7 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Concierge Doctor

Choosing a concierge doctor is different from choosing a regular primary care physician. You're not just picking someone to see when you're sick — you're entering a relationship with real financial commitment, and the quality of that relationship will directly affect your health outcomes.

After years of practicing concierge medicine in Boca Raton, I've heard dozens of patients describe what they wish they'd asked before joining their previous practice. This list comes from those conversations.

Ask every concierge physician you're considering these 7 questions. The answers will tell you everything you need to know.

1. How Many Patients Are in Your Panel?

This is the foundational question — the one that determines whether everything else is actually possible.

The entire premise of concierge medicine is that a smaller patient panel allows more time, attention, and access per patient. But "concierge" has become a marketing term, and practices vary enormously in panel size. Some "concierge" practices manage 600–800 patients — not meaningfully different from traditional primary care. True concierge practices typically cap at 150–400 patients.

Why it matters: Panel size determines how quickly you get seen, how available your doctor is, and whether appointments are actually unhurried. Ask specifically: "What is your current panel size, and what is your maximum?"

In my practice: I intentionally limit my panel to ensure I can offer same-day access, unhurried visits, and direct availability to every patient. I'd rather have a smaller practice that delivers on its promises than a larger one that doesn't.

2. What Is Your Response Time Guarantee?

One of the most valued benefits of concierge medicine is being able to reach your doctor directly. But the specifics matter enormously. Some practices offer 24/7 access that routes through an answering service, with a physician callback in 4–8 hours. That's very different from direct access with a response in under an hour.

Ask: "If I text or call you at 8 PM on a Saturday with a concern, what can I expect?"

What to look for: A specific, honest commitment. Be skeptical of vague phrases like "we're always available" — push for what that actually means.

In my practice: Patients have my direct cell number. For non-emergencies, I respond within an hour during waking hours. I'm transparent about rare situations — if I'm in surgery, traveling, or unavailable, I have a colleague who can cover, and I'll let patients know.

3. What Exactly Is Included in the Membership?

Concierge medicine pricing varies widely, and so does what's included. Some practices cover an extensive annual wellness workup, executive health screening, and coordination services. Others charge the membership fee for access, then bill insurance (or you) for every visit and service.

Specifically ask about:

• Is the annual comprehensive physical included, or billed separately to insurance?
• Are routine follow-up visits included?
• What about telehealth visits and after-hours calls?
• Are in-home visits available, and at what cost?
• What labs are included vs. billed to insurance?

In my practice: My membership includes comprehensive annual wellness exams, direct access, telehealth visits, coordination services, and after-hours availability. Labs and specialist referrals bill through your insurance as they would normally. I'm explicit about this upfront — no surprises.

4. What Is Your Policy on Home Visits and Telehealth?

This question reveals a lot about a physician's actual commitment to accessibility. The best concierge practices treat care delivery as flexible — meeting you where you are, not just where it's convenient for the practice.

Ask: "Do you offer home visits? Under what circumstances? What about video visits for appropriate concerns?"

What to look for: A genuine, thoughtful answer — not a vague "we do our best." You want a doctor who has a real policy and has actually made house calls.

In my practice: Telehealth is a standard part of care for appropriate concerns — many follow-ups, minor acute issues, and medication management don't require an in-office visit. I also offer home visits for patients who are ill, mobility-limited, or simply prefer it. This isn't theoretical — I actually do it.

5. How Do You Handle After-Hours Emergencies?

Even the most available concierge physician sleeps, travels, and occasionally gets sick. The question isn't whether your doctor is always available — no one is. The question is: what's the plan when they're not?

Ask: "If I have an urgent concern at 2 AM, what happens? Do you have a covering physician? How do they know my history?"

What to look for: A specific, organized answer. Good practices have a formal coverage arrangement with a physician who has access to your records. Bad answers are vague or suggest you should "just go to the ER."

In my practice: I have a trusted colleague arrangement for true unavailability. Covering physicians have access to my patients' records and know my practice standards. I make this clear in the patient agreement.

6. What Technology and Patient Portal Do You Use?

In 2026, healthcare technology is a meaningful part of the care experience. A good patient portal lets you review your results, message your physician, request refills, and access your records easily. Telemedicine should be seamless, not clunky.

Ask: "What platform do you use for patient communication and records? Can I message you directly? How do I access my results?"

What to look for: A modern system that's actually easy to use — not a legacy EHR designed for billing rather than patient communication.

In my practice: I've invested in a platform that supports direct messaging, easy record access, and streamlined telemedicine. If you want to message me with a question at 11 PM and I have a minute, I'll reply. The technology enables the relationship rather than getting in the way of it.

7. What Is Your Personal Philosophy on Preventive Medicine?

This question gets at something deeper than logistics — it reveals whether the physician's values align with yours. Concierge medicine's biggest opportunity is in prevention: catching problems early, building personalized health plans, addressing root causes rather than just managing symptoms.

Ask: "How do you approach preventive care? What does a comprehensive wellness visit look like in your practice?"

What to look for: A physician who is genuinely interested in your long-term health, not just reactive care for acute problems. Listen for specificity — what tests, what frameworks, what follow-through.

In my practice: Preventive medicine is the core of what I do. A new patient wellness visit with me takes 60–90 minutes. We cover your personal and family history in depth, your lifestyle factors, your health goals, and we design a personalized screening and monitoring plan that makes sense for you — not a checkbox compliance form.

The Right Question to Ask Yourself

After going through this checklist with any prospective concierge physician, ask yourself one final question:

"Does this person seem like they genuinely want to take care of me — or are they primarily selling a service?"

The best concierge physicians practice this model because they believe it's how medicine should be practiced. The relationship should feel like you've found an exceptional doctor who also happens to be highly available. If it feels like a sales pitch, trust that instinct.

Considering concierge medicine in Boca Raton? I'd be glad to answer any of these questions — and any others you have — in a complimentary consultation. No pressure, no obligation.

Schedule a No-Obligation Consultation →

Dr. Ben Soffer is a concierge physician practicing in Boca Raton, FL, serving patients throughout Palm Beach County and the surrounding area.