When it comes to choosing healthcare teams and treatment options, there are many decisions that need to be made. Whether you’re choosing your level of insurance coverage, type of provider, or a new clinic, these decisions can weigh heavy because you’re putting the state of your health in someone else’s hands. A viable option for someone who is looking to save on medical costs is concierge primary care in Maryland. At Weekend Whitecoat, we understand if you’re not familiar with the concept, so we have three things that you should keep in mind when choosing your concierge provider.

How much are you paying compared to insurance premiums?

When it comes to paying for a concierge primary care , you’re going to be paying a monthly retainer fee to essentially keep your provider on-call. Based on the package that you choose, you’re likely to be paying for a specified number of house calls each year in addition to virtual availability 24 hours a day for seven days a week. Even if you don’t feel that you need to see a doctor once a month, you know that you have one readily available should you start to feel sick. These costs should be weighed against your monthly insurance premiums and the benefits that you get from your plan.

It’s not uncommon for health insurance plans to cost upwards of several hundred or even thousands of dollars each month. In addition to these costs, you have to find a primary care provider who’s contracted with the insurance company and considered “in-network” while also paying a co-pay to see your provider if you get sick. The only thing this does to encourage healthy living is the mindset that you’re not ever sick enough to see a provider, which can be detrimental to your health should you require an antibiotic to get rid of an infection.

Are they the kind of PCP you want?

Anytime you’re choosing a provider for you or your family, you need to make sure they practice the kind of medicine that fits your needs. This can include family medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, or a specialist. If you don’t have a provider with experience in an area where you require care, you could miss out on specialty treatment that exacerbates a condition and causes others. While you’ll likely have to pay for specialty care with a concierge provider, it would be the same when looking for a doctor in a clinic.

What kind of additional services do they offer?

Traditional concierge providers will offer yearly house calls, physicals, and lab work to ensure that you’re keeping tabs on your health. In addition to these basic services, some provide services that can include wellness planning, vaccinations, and specialty infusions. Your needs aren’t likely to be the same as your neighbor’s so it’s important that you shop around and find a PCP who offers the services that you’re looking for.

Get in touch to learn more

At Weekend Whitecoat, we believe that health care should be affordable and accessible, so we make house calls and offer phone, text, and video chat to keep in touch. If you’d like to learn more about a concierge primary care in Maryland, please don’t hesitate to reach out by calling 410-999-1742 or send a message. We can help you sign up and schedule a consultation. We want to help you focus on your health.