Medicare Patients Face $2,400 Doctor Fee Hike

As concierge medicine practices have surged by 83% from 2018 to 2023, some Medicare patients are now being asked to pay annual fees, some as high as $2,400, to maintain their existing doctors. These membership fees are not covered by Medicare. Legally, such fees can only be charged for services that Medicare explicitly does not pay for. Billing patients again for services Medicare already covers, such as routine office visits, contravenes Medicare's assignment rules. Patients must understand their doctor's status with Medicare: participating, nonparticipating, or opted out. Opted-out physicians can bill all visits at private rates, significantly increasing costs beyond any membership fee. Before agreeing to any fee, patients should review the contract carefully to confirm what services the membership covers, ensure the practice will continue billing Medicare, and understand refund policies if circumstances change. Medicare continues to cover all standard medical services regardless of these concierge fees. The decision hinges on whether the access and continuity provided by the doctor are worth the additional annual expense.