When Susie Felber\u2019s primary care physician left to start a concierge practice last year, Felber didn\u2019t initially follow her doctor, even though she loved her. Felber felt like she didn\u2019t really understand concierge medicine and assumed she couldn\u2019t afford it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe word \u2018concierge,\u2019\u201d Felber says, \u201cI just figured I needed a limo to be able to go to concierge medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then Felber had a health crisis, and she researched what concierge care would cost and how it worked. She found that after paying an upfront fee, she could see or text her doctor anytime, and her doctor had the time to really dig into her health issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could say this is a luxury, but it\u2019s my health,\u201d says Felber, who is the co-founder of marketing agency Big Noyes. \u201cI knew what the product was, which wasn\u2019t just more attention, but more attention from a doctor I know and love and trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although concierge medicine feels niche, it\u2019s a growing field, with projections that the global market will more than double by 2034, according to strategy consulting firm Towards Healthcare.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this for a long time,\u201d says Keith Elgart, CEO of Concierge Choice Physicians, a company that helps doctors create concierge programs. \u201cThe desire for this from patients, from the physician side and from the health system side are all increasing dramatically.\u201d<\/p>\n
Is it time to make room in your budget<\/a> for concierge medical care? Here\u2019s what to know.<\/p>\n What is concierge medicine?<\/p>\n Concierge medicine is membership-based health care in which you typically pay a fee for more personalized services of a doctor, usually primary care. You get greater access to your doctor than you\u2019d have in a regular practice \u2014 you can call, text or email anytime, and you can snag appointments quickly. And those appointments are thorough.<\/p>\n \u201cI have an hour and a half for a physical,\u201d says Erika Krauss, an internal medicine doctor who is one of five physicians at Glenville Medical Concierge Care in Greenwich, Connecticut.<\/p>\n There are also specialists who practice concierge care \u2014 such as cardiologists, endocrinologists and even pediatricians \u2014 which may be appealing to someone managing a chronic condition.<\/p>\n Sophia Wong is an ophthalmologist and retina specialist who caters to patients who need ongoing care for serious eye conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt like I wanted to have a structure where I could have the time to reassure patients that we\u2019re doing everything possible to protect their vision,\u201d says Wong, who owns Beacon Retina in Bethesda, Maryland. \u201cAnd they can communicate with me directly.\u201d<\/p>\n How much does concierge medicine cost?<\/p>\n Although there are luxury practices with higher membership fees, generally you can join a concierge practice for about $2,000 to $5,000 per year \u2014 split into annual, quarterly or monthly payments.<\/p>\n