Hellobee Boards

It depends. I keep getting solicitations from "one medical" a chain of healthcare groups that claim to do same day appointments and always be available for an annual fee. But my current doctors already do that.. So I wouldn't switch to pay more and get the same thing.

My doctor charges a $200 annual fee per family member. I consider it will worth it for the long visits I get.

I'm in love with my doctor, so if he had those services then probably.

I'd pay double this to D's specialty GI docs if it meant they'd be responsive via email!

In your situation, I would for sure!!

I'd have to weigh my options for my doctor. I ADORE my doctor (family practice as well, so both J and I see her), but she only works 3x week, and often takes 1 week to respond to emails. I never get same-day sick visits with her, but I typically can with one of her colleagues. For $50-$75/year, that's not terrible. But my doctor is already out of network, so I already pay quite a bit just to see her.

Whoa. I would never visit a doctor that had an energy healer or acupuncturist in their clinic, even if they were free. Huge red flag for me. It would be like NASA hiring a team of astrologers to advise them on the best times to send up space missions. One is a hard science, one is not.

A membership fee implies that you are paying up front for services rendered. When you join a gym, you pay a membership fee so that you have access to their services--which are mostly free, with the exception of specialty services (yoga class, personal trainer, etc.). What exactly are you getting with a doctor membership? As far as I know, nothing. Just the privilege of being able to pay for each and every service down the road. There's no service included. So I think calling it a membership is a misnomer. I also worry that the price might keep hiking up.

Also, there's a concern that doctors are overpaid as it is: http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/02/american_doctors_are_overpaid_medicare_is_cheaper_than_private_insurance.html

About 22% of doctors are in the 1% of most wealthy people in the country, and the other 78% aren't too far behind. There are a lot of things wrong with our healthcare system, but doctors are not so bad off that they need to bill patients an extra $75 just to have the privilege of seeing them.