Patients considering concierge medicine in Palm Beach County usually encounter two paths: joining an MDVIP practice or choosing an independent concierge physician. I chose to build an independent practice. Here's an honest comparison of the two models so you can decide which fits your situation.
TL;DR
- MDVIP = the largest national concierge network (1,100+ physicians, 360,000+ patients). Standardized structure, brand recognition, multi-city access, typical panel of 600 patients per physician. Membership runs ~$1,800-$3,500/year.
- Independent concierge = no national network; the practice is built from the ground up by the physician. Full local flexibility on services, panel size, billing model. This practice caps at 50 patients (vs ~600 typical MDVIP).
- The honest tradeoff: MDVIP gives you predictability and multi-city scale; an independent practice gives you a much smaller panel, full local flexibility, and 100% of your membership staying in the practice.
- Choose MDVIP if you value brand recognition, a national protocol, or multi-city access; choose independent if you value the local relationship, panel size, and flexibility
- To reach the practice: call 561-468-6981
The MDVIP model
MDVIP is the largest concierge medicine network in the country, with over 1,100 affiliated physicians serving more than 360,000 patients. The company pioneered the membership medicine concept in the early 2000s and operates a national brand with standardized structure.
How it works: your physician affiliates with MDVIP and adopts their membership structure. You pay an annual fee to MDVIP. A portion supports the network; the rest supports your physician's practice. In exchange, you receive benefits like smaller panels (typically around 600 patients per physician, vs. 2,000-3,000 in traditional practice), longer appointments, and MDVIP's wellness program.
The network model has real advantages. Brand recognition and standardization mean you know what to expect from any MDVIP practice. If you travel or split time between cities, you may access affiliated physicians in other locations. The company handles administrative infrastructure, which is attractive to physicians transitioning from traditional practice.
The independent model
Independent concierge physicians operate outside any national network. The practice is built from the ground up, designed around what the physician believes serves patients best. No corporate middleman, no standardized protocols from a national office, no portion of your membership going to network overhead.
Practically, this means full flexibility in how the practice is structured. Appointment lengths, communication methods, services included in the membership, specialist relationships, billing approach. All designed locally.
I chose the independent path deliberately. After years in traditional medicine, I wanted to build something specific to how I believe medicine works best, rather than adopt someone else's template. When a patient contacts my practice, they reach me directly. When something needs to change, I change it without navigating corporate approval. (Full breakdown of how concierge tiers work and what each costs.)
How the two models compare
| MDVIP | Independent (this practice) | |
|---|---|---|
| Panel size | ~600 patients per physician | Capped at 50 |
| Annual fee | ~$1,800-$3,500 | Varies by practice |
| Where the fee goes | Split between MDVIP corporate + physician | 100% stays in the practice |
| Standardization | National protocols and wellness program | Designed locally by the physician |
| Multi-city access | Affiliated physicians in other locations | No |
| Insurance billing | Typically still bills insurance for services | This practice: no, private-pay |
| Customization for snowbirds | Standardized | Built into the relationship |
| House calls | Varies by affiliated practice | Standard, included |
Practical differences for patients
Continuity. With an independent physician, you're building a relationship with that specific physician and their practice. With MDVIP, if your physician leaves the network, you decide whether to follow them or stay with MDVIP's replacement.
Customization. Independent practices can tailor services to specific patient populations. In Palm Beach County, that includes seasonal residents needing coordination with home-state physicians, older patients managing complex medication regimens, and patients with the kind of chronic-condition complexity that benefits from a much smaller panel. (How concierge medicine works for snowbirds specifically.)
Direct communication. In my practice, contact comes directly to me. No national call center, no layered infrastructure between you and the physician.
Where the money goes. Your entire membership investment stays within the practice, supporting the care you receive. With MDVIP, a portion of your fee supports the national network's overhead.
Practice philosophy. Clinical decisions get made based on the physician's judgment and your specific needs rather than protocols developed by a corporate medical board.
Billing structure. MDVIP practices typically still bill insurance for services. My practice is private-pay; I don't bill insurance. Both are legitimate structures but meaningfully different in how the relationship feels day-to-day. (What's included in this practice's membership.)
Questions worth asking either type of practice
Whether MDVIP or independent, some things matter more than the branding:
Panel size. How many patients does the physician carry today? Below 400 is meaningful; above 600 and the access typically falls off, regardless of branding.
After-hours access. When you call at night, who answers? The physician directly, a covering colleague, or an answering service? How fast is the response?
What's included. Annual physical scope, visits, telehealth, house calls, lab inclusions. Where does insurance billing fit versus membership?
Philosophy. Does the physician prioritize prevention or react to acute issues? How do they handle specialist coordination?
Hospital involvement. If you're admitted, what does the physician do? In some practices the physician serves as attending; in others the handoff to a hospitalist is total.
A practice that's confident in how they operate will answer all of these directly. (Full criteria for evaluating any concierge practice.)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does MDVIP membership typically cost?
The MDVIP annual fee varies by physician and location, typically running $1,800 to $3,500 per year. A portion of that goes to MDVIP corporate (network infrastructure, brand support, technology platform); the rest supports the affiliated physician's practice. Independent concierge fees vary even more widely depending on the practice's structure and what's included; some are lower than MDVIP, some are higher.
Can I switch from MDVIP to an independent concierge practice?
Yes. The transition is the same as switching between any two practices: HIPAA-protected records request from the MDVIP practice (30-day window), introduction visit with the new physician, notification of insurance and pharmacy of the change in primary care. Most patients who make this switch do so because their MDVIP physician retired or left the network, or because they wanted a smaller panel and more local flexibility. (Full step-by-step transition guide.)
Does MDVIP have a presence in Palm Beach County?
Yes, MDVIP has affiliated physicians in Boca Raton and across South Florida. The choice between MDVIP and an independent practice in this market isn't about availability; both exist. It's about which structural model fits your priorities.
Is the wellness program at MDVIP unique?
The MDVIP wellness program (annual comprehensive physical with a defined panel of labs, executive-style health assessment, and an online portal for results) is the network's standardized offering. Most independent concierge practices offer comparable comprehensive annual physicals, often customized to the patient's specific risk profile rather than a standardized panel. The branded program isn't a unique service category; it's the network's version of what most concierge practices do.
How does panel size really differ between MDVIP and independent practices?
MDVIP affiliated physicians typically cap at around 600 patients (the network's standard). Independent practices vary much more widely: some run panels of 300-500 (similar to MDVIP), some run 600+ (larger than MDVIP), some run much smaller (this practice caps at 50). Smaller panels generally mean more time per patient and faster access, but require a higher per-patient fee to make the math work. There's no universal right answer; it depends on what you value.
What about MDVIP versus DPC (direct primary care)?
Different category. DPC is a separate model with monthly fees ($50-$200/month), no insurance billing for primary care, and panels typically 400-800. MDVIP is a concierge model with an annual fee, often still bills insurance, and panels around 600. Different price points, different access levels, different scope. (Full breakdown of DPC vs concierge medicine.)
Which fits your situation
If brand recognition and multi-city network access matter most (frequent travel, multiple homes, comfort with a national program), MDVIP offers predictability and scale.
If you value a local physician relationship, practice flexibility, full membership value staying in the practice, and a physician whose clinical decisions reflect their own judgment rather than corporate protocols, an independent practice fits better.
Neither is universally better. The right answer depends on what you're optimizing for.
About the Author
Dr. Ben Soffer, DO is a board-certified physician practicing independent concierge primary care in Boca Raton, Florida. He caps his practice at 50 patients, which is meaningfully below typical MDVIP panel size and reflects a deliberate choice about the kind of attention each patient receives.
If you want to talk through whether MDVIP or independent fits your situation
A no-obligation conversation about your specific needs, including the honest answer about which model would serve you better.
- Call: 561-468-6981
- Email: info@drbensoffer.com
- Or reach out through the contact form
