Doctors or medical groups that charge membership fees provide what is referred to as concierge medicine, or retainer‐based, and direct care medicine. Members get access with little or no waiting. Most don’t take health insurance, and health insurers don’t pay their membership fees. However, it is possible to coordinate their care consulting with use of health insurance for prescriptions, lab work, imaging, ER and Hospitalization, even specialists they don’t have on staff.

The membership fee and services you get depend on the contract you sign. Membership fees aren’t covered by Medicare, but some may accept assignments, those that don’t are still subject to limiting fees for some services, and all can charge as they choose for services Medicare does not provide.

You should consider the costs, review what they do and don’t cover, and interview the physician. Viewpoints, good communication, adequate time, and easy access (to themselves and other specialists) are a big part of what you pay for. A question is, will you use it?

The primary service is a mix of time, access, and expertise. Examples of two high-value medical services they may include are comprehensive physical exams (an example from the Princeton Longevity Center takes 6 to 7 hours), and coordination of your specialists (as you age care gets complicated with more specialists.) Other services like wellness programs and health coaching may be provided by your employer already.

Typically can range from $1,200 to $10, 000 per year, but can be higher. The average is lower and in the range of $1,500 and $2,500. Many offer discounts for family members and for children and young adults. Also, employer benefits menus, FSAs, and HSAs may cover membership fees or advanced “executive” physicals and other medical services.