Concierge Medicine Cost: How Membership Fees Work
There is no reliable national average. There is a clear way to work out what a membership would cost you.
3 min readBy Concierge Med Near Me
Why there is no simple price
People reasonably want one number. The honest answer is that concierge medicine does not have one. Practices are independent businesses that set fees based on their local market, the size of the physician's panel, and what the membership includes.
We have not found a current, methodologically sound national survey of concierge fees, so we do not print an average. What follows is what credible published sources do say, with their limits.
What published data shows
Concierge medicine
The most detailed public source is a U.S. Government Accountability Office report that surveyed 112 concierge physicians using October 2004 data. It found:
- Annual fees ranged from $60 to $15,000
- About half of the physicians charged between $1,500 and $1,999 a year
- The single most common fee was $1,500
This data is roughly two decades old. It is useful for showing how wide the range is, not for predicting what a practice near you charges now.
Direct primary care
Data on direct primary care is more recent.
- The American Academy of Family Physicians says monthly fees generally range from $50 to $100.
- A 2020 Society of Actuaries report, based on a survey of about 200 direct primary care physicians, found these average monthly fees:
| Member | Average monthly fee (2020 survey) |
|---|---|
| Children | $40 |
| Adults 19 to 24 | $65 |
| Adults 25 to 50 | $75 |
| Adults 51 to 64 | $80 |
| Adults 65 and over | $85 |
| Families | $150 |
These are survey averages from one point in time. Individual practices charge more and less.
Varies by practice. Treat every figure here as background. The only number that matters for your decision is the one a specific practice puts in writing.
How fees are structured
When you compare practices, look past the headline price to the structure.
- Billing period. Monthly, quarterly, or annual. Annual prepayment makes the refund policy more important.
- Enrollment fee. Some practices charge a one-time fee to join.
- Age tiers. Fees often rise with age.
- Household pricing. Some practices discount a second adult or cap the family total.
- Increases. Ask how much notice you get before the fee changes.
What you still pay for
The membership fee sits beside your other healthcare costs. It does not absorb them.
| Cost | Typically included in a membership? |
|---|---|
| Insurance premiums | No. Paid to your insurer as before. |
| Office visit charges | Depends. Included in direct primary care; often billed to insurance in concierge practices. |
| Laboratory testing | Sometimes basic tests; often separate. |
| Imaging | No. |
| Specialist care | No. |
| Prescription expenses | No, though some practices dispense common medications at cost. |
| Hospital and emergency expenses | No. |
Because of that last row, a membership does not necessarily replace health insurance. See does insurance cover concierge medicine?
Working out your own annual cost
A fair comparison uses a full year and includes everything.
- Membership fee for everyone in your household who would join, converted to an annual amount.
- Insurance premiums for the year.
- Expected out-of-pocket costs under your plan. Last year's total is a reasonable starting estimate.
- Other expected expenses your plan does not cover.
Add them up, then compare the total with and without the membership. Our membership cost worksheet does the arithmetic. It cannot tell you whether the difference is worth paying. For that, see is concierge medicine worth it?
Fees and Medicare
If you have Medicare, note that Medicare does not cover membership fees for concierge care. You pay the fee yourself, and physicians must still follow Medicare's billing rules for covered services. See concierge medicine and Medicare.
Fees and health savings accounts
Since January 1, 2026, federal law allows health savings account funds to pay the fees for a qualifying direct primary care arrangement, within monthly limits set out in IRS Notice 2026-5. An arrangement that charges a membership fee and bills separately for services, as many concierge practices do, does not qualify under that guidance. The details are in our insurance guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of concierge medicine?
We do not publish an average because no current, reliable national figure exists. The most detailed federal survey used 2004 data and found annual fees from $60 to $15,000, with $1,500 the most common. Fees today differ by practice and region, so ask each practice directly.
How much does direct primary care cost per month?
The American Academy of Family Physicians says monthly fees generally range from $50 to $100. A 2020 Society of Actuaries survey found average monthly adult fees between $65 and $85 depending on age. Individual practices set their own prices.
Is the membership fee all I pay?
Rarely. You will still pay insurance premiums and, in many practices, cost sharing on visits billed to your plan. Labs, imaging, prescriptions, specialists, and hospital care are separate.
Can I pay a concierge fee with my HSA or FSA?
It depends on the arrangement. Federal law now allows HSA funds to pay fees for qualifying direct primary care arrangements. Typical concierge retainers that bill insurance separately do not meet that definition, and their treatment is less clear. Ask your plan administrator or a tax professional.
Sources
- U.S. Government Accountability Office. Physician Services: Concierge Care Characteristics and Considerations for Medicare (GAO-05-929) (2005).
- Society of Actuaries (prepared by Milliman). Direct Primary Care: Evaluating a New Model of Delivery and Financing (2020).
- American Academy of Family Physicians. Direct Primary Care Model for Family Physicians.
- Internal Revenue Service. Notice 2026-5 (health savings accounts and direct primary care service arrangements) (2025).
- Medicare.gov. Concierge care.
We link to primary and authoritative sources where we can. Rules and figures change, so check the linked source for the current version. See our editorial standards.
This article is general education, not medical, legal, tax, or insurance advice. Concierge and direct primary care arrangements vary by practice and by state. Confirm the specifics with the practice, your health plan, or a qualified professional before you decide. Read our medical disclaimer.
