"Concierge medicine" is a label that means wildly different things in different practices. Some practices charge $800 a year for slightly shorter waits. Others charge $25,000 for a doctor who flies with you. When someone says they're in concierge medicine, that's a range, not a definition.
Here's how the tiers actually work, what each costs, and what to ask before joining any of them.
TL;DR
- "Concierge medicine" spans a wide range. Three meaningful tiers: full-scale ($5,000-$25,000+, panel 50-400, real 24/7 cell access, house calls), partial ($1,500-$5,000, larger panel, limited after-hours), and lite ($500-$1,500, modest improvements over traditional)
- The questions that tell practices apart: actual current panel size, who answers after-hours, what's billed separately, private-pay vs insurance billing, house-call policy, hospital admission involvement
- This practice is full-scale concierge with a 50-patient cap (smaller-panel end of the tier), private-pay, house calls included, direct cell phone access
- Concierge fits best for patients with chronic conditions, demanding schedules, aging parents, seasonal residency, or a pattern of expensive ER visits
- To reach the practice: call 561-468-6981
What concierge medicine is, in general
Concierge medicine is a model where you pay your physician directly for access and time. The common thread: smaller patient panels than traditional primary care, longer visits, and some form of after-hours reach. Beyond that, the specifics vary a lot.
Traditional primary care doctors typically carry 2,000 to 3,000 patients and see them in 7 to 15 minute slots. Concierge practices usually cut panel size to somewhere between 300 and 600, run 30 to 60 minute visits, and offer same- or next-day access for urgent issues.
| Traditional | Concierge | |
|---|---|---|
| Panel size | 2,000 to 3,000 | 300 to 600 (this practice: 50) |
| Appointment length | 7 to 15 min | 30 to 60 min |
| Wait for appointment | Days to weeks | Same or next day |
| After-hours access | Office hours only | Varies by practice |
| House calls | Rarely | Often included |
The three common tiers
Full-scale concierge
The most hands-on version. Panels typically 300 to 400 (this practice is at 50). House calls included. Direct cell phone to the physician. Travel medicine, coordination of all specialist care, personalized wellness programs. This is what most people picture when they hear "concierge medicine." It's also the most expensive, usually $5,000 to $25,000 or more per year.
This tier is where the doctor can actually function as your first-line resource around the clock. (What that 24/7 access actually feels like in real scenarios.) If that's what you're looking for, ask what the physician's panel actually is, whether the cell phone number goes to the doctor or a service, and what the billing model is (is it private-pay, or does the practice still bill insurance?).
Partial concierge
Larger panel than full-scale, more limited access. You still get extended visits and faster appointments, but probably not 2 a.m. cell phone access. House calls are less common. Specialist coordination exists but may not be as tight.
Typical range: $1,500 to $5,000 a year. This can be a reasonable middle ground for people whose needs aren't especially complex.
Concierge lite
A loose category that varies a lot by practice. Some same-day appointments, slightly longer visits, limited direct physician access. House calls usually aren't included. No guarantee you'll reach the same physician when you call.
Typical range: $500 to $1,500 a year. It's a step up from traditional primary care but shouldn't be confused with full-scale concierge.
Who concierge medicine fits
Concierge medicine isn't for everyone. It tends to make sense for people in one of a few situations.
You're managing something complex. Multiple chronic conditions, a recent diagnosis, medication regimens that need real attention, or aging parents whose care you're coordinating. The savings in emergency room visits and phone-tag alone can be substantial.
Your schedule is unforgiving. Executives, surgeons, attorneys, parents with young kids at home. You can't spend half a day on hold.
You're invested in staying healthy. Preventive medicine done right takes time. If you want it done right, you need to be with a doctor who has time. (What an executive-level physical actually includes.)
You split time between states. Snowbirds and frequent travelers benefit from a physician who knows them, keeps their records in one place, and answers the phone from wherever they are. (How concierge medicine works for snowbirds specifically.)
How to actually evaluate a practice
When you look at concierge practices, the marketing will usually sound similar. The questions that tell them apart:
- What is the physician's actual panel size today?
- When I call after hours, who answers, and how fast?
- What's in the membership fee and what gets billed separately?
- Is the practice private-pay, or does it also bill insurance?
- Are house calls standard, or an extra?
- If I'm admitted to the hospital, what does the physician do?
A physician who's comfortable with how they practice will answer these directly. (Full criteria for evaluating any concierge practice.)
Concierge medicine in Boca Raton and Palm Beach County
South Florida has become a hub for concierge practice. The mix of year-round retirees, seasonal residents, and working professionals fits the model well. My practice is based in Boca Raton and I see patients throughout Palm Beach County, including house calls and Wellington, Boynton Beach, and Delray Beach, plus the northern Broward edge (Deerfield Beach, Parkland).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does insurance cover concierge medicine?
The membership fee isn't covered by insurance. Some concierge practices still bill insurance for the medical services they provide, so you're only paying the membership for the access and time. In this practice, nothing is billed to insurance; it's private-pay. You keep insurance for everything that happens outside the practice (labs, imaging, specialists, hospital care, prescriptions). HSA/FSA eligibility for the membership fee depends on your administrator. (Full breakdown of tax and HSA/FSA implications.)
Is concierge medicine worth the cost?
For people whose health or schedule genuinely benefits from fast, direct access, yes. The math usually works in their favor once you count the avoided ER visits, the time not spent on the phone, and the outcomes from actually-completed preventive work. (Full cost-benefit analysis.) For healthy people with simple needs, a traditional plan or a direct primary care practice may be a better fit.
Are concierge doctors better than regular doctors?
Not necessarily. Most concierge physicians started in traditional practice and chose to leave the volume model so they could practice the kind of medicine they were trained to practice. The difference isn't talent. It's time and panel size.
What about specialists?
Good concierge physicians coordinate specialist care. Professional networks usually mean faster referrals than a cold call, and the physician stays involved so handoffs don't drop things. That coordination is one of the real benefits of the model.
Does Medicare work alongside concierge medicine?
Yes. Medicare covers your medical visits, labs, vaccines, and screenings exactly as at any other practice when your concierge physician participates in Medicare. The membership covers what Medicare never reimbursed (access, longer visits, house calls). (Full breakdown for senior patients.)
Can I keep my current insurance?
Yes. Concierge works alongside whatever insurance you already have. In this practice, which doesn't bill insurance for the membership, you'll still want to keep coverage for everything that happens outside the practice.
Where my practice fits
My practice is full-scale concierge, on the smaller-panel end of that tier. I cap at 50 patients. I give patients my cell phone. Call any hour and you reach me directly. Same-day visits, including house calls across Palm Beach County. Private-pay; I don't bill insurance for the membership.
About the Author
Dr. Ben Soffer, DO is a board-certified physician practicing concierge primary care in Boca Raton, Florida. He caps his practice at 50 patients, putting his practice on the smaller-panel end of the full-scale concierge tier.
If you want to talk through whether concierge medicine makes sense for you
A no-obligation conversation about your specific situation, at any tier.
- Call: 561-468-6981
- Email: info@drbensoffer.com
- Or reach out through the contact form
