What concierge medicine is
Concierge medicine is a healthcare model where you pay your doctor directly, usually as an annual or monthly membership, in exchange for smaller practice panels, longer visits, and direct access to the physician. It's also called membership medicine, retainer medicine, or boutique medicine. The labels vary. The idea is the same: fewer patients per doctor, more time per patient.
In a traditional primary care practice, a physician typically carries 2,000 to 3,000 patients and needs to see 20 to 30 a day to stay afloat. That's how you end up with 7 to 15 minute visits. Concierge doctors cut the panel size, which is the mechanical reason the visits get longer and the access gets faster.
How the membership works
Membership fees vary widely, roughly $1,500 to $25,000 a year depending on what's included. The fee pays for access and the physician's time.
In my practice, the membership covers everything I deliver personally: comprehensive annual exams, same-day visits including house calls across Palm Beach County, direct communication by text and call, and coordination of your care with specialists and hospitals. My panel is capped at 50 patients. My practice is private-pay. I don't bill insurance. You keep your insurance for everything that happens outside my office (labs, imaging, specialists, prescriptions, surgery, hospital stays), and the simplicity of not having a billing department between us means I spend my time on medicine instead of paperwork.
That's not how every concierge practice runs. Some still bill insurance. Some cap at 300 to 600 patients instead of 50. Ask before you join.
What the model actually changes
A few things shift when a doctor carries 50 patients instead of 2,500.
Time. Appointments run as long as they need to, usually 30 to 60 minutes. I can actually get to your second and third concerns in the same visit.
Access. You have my cell phone. Text or call, any hour, and you reach me directly. Not a nurse line, not a portal message that gets read tomorrow. Same-day visits are the norm when you're sick.
Home visits. When driving to an office doesn't make sense, I come to you. House calls are part of the practice, not an add-on.
Coordination. I handle specialist referrals, hospital follow-up, and imaging or lab logistics. If you're admitted, I know about it, and I talk to the admitting team directly.
Prevention. More time lets me work on the things that matter long-term: lifestyle, labs, screenings, medication review, risk reduction. That's the part that gets cut first in a 12-minute visit.
Who this 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.
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
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. For healthy people with simple needs, a traditional plan or a direct primary care practice may be a better fit.
Does insurance cover the membership?
No. The membership fee is out-of-pocket. Some patients use HSA or FSA funds toward it; check with your plan. Your insurance continues to cover whatever it normally covers: labs, imaging, specialists, prescriptions, hospital care.
Can I keep my current insurance?
Yes. Concierge works alongside whatever insurance you already have. In my practice, which doesn't bill insurance, you'll still want to keep coverage for everything that happens outside my office.
What happens if I need a specialist?
I coordinate the referral directly. Professional relationships usually mean I can get you in faster than a cold call, and I stay involved in the handoff so nothing falls through the cracks.
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.
How do I evaluate a concierge practice?
- How many patients does the physician actually carry?
- Who answers calls after hours, and how fast?
- Does the practice bill insurance, or is it private-pay?
- What's in the fee, and what costs extra?
- If you're admitted to the hospital, what does your doctor do?
Getting started
If you want to talk through whether my practice is the right fit, reach out. I'll answer your questions directly and tell you honestly whether I think concierge makes sense for your situation.
