Most concierge practices offer a first meeting before you join. It is a chance to see the office, meet the doctor and ask direct questions. The trouble is that many people walk in without a list and walk out having talked mostly about the weather.

Below are twelve questions we think are worth bringing, grouped by theme, with a short note on why each one matters. Print them, add your own, and bring a family member if that helps. Good practices welcome the questions.

The doctor and the hospital

1. What is your training, and are you board certified?

A medical license is what allows a doctor to practice. Board certification is a separate credential in a specialty, such as Internal Medicine. You can check certification yourself on the American Board of Internal Medicine verification page, and our guide to choosing a concierge doctor walks through the license lookup as well.

2. Which hospitals do you have privileges at?

If you are admitted, the hospital where your doctor has privileges shapes how involved they can be. Ask which local hospitals they work with and what they do when a patient is admitted. We explain what that can look like in a concierge doctor during a hospital stay.

3. Who covers when you are away?

Every doctor takes vacations and attends conferences. A solo practice in particular should be able to tell you plainly who answers the phone and who sees patients when the doctor is out.

Access and timing

4. How do I reach you after hours, and who answers?

Access is the main reason people choose concierge care, so get specifics. Is there a phone line at night and on weekends? Does it reach the doctor, a covering doctor or an answering service?

5. How soon can I be seen when I am sick?

Ask what “same day” or “next day” means in practice, including on Fridays and before holidays. At Legacy Medical, members are seen the same or next business day.

6. Which visits can happen by video?

Video visits can save a trip for follow-ups, lab reviews and medication questions. They are less useful when you need an exam, so ask how the practice decides which is which.

Fees, insurance and Medicare

7. What does the concierge fee cover, and what does it not?

Fees vary widely between practices, and so does what they include. Ask for the answer in writing: which visits, tests and services are part of membership, and which are billed separately. Our piece on what concierge medicine costs explains what tends to shape the fee.

8. What gets billed to my insurance or to Medicare?

Many concierge practices still bill insurance for visits, labs and tests. Medicare does not cover concierge fees, and a doctor who accepts Medicare assignment cannot charge you extra for services Medicare already covers. Ask how the practice handles that line.

9. How do I leave, and is any of the fee refunded?

Plans change. People move, go into assisted living or simply decide the model is not for them. Ask about the term of the agreement, how to cancel and whether any unused portion is returned.

Coordination, family and records

10. How do you work with my specialists?

If you already see a cardiologist, a dermatologist or an eye doctor, ask how notes and results will flow between offices, and whether the practice will help you find a specialist when you need a new one.

11. Can you keep my family informed?

Adult children often help a parent with care from another city. Ask what permission the practice needs from you in writing, and how and when updates are given. At Legacy Medical, with your written permission, Dr. Shtern can update family members. Our page for families describes how we approach this.

12. How do I get my records if I leave?

Under HIPAA you have a right to access your medical records, generally within 30 days of a request. A practice that answers this calmly and clearly is usually one that keeps good records in the first place.

Making sense of the answers

There is no single right answer to most of these questions. A practice may be smaller or larger, closer or farther, more or less formal. What matters is that the answers are specific, that they match what is written in the agreement, and that you leave feeling you were listened to.

It also helps to notice what the doctor asks you. A good first meeting runs in both directions: your history, your current medicines, what you want from a doctor and what has frustrated you in the past.

If you would like to try these questions out, our first visit is a complimentary meet and greet with Dr. Shtern at the office in Palm Beach Gardens. Bring the list, bring a family member if you like, and take as much time as you need to decide.

This article is general information, not advice for your situation. Members can call the office with questions about their own care.