Americans have been learning how to cut to the front of the line in several instances where we were all accustomed to queuing up to take our turn. At the airport, one can purchase a CLEAR pass. At Disney World, for a fee one can purchase a Lightning Lane

The concept of concierge medicine, a means of direct private access to a certified physician, was started by two doctors in Seattle, Washington in 1996. They modeled their concept after the rural community doctor from decades in the past.

Today, this method of providing access to healthcare is growing rapidly due to both the physician and patient frustration with large corporate organizations that schedule appointments months into the future, then only provide 10 to 15 minutes of personal attention.

The concierge physicians are always available to paid subscribers 24/7. They can schedule appointments virtually immediately and streamline access to needed services. They also give their subscribers appointment sessions that commonly last 30 to 60 minutes in duration.

All this sounds wonderful, right? Why doesn’t everyone subscribe to this great service option? The answer is the cost of the subscription. Depending on location and market size, the fees range from $1500 to $10,000, and more, per year. And that is just for access, not actual treatment when needed. It is still generally necessary to have medical insurance, and to also absorb copays for that treatment. Most American families cannot afford that additional cost. The cost of individual and family healthcare is also becoming increasingly unaffordable, on its own. Adding a concierge fee on top of it is out of reach for all but a small percentage of the population.

The growing concierge trend is yet another example of the economic bifurcation of the American people. This is an indicator of the current direction capitalism-based healthcare continues to be headed. Who can blame doctors for joining the concierge trend if that is an option for them? They become burned out in the corporatized system. Their compensation is capped by the corporations for whom they are employed. No matter how hard they work, their pay limited by the corporate structure. And they are not in control of their work-life balance.

This chart compares concierge medicine with other alternatives:

Concierge Medicine vs. Other Models

Feature	Concierge Medicine	Direct Primary Care (DPC)	Traditional Insurance-Based Care
Payment Model	Annual/monthly fee (often $1,500–$5,000+)	Monthly fee (typically $50–$150)	Insurance billing, copays, deductibles
Patient Panel Size	300–600 patients	600–800 patients	2,000+ patients
Access to Physician	24/7 access, same-day appointments	Same-day/next-day appointments	Wait times vary, often weeks
Visit Length	30–60 minutes	30–60 minutes	10–15 minutes
Insurance Required	No (but often used for specialists/hospitals)	No	Yes
Focus	Personalized, preventive care	Personalized, preventive care	Reactive, episodic care
Cost to Patient	High	Moderate	Variable (depends on insurance)
Physician Burnout Risk	Lower	Lower	Higher
Equity Concerns	High (excludes lower-income patients)	Moderate (more affordable, but still limited)	Low (but care quality may suffer)

The purpose of this article is not to express a specific opinion, but rather to challenge the reader to do their own research into what this trend foretells and arrive at their own conclusions.