Not All Concierge Doctors Are the Same — Here's What to Ask Before You Join

Concierge medicine has grown fast — which means the model itself isn't the only decision you're making anymore. You're also choosing between practices that vary widely in what's actually included, how accessible the doctor really is, and how big the patient panel is behind the scenes.

A membership fee alone doesn't tell you much. Two practices can both charge around $200/month and deliver very different experiences. Before you join any concierge practice, here are seven questions worth asking.

1. How Many Patients Does the Doctor See?

This is the single biggest factor behind whether concierge medicine actually feels different from traditional primary care. A doctor with a panel of 300–600 patients can offer meaningfully more time and access than one still carrying a panel of several thousand. Ask directly: how many members are in your practice right now, and what's the cap?

2. What's Actually Included in the Membership Fee?

"Concierge medicine" isn't a standardized term, so the fine print matters. Ask whether the fee includes:

• Unlimited office visits, or a capped number
• Annual labs and point-of-care testing, or add-on costs
• Telehealth visits
• EKGs and other in-office diagnostics
• Direct communication with the doctor, or with a nurse/staff member instead

At IASIS Boutique Health, for example, the membership includes unlimited office visits, annual labs, unlimited televisits, EKG testing, and point-of-care testing — worth confirming any practice you're considering matches that scope before comparing price.

3. Who Do You Actually Reach When You Call or Message?

Some practices market "direct physician access" but route most communication through a call center or rotating staff. Ask what happens when you text, call, or message after hours — and whether you're reaching the doctor themselves or a triage layer first.

4. How Fast Can You Actually Get Seen?

"Same-day appointments" sounds standard across concierge practices, but ask what that looks like for a non-urgent concern versus something urgent. Some practices reserve same-day slots only for acute issues and still book routine visits weeks out.

5. What Happens If You Need a Specialist or Get Hospitalized?

Concierge membership covers your primary care relationship — it doesn't replace insurance for specialists, imaging, or hospital stays. Ask specifically:

• Do you keep your existing insurance for those services?
• Does the practice coordinate specialist referrals, or leave that entirely to you?
• Does the doctor stay involved if you're hospitalized, or hand off completely to the hospital team?

6. Is the Doctor Board-Certified, and in What?

Not all "concierge doctors" are internal medicine physicians. Some come from family medicine, emergency medicine, or other backgrounds — each with different strengths depending on what you need. If you're managing chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or thyroid disorders, a board-certified internal medicine physician typically has the most relevant training for ongoing adult care.

7. What Does a Trial Visit or Meet-and-Greet Look Like?

A practice confident in its model will let you meet the doctor and see the office before you commit financially. If a practice pushes you straight to a signed membership without an introductory conversation, that's worth noticing.

Why This Matters More Than the Price Tag

Two concierge practices can look nearly identical on a pricing page and deliver completely different experiences once you're a member. The panel size, the access model, and what's actually bundled into the fee determine whether you get the experience concierge medicine promises — or just a more expensive version of what you already had.

If you're comparing concierge practices in the Chicago area, see what's included in an IASIS Boutique Health membership or schedule a meet-and-greet to see the model firsthand before making a decision.