What Is MDVIP? Understanding the Largest Concierge Medicine Network

MDVIP is a for-profit company that partners with primary care physicians across the country to offer a concierge-style practice model. Founded in 2000, it has grown into the largest concierge medicine network in the United States, with affiliated doctors in most states. The company provides doctors with administrative support, branding, and a technology platform, while physicians agree to follow the MDVIP model for their practice.

The core idea behind MDVIP is that a doctor limits the number of patients in their practice, usually to around 600 patients compared to the 2,000 or more patients a typical primary care doctor sees. That smaller panel is supposed to give each patient more time, easier scheduling, and a closer relationship with their doctor. Patients pay an annual membership fee directly to MDVIP in exchange for that enhanced access and a set of included wellness services.

It is important to understand that MDVIP is a corporate network, not a single practice. Each affiliated doctor is still an independent physician or part of a local medical group. MDVIP sets the framework, but the doctor-patient relationship is with your specific physician, not with MDVIP itself. If your doctor leaves the MDVIP network, you may need to find a new provider or follow your doctor to whatever model they adopt next.

MDVIP members pay an annual fee directly to MDVIP, not to their doctor's office. The fee amount can vary by location, physician, and market, so you should ask the specific practice for their current rate rather than relying on any single published figure. MDVIP has publicly stated that a portion of the annual fee goes to the physician and a portion goes to MDVIP for its platform and support services.

The annual fee is generally described as covering a comprehensive wellness program that may include an in-depth annual physical, personalized health assessments, and certain preventive screenings bundled into that visit. However, the membership fee does not replace health insurance. Routine office visits, lab work, specialist referrals, hospitalizations, and prescriptions are typically billed to your insurance plan or paid out of pocket separately, just as they would be in a standard primary care practice.

Because the membership fee is not a payment for specific medical services but rather for access and a wellness program, it is generally not reimbursable through traditional health insurance. Whether the fee qualifies as a deductible medical expense under IRS rules depends on your individual tax situation. The IRS provides guidance on what counts as a qualified medical expense under Publication 502, and you should consult a tax professional for advice specific to your circumstances. The IRS does not currently issue blanket rulings on concierge medicine fees.

MDVIP markets its membership around a signature wellness program. This generally includes a comprehensive annual physical that goes beyond what a standard Medicare or commercial insurance wellness visit covers, along with personalized health planning, fitness assessments, and in some cases access to health coaching tools. The specific services bundled into the fee can vary by physician and by the tier of membership offered.

Enhanced access is a central selling point. MDVIP members typically receive same-day or next-day appointments, longer appointment times, direct phone or messaging access to their physician, and 24/7 availability for urgent concerns. For patients who have struggled to get timely appointments in a crowded traditional practice, this accessibility can be meaningful.

What the membership does not include is equally important to understand. Diagnostic tests, imaging, specialist visits, urgent care, emergency care, and prescription medications are not covered by the annual fee. You still need health insurance or a separate payment strategy for those services. MDVIP itself is not insurance and does not function as insurance. This is a point the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has noted in its discussions of concierge and direct-pay models: membership fees for enhanced access are separate from coverage for medical services.

Not all concierge medicine practices are part of the MDVIP network. Many physicians run independent concierge practices without any corporate affiliation. An independent concierge doctor sets their own fee structure, defines their own included services, and keeps full control over how they run their practice. This can mean more flexibility in pricing, services, and the patient relationship, but it also means less standardization. You may find wide variation in what independent concierge practices include and how they handle billing.

MDVIP's network model offers some advantages for patients who move frequently or want a recognizable brand with a defined set of standards. Because MDVIP has a national footprint, some patients find it easier to understand what they are getting. On the other hand, the corporate structure means that a share of your membership fee goes to MDVIP rather than entirely to your physician, and the doctor operates within MDVIP's guidelines rather than with complete independence.

When comparing MDVIP to an independent concierge practice, ask each practice directly: What is included in the fee? What is billed to insurance separately? How long has this doctor been in practice here? What happens if the doctor leaves the network or retires? These questions apply whether you are evaluating an MDVIP-affiliated doctor or an independent concierge physician.

Direct primary care (DPC) and MDVIP concierge medicine share some surface similarities: both use a membership or subscription fee and both aim to give patients better access to a primary care doctor. But the underlying models are meaningfully different. The AAFP defines DPC as a practice model in which the physician charges a periodic fee for a defined set of primary care services and does not bill insurance for those services. MDVIP-affiliated practices, by contrast, continue to bill insurance for office visits and other clinical services on top of the annual membership fee.

This billing difference has practical consequences. In a DPC practice, your monthly fee typically covers most or all routine primary care visits, basic labs, and care coordination with no additional copays or insurance claims for those services. In an MDVIP practice, your annual fee covers the wellness program and enhanced access, but your insurance is still billed for clinical encounters. If you have a high-deductible health plan, you may still face significant out-of-pocket costs for visits even after paying the MDVIP membership fee.

DPC practices also tend to have lower monthly fees than MDVIP annual fees when broken down on a per-month basis, though this varies by region and practice. DPC is generally positioned as a more affordable option for patients without insurance or with high-deductible plans, while MDVIP is often positioned toward patients who have insurance and want a premium experience on top of it. Neither model is right for everyone, and the best fit depends on your health needs, insurance situation, and budget.

MDVIP has a significant number of affiliated physicians who see Medicare patients, and this is an important consideration. Medicare does not cover the MDVIP annual membership fee. CMS has been clear that Medicare does not pay for concierge medicine fees or retainer fees charged by physicians for enhanced access. If you are a Medicare beneficiary and you join an MDVIP practice, you pay the annual fee out of pocket, and Medicare continues to be billed for covered clinical services as it normally would.

Medicare patients should also be aware of the rules around balance billing and assignment. MDVIP-affiliated physicians who accept Medicare assignment agree to Medicare's fee schedule for covered services. The annual membership fee is separate and is not a Medicare-covered service. CMS has published guidance clarifying that physicians who participate in Medicare can charge a separate fee for non-covered services like a concierge membership, as long as they follow proper disclosure requirements. Patients should ask the practice for written documentation of exactly what the fee covers and what will be billed to Medicare separately.

For Medicare Advantage plan members, the same general principle applies: the membership fee is not covered by your plan, and clinical services are billed to your Medicare Advantage plan according to your plan's benefits. Always verify with both the MDVIP practice and your plan before enrolling to understand your total potential costs.

Whether you are considering an MDVIP-affiliated doctor or an independent concierge practice, a few key questions can help you make a more informed decision. First, ask for a written breakdown of exactly what the annual or monthly fee includes and what will be billed separately to insurance or paid out of pocket. Second, ask how the practice handles after-hours calls, urgent visits, and situations where you need care while traveling. Third, ask what happens to your care if the doctor leaves the practice or the network.

It is also worth asking about the doctor's patient panel size. One of the main promises of concierge medicine is a smaller, more attentive practice. Ask how many patients the doctor currently has and what the typical wait time is for a same-day or next-day appointment. If the panel is already close to capacity, the access benefits may be less pronounced than the marketing suggests.

Finally, consider your overall healthcare spending. Add up the annual membership fee plus your insurance premiums plus your expected out-of-pocket costs for clinical services. Compare that total to what you currently spend or would spend in a DPC practice or a standard primary care setting. There is no universally right answer, but doing the math for your own situation will help you decide whether the premium access is worth the additional cost.

DirectMedicine is a free directory that lists direct-pay, cash-pay, and direct primary care practices across the United States. If you are researching concierge medicine options like MDVIP and want to compare them to independent DPC or cash-pay practices in your area, DirectMedicine lets you browse providers by location and care model so you can see what is available near you.

Every listing on DirectMedicine is focused on practices that offer transparent pricing and direct relationships with patients. You can use the directory to find DPC practices that publish their monthly membership fees, cash-pay primary care doctors who do not bill insurance, and other direct-care providers who prioritize access and affordability. This makes it easier to do a side-by-side comparison of your options before you commit to any membership or fee.

DirectMedicine does not endorse any specific practice or network, and nothing on the site is medical advice. The goal is simply to give patients the information they need to find and evaluate transparent-care providers on their own terms, whether that means a large concierge network like MDVIP, an independent concierge doctor, a DPC practice, or a straightforward cash-pay clinic.