Short answer: A concierge doctor and a regular primary care doctor do the same kind of job, which is primary care. The main difference is how you pay. A concierge practice charges a membership or retainer fee, often for a promise of more personal and easier access, while a regular practice usually bills insurance for visits.
Concierge is a way a practice gets paid, not a different kind of doctor. A family doctor, an internist and other primary care doctors can work in either kind of practice. Familydoctor.org, a patient site from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), says direct primary care doctors provide primary care, just as traditional primary care doctors do. Ask any doctor about their training and board certification if it matters to you.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) describes concierge fees as an administrative fee, sometimes called a retainer or concierge fee, often tied to a promise of more personalized and accessible care. A regular practice usually bills your insurance for each visit. In a concierge practice, the fee may be paid in addition to billing insurance. The AAFP says concierge practices may still accept insurance and bill for covered services, and that concierge medicine often charges higher annual fees.
No, though people mix them up. The AAFP says direct primary care practices typically rely only on patient fees and do not accept insurance or government programs. The AAFP also says direct primary care usually has lower monthly fees. You can read more about what direct primary care is. The details differ by practice, so ask for the written terms.
Medicare.gov says Medicare does not cover membership fees for concierge care. You pay all costs for services Medicare does not cover, including the fee. The page also says the fee depends on the contract you sign with the doctor or doctor group.
ACP says it neither endorses nor opposes these practices. It also says there is little high quality, independent research on how they affect quality and access, and it raises the concern that they may cause access issues for patients who cannot afford to pay directly. So the right answer depends on your budget, your health needs and what the practice offers.
You can also find a direct-pay doctor near you to compare options.
No. It describes how the practice is paid. Familydoctor.org says direct primary care doctors provide primary care just as traditional primary care doctors do.
The AAFP says concierge practices may still accept insurance and bill for covered services. Ask the practice how it works.
Medicare.gov says Medicare does not cover membership fees for concierge care.
