physician for many years. She and her partners are frustrated with the bureaucracy too, but she became a physician to provide high quality medical care to people – all people, not just those who can afford to pay her extra for the privilege. I’d be extremely disappointed if she announced a plan to kick people out of her practice based on their ability to pay her an additional fee.
For a family of 4, the rates being quoted are between $450-800 extra per month. Most people can’t afford such a sudden drastic increase to their living expenses. What happens if a spouse loses their job unexpectedly or becomes too ill to work? On top of that stress they’re going to lose their physician too? There’s an element of trust in the doctor-patient relationship. I don’t know how you can trust someone who’s told you they’re only committed to helping you as long as you can write a hefty monthly check.
It sounds to me like this is a good system and one I would sign up for if I found a “good review” doctor in our area who joined it. I looked… I suppose we’re too rural.
I fully get the “fee.” If one sees fewer patients, one still needs to make an income. Fewer patients = more time to get to really know who they are - the big picture - and time to keep up on research, etc. I would expect it to be especially good for folks in middle age and older and not needed quite so much for the younger, healthier folks. One could spend less in their younger years using our current system and move to it in later years as needed.
I have thought about your comment that he is at retirement age. But maybe it would be worth it to join for a year, get all the executive style type physical tests and learn as much as I can, and then think about finding a new doctor if the VIP plan doesn’t seem to warrant its cost.