I just got notice that due to all the Obamacare stuff my GP is now becoming a "concierge" practice where you have to pay to be a member and she will no longer be taking insurance. She has been the only doc I've had since my pedi. I need recs. on good, local GPs that take BCBS and are accepting new patients. Thanks! 

But.. You should be able to keep your doctor if you are happy with her... 

Affordable... affordable... AFFORDABLE..... 

Ender, that's what I thought too! 

Our doctor is starting a Concierge Service as well. But we can still see here under our insurance plan. It just might take longer to see her. But we figure, she is so busy now, that it takes us almost 3 weeks to get in anyway. 

try dr cavnar-johnson i started seeing them they did come recommended by several. 

So in a nutshell in a concierge practice, the doctor will see less patients, for more money?? Our money, as a "membership" to be part of this plan, all for the type of care and availability we used to have, should have in the first place. Membership is not cheap. Who wins? Will there ever be an end to this? What if the physician opens the enrollment to more patients therefore limiting the time slot for each patient again as they currently have now? 

But I thought we could keep our dr's???

My neuro wont accept Ocare. He can't. Told me that unless he joins into a team of other nuero's he wont be allowed to practice under ocare's rules. So he went with only patients on personal insurance or medicaid/medicare 

I have been reading up on Concierge Practices. I am still learning about it. It is run separately from your insurance I think? You pay a monthly membership fee and you get your doctor's care. Often without even a office visit via email, text, etc. Not all labs and procedures will be done, or done at a fee even if it is covered by your insurance. At least that is what I understand? It is all so confusing. If you choose not to join, you will not see your doctor, but one that they have hired to take his place. They are under the guise that since in theory everyone will have insurance, the wait in the waiting room will be a long one and they won't be able to give you the care they want to give. Do you believe that?? This type of service could cost our family $2,400 a year in addition to what we pay for our insurance plan. Most insurance plans have ot included Concierge Practice in their plans yet. 

wiki had some info on it, really confusing to read though. Maybe its just too late for me :) 

Dr. Lansang - fairly new in area - located in Town Center.

He is open on Saturday AND Sunday. 

I got a notice that our family physician, Dr. Elliott, is changing to concierge practice. She sent a letter and a brochure explaining what you get for the additional membership, but you have to go to a little seminar to find out what the fees actually are. I'm thinking about moving to Kelsey-Seybold instead.

DH, DD and I all have Blue Cross Blue Shield through my job. 

Don't ever go to Dr. Melissa Young near Walgreen's on WLH Pkwy. 

What about :4. Mann in the kingwood area, that who my ins. In trying to send me to. Any input greatly . Thanks in advance! 

Guys, read the fine print. YOU CAN KEEP YOUR DOCTOR. Sheesh. How hard is that to understand??? KEEP YOUR DOCTOR!!! 

Guys, read the fine print. YOU CAN KEEP YOUR DOCTOR. Sheesh. How hard is that to understand??? KEEP YOUR DOCTOR!!!


I guess my fine print is different than YOUR fine print. My letter specifically says, "As of July 1, I will be only seeing patients who have membership in the Concierge Plan".

Maybe you should read your fine print more carefully?? 

I guess my fine print is different than YOUR fine print. My letter specifically says, "As of July 1, I will be only seeing patients who have membership in the Concierge Plan".

Maybe you should read your fine print more carefully??

Obama said, "If you like your doctor you can keep your doctor."

Why is this so hard? 

I thought he said that you can keep your plan if you like it. 

I thought he said that you can keep your plan if you like it.?


yeah who else will he get to pay for this billion/trillion dollar plan? 

Why is your doctor changing their practice style? 

I am Dr. Elliott's patient too. I won't be able to join the "membership" because for one person it's $1500 per year. If anyone can recommend a good internist, please do.
Thanks. 

Me to but at an average of 3 dr visits a year that comes to about $500 for 15 min
Love the lady but can not do it 

What will happen to all the people who have to go to specialists? Orthopedist, rheumatologist, cardiologist, endocrinologists, Gyn, etc. NO ONE can afford "concierge" memberships for each one. Dr. Elliott would always send you off to specialists with problems anyway, happened 3 times to me, urologist, GI and Gyn. You just have to educate yourself and go directly to the specialist to by pass her. 

What will happen to all the people who have to go to specialists? Orthopedist, rheumatologist, cardiologist, endocrinologists, Gyn, etc. NO ONE can afford "concierge" memberships for each one. Dr. Elliott would always send you off to specialists with problems anyway, happened 3 times to me, urologist, GI and Gyn. You just have to educate yourself and go directly to the specialist to by pass her. 

Me too GREEBO - about 3 visits a year, if that. Cholesterol and thyroid lab tests and that's about it. I wonder how many people will be able to afford $1500 per year? 

I really like her, hope this works for her, but I believe she is misreading the market 

What does $1500/year get you? I spend a lot more than that a year for my insurance and out of pocket expenses. That's only $125/month. 

I see Dr. E once a year. I don't believe it is financially prudent for us to pay the extra for what I need from her. We are going to one of the Q&A Meetings to get further information before making our final decision. At this point, I agree with GREEBO. I don't her patient base will spend the extra money for health care. It's too bad, too. Been seeing Dr. E for 30 years. I always wanted a good relationship with my doctor when I reached old age. 

I am also with Elliott. I typically go once a year for my annual visit. Not worth the $1500 a year. I would just keep going to doc in a boxes but they won't write one of my RXs. I currently have BCBS but just found out we will be Aetna in June, 

She quote us $1200/yr-pp or$2400 for a Family Membership where my adult DD will be free. I have a lot of questions for Dr. E in regards to what will happen to us?? Will her PA fill our RX's? I know she says she will see only Concierge Plan patients. But will she still oversee our cases via blood work etc? I expect these questions will be answered at the meeting. 

Brooklyn, what is the issue with Dr. Young? I thought several here recommend her. I HATE doctor shopping! Surely there is a good one out there that still uses good ol fashioned insurance?? 

Years ago a friend told me about her doc going concierge. Only accepting 500 people for $1750 per person a year. That is $875,000 a year for the doc before he charges insurance for the visits / procedures. The patient gets his cell number and is available 24 / 7.

Told my surgeon friend about this and he said that it was illegal for docs to do this. Guess things have changed.