Top 5 Concierge Medicine Myths
If you’re trying to find out information on concierge medical practices, you’re likely to find a lot of conflicting data and inaccuracies repeated from one place to the next. In “Concierge Medicine Myths” Top 5 Misconceptions,” we’ll explore some of the most common misconceptions we hear and uncover why each one is false.
Myth #1: Concierge Medicine Is Only for the Wealthy
Of all the concierge medicine myths, we hear this misconception the most. That is why we’ve dedicated an entire blog to this myth already. While there are some practices that have such high rates they’re only accessible to celebrities and the elite, not all are this way. Many concierge medical practice, including Dedication Health, keep their membership fees reasonable and affordable for many individuals and families.
Myth #2: You Can’t Use Your Insurance
There is an alternative model of medicine often confused with concierge medicine referred to as “direct primary care”. Similar to concierge medicine, direct primary care patients pay a membership, retainer or access fee. With DPC, physicians do not accept insurance and patients must pay out of pocket. With concierge medical practices, however, there are some that will bill insurance for you and may even be in-network- we’re one of them. Check out “Is Concierge Medicine Covered by Insurance?” for more information.
Myth #3: It Costs a Lot More to See a Concierge Doctor
While there is a membership fee for concierge medical practices, becoming a member could actually save you money. This is because physicians spend more time with their patients under this model- often 30-90 minutes, depending on what the visit is for. Compared to the 8-minute average standard practices offer, this gives physicians an enormous edge when it comes to addressing health concerns and risks before they become a problem. Because of this, patients are 66% less likely to need specialist care, have 88% fewer surgeries, and are admitted to the emergency room 65% less than others. Considering a single illness can cost hundreds, and an ER visit thousands, considerable cost savings may apply.
Myth #4: The Doctor Comes to Your House
While it may be true that some concierge medical practices offer house-call, it tends to be those with higher rates and they usually charge an extra fee for it. At Dedication Health, we see all our patients in our state-of-the-art practice. Our lab is fully-equipped for diagnostic testing and our office suites are designed for comfort and privacy. This enables more people to gain access to better care.
Myth #5: It’s Hard to Join a Concierge Practice
A traditional office will likely have 2,500+ patients, whereas a concierge-style practice will likely only accept a few hundred. Limiting the total number of patients accepted into the practice is what enables the doctor to spend extra time with his patients and ensure they’re seen quickly. Because of this, it can be difficult to find a physician with available space. Moreover, although the number of concierge-style practices is on the rise, there aren’t that many overall. This can make it difficult to find a practice in some areas. However, if you do find a practice and they are accepting new patients, joining is usually pretty simple.
Become a Concierge Medicine Patient at Dedication Health
Now that we’ve busted the top 5 concierge medicine myths, it’s probably easy to see how straightforward it is to get quality care. Dedication Health is now accepting new patients. Take the first step by getting in touch with our practice manager, Christine. If you have questions or would like to become a member, complete our online form or call 847-986-6770.
Up next, “Who Uses Concierge Medicine?“.