Side by side
Concierge and traditional primary care, side by side.
Both are primary care. The difference is mostly arithmetic: how many patients one doctor looks after, and what that leaves time for. Here is how the two compare, using Legacy Medical as the concierge example.
At a glance
| Topic | Typical high-volume practice | Concierge care at Legacy Medical |
|---|---|---|
| Getting an appointment | Often weeks for a routine visit | Same or next business day |
| Who you see | Whoever is available | Dr. Shtern, every visit |
| Length of a visit | Often 15 minutes or less | As long as the visit needs |
| After hours | Answering service or urgent care | Phone access 24/7 for members |
| Labs and ECG | Separate trip to a lab | Drawn and done in the office |
| Specialists | A referral slip and a phone number | Dr. Shtern chooses, calls and follows up |
| Insurance | Billed for visits and tests | Still billed for visits and tests; the concierge fee is separate |
Why the numbers matter
A 2005 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office looked at physicians who had switched to concierge care. Before switching, their practices averaged about 2,700 patients; afterward, about 490. The number of patients they saw in a day fell from roughly 26 to about 10. Read the GAO report. The figures are two decades old, but the trade-off they describe is the same today: fewer patients per doctor is what makes time and access possible.
What stays the same
Concierge care is still primary care. At Legacy Medical your insurance, including Medicare, is billed for office visits, labs and tests, as it is now. You keep your specialists, and prescriptions work the same way.
What the concierge fee pays for
The annual fee covers what insurance does not pay for: a limited patient panel, same or next-business-day appointments, unhurried visits, and phone access around the clock. Medicare does not cover concierge fees. Legacy Medical explains its fee in person at the meet and greet rather than posting a number without context.
Who tends to find it worthwhile
People who see several specialists, manage blood pressure, kidney disease or diabetes, travel or split the year between two homes, or are arranging care for a parent. People who rarely see a doctor may find a traditional practice suits them fine. Is a concierge doctor right for you?
FAQ
Common questions
Is concierge medicine the same as direct primary care?
No. Direct primary care practices usually do not bill insurance and charge a monthly fee for most primary care. Concierge practices like Legacy Medical bill insurance for visits and tests and charge a separate concierge fee. More on the difference.
Do I lose my insurance if I join?
No. Insurance, including Medicare, is still billed for office visits, labs and tests. The concierge fee is separate.
How do I find out what membership costs?
Call the office or ask at your complimentary meet and greet.
From the blog
How much does concierge medicine cost?
What shapes a concierge medicine fee, what a 2005 federal report found, why insurance is still billed for visits, and the questions to ask before you join.
ReadConcierge medicine vs. MDVIP: how the models differ
How a national affiliate network like MDVIP differs from an independent concierge practice, and the questions worth asking before you join either one.
ReadDoes Medicare cover concierge medicine?
Medicare does not pay concierge fees, but it still covers your visits and tests. Here is how assignment works and what gets billed to Medicare.
ReadRelated
Insurance and fees
What concierge medicine costs here: the concierge fee, and what your insurance still pays for.
Read moreNext step
Meet Dr. Shtern before you decide.
Every membership starts with a complimentary meet and greet. Sit down with Dr. Shtern, see the office, and ask whatever you like.