Our Doctor (GP) changing to "Concierge Service"

My GP(former) went to this type of service a few years ago. I had REALLY good insurance thru my employer and the idea of paying him a monthly fee just didn't feel right.

I followed another doctor in his office who went to work for the local hospital conglomerate. Since then I've been thru 3 primary doctors in 4 years! I'm not sure what the problem is, but it's frustrating. Maybe I should have just stuck with the original one who I really liked?

 

It's been 10 months since I started this threads and neither of us has found a Primary GP yet. We've asked friends for recommendations (what does it say when either they wouldn't recommend theirs or the MD isn't taking new patients) and our old GP was supposed to send out a list of recommendations but never has. At this point we're looking at throwing darts at a list of names, and we just haven't been able do it. At some point we'll have to start calling random names who get generally decent reviews and hope for the best.

 

I started hearing of this happening (at least here in Massachusetts) about 20 years ago. At the time my career was member services for a very large insurer. Concierge and boutique services were the tags I heard. Occasionally I would be asked what we (the insurer) were going to do; sadly, short answer is we can't. Doctors aren't required to accept insurance either..short version is some plans would allow you to self-submit for visits but others didn't.

I fear it's going to worsen as I recently read an article that 1 in 5 medical professionals are projected to leave medicine in the next 5 years, I'm sure part is retirement but others are just not continuing in it. Reasons as were mentioned earlier like cost, plus some of the horror stories I've heard of doctors having to deal with problem people.

If it were to guarantee quick access and more quality time with the actual doctor, I can see value in it to those with long standing issues perhaps.