Choosing a Concierge Doctor? 10 Questions to Ask First

Joining a concierge practice is a bigger decision than picking a name out of an insurance directory. You are choosing the person you will text at 10 p.m. when a fever spikes, the office that will chase down your scan results, and the team that will stay involved if you end up in the hospital. Before you sign up anywhere in Palm Beach County, it pays to ask the right questions and to listen closely to the answers.

Why the details matter

Concierge medicine, sometimes called membership medicine, means paying a fee for closer, more personal access to a primary care doctor. The idea is simple. The details are not. Two practices can both promise “24/7 access” and mean very different things, from a direct line to your own doctor to a message that gets returned the next business day.

A free consultation is the best time to sort this out. Bring a short list of pointed questions, and you will walk out knowing what you are actually paying for. If you are new to the model, our guide to how concierge medicine works covers the basics first.

Questions about access

1. How do I reach my doctor, and who picks up?

Ask whether calls and texts go to your own doctor or to an answering service, and whether that changes at night or on weekends. Ask whether video visits are an option. At Wave Concierge Medicine, members can call, text or video their own doctor 24/7, weekends included.

2. How soon can I be seen, and how long will I wait?

Ask how quickly you can get an appointment when something comes up, and how long a typical visit lasts. At Wave, visits are same day or next day, unhurried, and you are seen when you arrive rather than after a long stretch in a waiting room.

The usual way vs. with your own doctor: A Delray Beach retiree wakes up on a Saturday with a swollen, painful ankle. The usual way, he sits in an urgent care line, sees someone who has never met him, and is told to follow up with his regular doctor on Monday. With his own doctor, he sends a text, gets a call back from someone who already knows his history and his medications, and has a clear plan for what to do next.

Questions about cost and insurance

3. What does the membership fee cover, and how is it billed?

Ask for the price per person, how often it is billed and what is included. Get it in plain terms before you decide. At Wave, the Concierge plan is $2,500 per member, billed every 6 months. The Executive plan is $7,500 per member, billed every 6 months, and adds house calls when needed, blood draws at home and weekend urgent care visits in the office. Both include an annual concierge physical plus a yearly IV infusion and facial, and couples and families get discounts. You can compare the details on our membership plans page.

4. Do you still bill my insurance or Medicare?

This one surprises people. Practices handle insurance differently, so ask directly how your regular medical care is paid for. Wave accepts Medicare and most insurance. Covered medical care is billed to Medicare or your insurance, and the membership fee is separate and covers the concierge service. For more on this, read does Medicare cover concierge medicine?

Questions about tests, specialists and hospitals

5. What can be done under one roof?

Every extra appointment at a separate location adds days to getting an answer. Ask what testing and treatment the practice has on site. At Wave, MRI, X-ray, ultrasound, labs and EKG are in the same building, along with a full physical therapy center, a psychologist in the office and infusion rooms. See our on-site diagnostics for more.

The usual way vs. with your own doctor: A Boca Raton woman with a painful knee books a visit, gets a referral for imaging, waits for an opening at a separate imaging center, then waits again for someone to explain the results. With her own doctor, the exam and imaging can happen in the same building, and her doctor goes over the results with her.

6. How do specialist referrals work?

Ask how quickly the practice can get you in to see a specialist and who handles the paperwork. At Wave, we get you in quickly, the same day when urgent, your records are sent ahead, and your doctor reviews the results with you afterward. A dedicated concierge liaison takes care of booking and paperwork so you are not stuck on hold.

7. What happens if I need the hospital?

Ask whether your doctor stays involved if you are admitted. At Wave, direct admission to Delray Medical Center is arranged when possible, skipping the emergency room, and your doctor stays involved in your care. Learn more about direct hospital admission. In a true emergency, always call 911 first.

Questions about everyday care

8. How are prescriptions handled?

Ask how refills work and who keeps track of everything you take. At Wave, prescriptions are sent to your nearest pharmacy and one up-to-date medication list is kept for you, which matters a great deal if you see more than one specialist.

9. Can my family stay in the loop?

Many people in Boynton Beach and Palm Beach help manage a parent’s care, or want a spouse kept informed. Ask how the practice handles this. At Wave, with your permission, family members can be kept informed.

10. What about when I travel?

If you split the year or travel often, ask how care works when you are away. Wave members can still call, text or video their own doctor, and your doctor can prepare a personal travel kit for trips abroad.

The usual way vs. with your own doctor: A couple from Palm Beach comes down with stomach trouble on a trip overseas. The usual way, they try to explain their medical history to a stranger at a local pharmacy. With their own doctor, they start a video call with someone who knows them and already packed a travel kit for exactly this kind of trip.

How to get the most from your consultation

1. Write your questions down. Use the ten above as a starting point and add your own.
2. Bring your medication list. It helps the conversation stay specific to you.
3. Ask to see the facilities. Seeing the imaging, labs and therapy space tells you a lot.
4. Bring your spouse or a family member. Two sets of ears catch more, and couples plans may apply.
5. Take notes on the answers. Clear, specific answers are a good sign.

The bottom line

The right concierge doctor should make your health care feel simpler, not more complicated. Asking about access, cost, testing, specialists, hospital care and travel up front helps you choose with confidence. You can also browse our frequently asked questions before your visit.

This article is general information, not medical advice for your situation. For a medical emergency, call 911.