Doctors now charging and annual fee just so you can be their patient

They do that where I am for oil and heating. No emergency repairs unless you have a contract with the monthly or annual fee.

I blame One Medical. They started this bullshit. You pay $95 a year to be a member, in order to be a patient, and the idea is that you are supposedly getting upscale treatment, meaning you can email your doctor and get prescriptions without an office visit. Then Amazon bought One Medical. Now this bullshit, other big city physician outfits are cashing in. They too might then get bought by a conglomerate.

Everyone is laughing all the way to the bank, at your expense, and at the expense of your legally entitled medical privacy.

About 20 years ago in DC, my MD sent me a notice to the effect that I’d need to pay a fee to remain a patient.

His office was the worst of the worst— desk staff openly hostile, phones unanswered, they’d look you up and down with an attitude if you asked a question.

Needless to say, I wasn’t going to pay this fucker extra to give such shitty service.

Wait until AI takes over. Doctors will be paying the patient.

I thought this was considered "Concierge" medicine and the doctor offers expanded visits, housecalls, etc. Or are more doctors charging the fee with no added benefits?

My doctor presented it as a “We need this money to stay in business. YOU WANT US TO STAY IN BUSINESS, RIGHT?!” fee.

And the answer was… no, not really. When I walk in and you have eight people sitting at the front desk doing nothing and no one even offers to help me… no. You don’t deserve to stay in business. You clearly don’t know how to run a business.

I've never heard of this practice until I read the article. I must say that I'm not surprised.

Yep, mine started about 3 years ago - $500.00 annually. It's ridiculous. The only benefit is that I can message him via a portal about whatever random topic. So far he has put up with me, and I'm trying to get my money's worth for the damn $500.00.

Well for 500 a year you deserve to get something from it.

My GP switched to a “concierge model” two or three years ago. $1000 a year and all I can see that has really changed is that I get an hour or so to talk with him at my annual physical and a free consultation with a nutritionist if I want it.

“Usa! Usa! Usa!”

My dad pays $1800 per year for concierge treatment with his long-time internist - the main benefit is same-day appointments, which is nice because he’s 83 and doesn’t have a lot of time left to waste!