Concierge Medicine – A Growing Phenomenon
In Midland, Texas, Terri Marroquin had a shocking realization when her long-term physician started to charge a membership fee in 2019. Like Marroquin, more and more patients across the U.S. are finding that their doctors are starting to adopt the concierge medicine model. As a result, patients are now paying an annual membership fee that ranges from $350 to $500, on top of their insurance premiums.
The Implications of Concierge Medicine on Patients
The lack of primary care doctors nationwide – 17,637 in 2023, to be precise – does not help the situation. With fewer doctors to go around and more patient demand, doctors are opting for concierge medicine. This exclusivity means that physician time is becoming a luxury that only wealthier patients can afford, leading to an unfair distribution of health care resources.
Moreover, research has shown that this fancy medical model doesn’t necessarily lead to better health outcomes. A 2023 study found that patients using concierge medicine had a similar mortality rate to those under non-concierge doctors.
The race and ethnicity of patients also play a role too. A 2005 study found that concierge doctors were less likely to manage patients with diabetes and saw fewer Black and Hispanic patients.
The Future of Concierge Medicine and Its Impact
Market research suggests the industry is set to grow. The concierge medicine market is projected to see an annual growth of 10.4% by 2030. It’s estimated that between 5,000 to 7,000 physicians and practices in the United States offer concierge care.
In theory, concierge medicine sounds great. It promises more time with doctors at their patients’ convenience. But this convenience has a hefty price tag attached, which many can’t or won’t pay.
The Struggles of Finding Non-Concierge Doctors
Patients unwilling or unable to pay these fees are having a hard time finding non-concierge doctors. For them, it’s becoming tougher to find accessible healthcare. This shift in the landscape means patients may have to compromise, settling for services that are less comprehensive or convenient.
The Cost of Concierge Medicine – Beyond the Pocket
The annual fees of concierge medicine can be hefty, from $199 for Amazon’s One Medical to more than $10,000 for top-tier practices like Massachusetts General Hospital’s. These fees aren’t usually covered by insurance, further infuriating patients who already feel burdened by healthcare costs.
The healthcare inequity further extends to patients who are deprived of a primary care week relationship when their long-term doctors switch to a concierge practice. Many of these patients end up relying on urgent care centers or hospital emergency departments, which are not ideal institutions for primary care.
Looking at Possible Alternatives and Solutions
As patients try to navigate this significant change, some concierge providers are offering lower-tier services for those unable or unwilling to pay. However, these options often come with longer wait times and shorter appointments.
Consequently, many patients find themselves turning to physician assistants and other midlevel practitioners, who may not have the same degree of training and expertise as physicians.
Conclusion
The rise of concierge medicine is a tangible testament of the growing inequity in healthcare access. As the model becomes more popular, patients who can’t afford the additional costs are finding themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place, trying to balance accessibility, affordability, and health outcomes.
_Source: This report was produced by KFF Health News._