VIPMD doctors: another sign of our health care system changing

[al mc]

My family's physician of 20 years informed us recently that he is going to limit his practice to the first 600 people that pay $1,500/year/patient. He is becoming a 'concierge MD' with the corporate run medical delivery company known as VIPMD. We still pay for all tests, hospitalizations and procedures
and a copay per visit to see him either via insurance or out of the pocket.
What we get: 1. Yearly comprehensive wellness exam
2. Phone access to him 24/7
3. Guaranteed appointment within 2 days of calling.
So...Our medical care through his office goes to the first 600 people that put down the $1,500/year and 'good luck' to the rest of you. For my family of three that is $4,500/year for this service. I think we will pass. (funny aside: His wife has been known to complain about her bills for veterinary service at our office

)
Comments??
Anyone else had this happen to them?

 

[kjr_trig]

Good for him, he must be pretty good.
I know it's tough to feel sorry for Doctors, but trust me they work hard, are more well trained than any other professional, and they put up with more crap than you could imagine.
My wife is double board certified (Internal Medicine and Nephrology), her Nephrology practice is budgeting for a 20% cut in pay for everyone for next year due to decreasing reembursment from Obamacare. 4 years of Medical school, 6 years of training making roughly $35,000 a year, and now 3 years out of training she is taking a 20% pay cut. We are still paying off school loans

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by Al Mc
http:///forum/post/3166661
My family's physician of 20 years informed us recently that he is going to limit his practice to the first 600 people that pay $1,500/year/patient. He is becoming a 'concierge MD' with the corporate run medical delivery company known as VIPMD. We still pay for all tests, hospitalizations and procedures
and a copay per visit to see him either via insurance or out of the pocket.
What we get: 1. Yearly comprehensive wellness exam
2. Phone access to him 24/7
3. Guaranteed appointment within 2 days of calling.
So...Our medical care through his office goes to the first 600 people that put down the $1,500/year and 'good luck' to the rest of you. For my family of three that is $4,500/year for this service. I think we will pass. (funny aside: His wife has been known to complain about her bills for veterinary service at our office

)
Comments??
Anyone else had this happen to them?

Sounds like it is time to start bartering, you take care of us, we'll take care of your dogs, cats, horses or whatever it is they bring in...

 

[spanko]

Originally Posted by stdreb27
http:///forum/post/3166670
Sounds like it is time to start bartering, you take care of us, we'll take care of your dogs, cats, horses or whatever it is they bring in...
Agree here, poses a great opportunity for the trading of services rather than money. Do it!!!

 

[oscardeuce]

Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3166673
Agree here, poses a great opportunity for the trading of services rather than money. Do it!!!
Keep track of all your barting, the IRS wants its cut!
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc420.html

 

[al mc]

Originally Posted by stdreb27
http:///forum/post/3166670
Sounds like it is time to start bartering, you take care of us, we'll take care of your dogs, cats, horses or whatever it is they bring in...
Problem with bartering: They have one pet and there is no way that they could come close to spending $4,500/year on veterinary services.

 

[al mc]

Originally Posted by oscardeuce
http:///forum/post/3166836
Keep track of all your barting, the IRS wants its cut!
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc420.html
We do not do any large scale bartering because of this.

 

[uneverno]

As the current system becomes more and more unaffordable for the average wage earner, the Insurance Companies will soon be going to DC with their hands out.
Thank goodness we the people's grandchildren can afford to bail companies out even though we ourselves can't afford their products.
I find it hilarious that our economy demands ever increasing sales while we have a static consumer base which also has a declining income combined with increased commodity costs.
Doesn't take an econ major to figure out that that's unsustainable...

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by Al Mc
http:///forum/post/3166851
Problem with bartering: They have one pet and there is no way that they could come close to spending $4,500/year on veterinary services.

You just need to raise your prices.

You're obviously catering to the wrong clientele and charging the good doctor too little for your invaluable services.

 

[tangman99]

I'd personally tell him to take a hike. Until the government finalizes how health insurance is going to work, that could be a terrible financial deal for you. If you still have to pay everything outside of his charges, that is where all the expense resides. You still need health insurance to cover those charges. Chances are you are going to be covered by a high deductible plan where the best ones have an out of pocket payment of $3000 per family before the insurance covers anything. Again, withstanding what happens when the government steps in which I'm afraid is going to be a nightmare from what I'm seeing and knowing what I know working for a health insurance company.

 

[reefraff]

I think I see what the guy is doing here. He and his corporate sponsor are going after more affluent people for patients. Actually not a bad strategy from a business standpoint. I wouldn't use him but an interesting idea. For 1500.00 bucks a head you get to be a medical VIP.

 

[al mc]

Originally Posted by reefraff
http:///forum/post/3167101
I think I see what the guy is doing here. He and his corporate sponsor are going after more affluent people for patients. Actually not a bad strategy from a business standpoint. I wouldn't use him but an interesting idea. For 1500.00 bucks a head you get to be a medical VIP.
Bingo. Exactly what he is doing. 600pateints at $1,500/person is $900,000
up front. I researched MDVIP and found out for all the marketing they do they get 1/3 of this sum and the doc get $600,000 up front.
We have decided not to participate and are going to use another doctor within the same practice. This is a five doc practice and our doctor is the only one going over to this concierge type patient care. From his frame of reference it is a great deal. He gets to practice quality medicine, low patient volume but still gets compensated handsomely.

 

[darthtang aw]

Not to mention his patients get more personal attention and feel appreciated and like a person instead of a number that is rushed in and out of the exam room.

 

[kjr_trig]

If he fills all 600 spots, he is probably setting himself up for about $500,000-$600,000 a year at least, not sure what his overhead is though. That is some serious cake for what I'm guessing is a Family Prac. Doc. He won't be able to take care of any serious issues patients have to deal with, and then you get referred to specialists, so what you are paying him certainly may not cover you for the year.

 

[stdreb27]

Don't forget, he gets paid for services rendered as well. Why not do that, from his standpoint. IF he can sell it... Sounds like you need to buy him about 5 more dogs...

 

[ellismitch]

My doctor told me yesterday that in May, 2014 he would become a VIPMD. He gave me a brief description of what this would mean to me and my husband if we joined and also what it would mean to us if we did not join. He had a representative in his office to give me the information I needed and to take my payment. I actually thought he meant my co-payment. Boy was I wrong. I waited 20 min. to see this representative, which was 10 min. longer than I waited to see my doctor. I needed to return to work so I left and went to the receptionist to pay her my co-payment. You see - in the 8 years I have been a patient, my doctor has never had to bill me and I always pay cash. I have never missed an appointment or been late for an appointment. I say all this to say - now my doctor wants me to pay $1500.00 for the privilege of being his patient. I decided to go online to VIPMD.com before calling the representative to get a little more information. I was surprised to find out I will still be responsible for all co-payments and my insurance company will still be billed for all services. The $1500.00 per year is a privilege fee. My husband is also a patient so we will pay $3000.00 per year. The biggest surprise of all - this company - VIPMD - is owned by Procter & Gamble. Check out the VIPMD website. I'm really going to miss this doctor. He is a good doctor but there are other good doctors that I will not have to pay a privilege fee - just the regular fees my insurance doesn't cover.

 

[beth]

Ask for a refund and find a reputable doctor who takes his profession and his patients seriously.