You may already have excellent health insurance, but you can’t really use it proactively, let alone get sick—there’s too much at stake on a daily basis. Visiting the doctor for non-emergency, preventative care might not even cross your mind. After all, the process can be aggravating: scheduling an appointment takes weeks, waiting rooms are crowded, and consultations rarely start on time. Some physicians spend only a few minutes with you, making it difficult to get a thorough understanding of your condition and treatment. And if you or your family members are managing a longer-term illness, navigating the healthcare system of specialists, lab tests, and insurance claims is a nightmare.

Enter personalized healthcare services, the busy professionals’ answer to navigating the increasingly convoluted world of medical care. Personalized healthcare, also referred to as concierge medicine in some circles, is an umbrella term that includes executive health clinics, private health advisors, and retainer-based primary care. This burgeoning niche in the health care industry can not only eliminate common frustrations, but enable you and your family to cultivate a close relationship with your doctor, thereby reducing your chances of illness and hospitalization, and get greater access to medical assistance during emergencies. And all of these benefits come on your schedule.

Who you can cover

In addition to yourself, you can cover your spouse and children, your parents, or even key employees. But remember, you still need good health insurance. None of the three executive health care services is meant to replace your general health insurance, which is critical for catastrophic events and long-term medical treatment.

What are your options?

Executive health clinics offer comprehensive physical examinations and health counseling in a carefully coordinated one- to three-day schedule; private health advisors help you make more informed medical decisions, provide assistance during emergencies, and take care of administrative matters for you; and retainer-based primary care allows you direct contact with your physician for extra services. You can use these personalized healthcare services individually, or in conjunction with one another. Some services are hybrids that offer a combination of benefits; for example, retainer-based physicians may conduct comprehensive physical exams that match those of executive clinics. Other doctors may offer advocacy similar to a private health advisor.