Healthcare Gets Personal
|
||||
|
Share
Personalized healthcare options range widely in cost, from a low of $1,000 to $3,000 for basic retainer-based programs to anywhere from $10,000 to more than $50,000 for the Full Monty. Here’s what you can expect to spend for various services:
| Behind the numbers |
| Retainer-based primary care |
| $1,000 to $25,000 annually |
| Insider Tip: Office visits may be extra on lower price plans; higher end plans include house calls. |
| Executive health clinic physical exam |
| $2,500 to $3,500 |
| Insider Tip: The price rises if you select optional tests such as a full body scan, carotid artery ultrasound, CT or an angiogram. |
| Private Health Advisor |
| $300 to $25,000+ a year, plus set up fees of $5,000 (with PinnacleCare) |
| Insider Tip: If you’re caring for a family member with a serious illness, PinnacleCare offers a $25,000 six-month plan to help you evaluate second opinions, coordinate appointments, and manage all of the critical steps to recovery. |
| Due diligence questions | |
| For retainer-based primary care physicians | |
| 1. | How much is your annual fee and what services does it include? What are the components of your physical examinations? |
| 2. | How many patients do you see at any given time? |
| 3. | Do you accept insurance? Are you in my insurance plan’s network? What is your fee schedule for various services? |
| 4. | Do you guarantee same-day appointments at your office? Do you make house calls or meet patients at their own offices? If I have to go the emergency room, how can you help me? |
| 5. | What is your approach to preventative care? |
| For executive health clinics | |
| 1. | What is your program’s schedule of consultations and exams? How much time will I have for consultation with a physician? |
| 2. | How many different physicians will I see during the course of your program? What are their specialties? How will you help me collectively assess everything we learn about my health during the program? |
| 3. | What specific lab tests does your program include? What optional tests are available and what are the associated costs? |
| 4. | How do you help patients follow through on the conclusions and recommendations you make from your program’s consultations and tests? |
| For private health advisors | |
| 1. | What kind of experience and credentials do your client advocates have? |
| 2. | How will you help me determine which membership plan is right for my needs? |
| 3. | What process or tools do you use to help clients evaluate the pros and cons of different healthcare options—for example, selecting between different medical procedures or specialists? |
The big players
Retainer-based Primary Care
MD2 International was founded in 1996 in Seattle, and is largely credited as the first retainer-based practice. The company now has offices in Bellevue, Portland, San Francisco, and Chicago.
MDVIP is the largest national developer of retainer-based practices, helping established physicians convert their practices to retainer-based models.
SignatureMD develops retainer-based practices and provides health advocacy services to help clients identify the best specialists and manage insurance claims.
Society for Innovative Medical Practice Design is an association of physicians advocating new approaches to health care. SIMPD offers an online directory of retainer-based practices.
Executive Health Clinics
Cleveland Clinic offers day-long examinations at the hospital’s location in Cleveland, Ohio, and four-day programs in conjunction with Canyon Ranch resort in Tucson, Arizona.
Johns Hopkins Executive Health Program in Baltimore provides a comprehensive standard exam, as well as many optional tests and consultations.
Mayo Clinic Executive Health Program has served patients for more than 30 years. Exams are offered in Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida.
UCSF Executive Medical Assessment in San Francisco covers a baseline set of tests and consultations in one day, with additional exams available as recommended by your physician.
Stanford International Executive Health Program provides comprehensive physical exams and access to Stanford physicians.
Private Health Advisors
Health Advocate provides advisory services to individuals and companies, helping members to prepare for medical exams, make informed decisions, and file insurance claims properly.
PinnacleCare offers a number of higher-end advocacy packages for individuals, families, and management teams, designed to expedite critical services and increase access to the best physicians and facilities.
