What Is MDVIP? Understanding Concierge Medicine Networks

A concierge medicine network is a company that partners with primary care physicians and helps them restructure their practice around a membership model. Instead of seeing hundreds of patients per day and billing insurance for each visit, the doctor limits their patient panel and charges each patient an annual or monthly fee. The network provides the business infrastructure, branding, billing support, and sometimes technology platforms that make this model work.

MDVIP is the largest and most widely recognized example of this franchise approach. Founded in 2000, it operates across dozens of states and partners with thousands of physicians. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has published educational material on concierge and direct-pay models, noting that these arrangements vary widely in structure, fee levels, and what is included. Understanding the network model specifically helps you compare it to other options, including independent concierge practices and direct primary care (DPC) clinics.

The key distinction is that a network model involves a third party between you and your doctor. The network sets standards, collects or facilitates fees, and may influence how the practice operates. An independent concierge doctor, by contrast, sets their own terms. Neither model is automatically better. What matters is whether the specific arrangement fits your health needs, budget, and preferences.

In a network like MDVIP, patients pay an annual membership fee. This fee covers a defined set of primary care services, which typically includes a comprehensive annual wellness visit, same-day or next-day appointment access, extended appointment times, and direct communication with the physician by phone or secure message. The exact services included vary by practice and network contract, so always ask for a written list before signing up.

This membership fee is separate from health insurance. You still need insurance or another payment arrangement for specialist care, hospital stays, imaging, labs ordered outside the membership, and prescription drugs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has clarified that concierge fees are generally not covered by Medicare, meaning Medicare beneficiaries who join a concierge network pay the membership fee entirely out of pocket. CMS guidance on this topic is available at medicare.gov. Some patients use a Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay membership fees, but IRS rules on whether a concierge fee qualifies as an eligible HSA expense depend on what services the fee covers. The IRS guidance on HSA-eligible expenses is available at irs.gov, and you should consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

Fee amounts vary by practice, geography, and network tier. DirectMedicine does not publish specific fee figures for any network because these change and differ by location. Ask the practice directly for their current fee schedule and get it in writing. Also ask what happens to your fee if your doctor leaves the network mid-year.

Independent concierge doctors set their own membership terms, fees, and included services without a franchisor's guidelines. This can mean more flexibility, but it also means less standardization. A network practice like MDVIP offers a more predictable patient experience because the network enforces certain standards across its affiliated physicians. For example, the network may require that affiliated doctors keep their panel below a certain size or offer a specific annual wellness program.

On the other hand, a portion of your membership fee in a network model goes to the network company itself, not entirely to your doctor's practice. Independent practices keep the full fee. This does not necessarily mean worse care in a network, but it is worth understanding where your money goes. Some patients also find that network-affiliated doctors have less flexibility to customize their services because they must follow the franchisor's contract terms.

Direct primary care (DPC) practices are a related but distinct model. DPC clinics typically charge lower monthly fees, do not bill insurance for primary care services, and operate under a simpler membership structure. The AAFP distinguishes DPC from concierge medicine primarily on the basis of fee levels and whether the practice also bills insurance for some services. You can read the AAFP's position on DPC at aafp.org. Network concierge practices like MDVIP often do still bill insurance for covered services on top of the membership fee, which is a meaningful structural difference.

Before you sign up, get clear answers to these questions in writing. First, what specific services are included in the membership fee, and what will still be billed to your insurance or charged separately? Second, how many patients does this doctor currently have in their panel, and what is the maximum panel size allowed by the network contract? A smaller panel is one of the main reasons patients choose this model, so verify the actual number. Third, what is the cancellation and refund policy if you move, change insurance, or are unhappy with the service?

Fourth, ask how the practice handles after-hours calls and what happens if your doctor is unavailable. Does the network provide a backup physician, or are you on your own? Fifth, if you are a Medicare beneficiary, ask explicitly which services the practice will bill to Medicare and which are covered only by the membership fee. CMS has published guidance on what Medicare does and does not cover in concierge arrangements, and your practice should be able to walk you through this clearly. Sixth, ask what happens to your membership if your doctor leaves the network. Some networks allow you to transfer to another affiliated physician; others may leave you without a provider mid-year.

Finally, ask for a sample membership agreement before you commit. Read it carefully. Look for automatic renewal clauses, fee escalation language, and arbitration requirements. If anything is unclear, ask the practice to explain it or consult a patient advocate before signing.

Patients who use primary care frequently, value longer appointment times, or want a more accessible relationship with their doctor often find concierge network practices worthwhile. Older adults managing multiple chronic conditions sometimes find the enhanced access and comprehensive annual wellness visits particularly useful. That said, this article does not provide medical advice, and whether this model is right for you depends on your personal health situation, finances, and preferences.

Patients who are generally healthy and rarely visit a primary care doctor may find that the annual membership fee does not provide enough value relative to its cost. For those patients, a DPC clinic with a lower monthly fee or a straightforward cash-pay practice might be a better fit. The right model depends on how often you use primary care, what your insurance covers, and how much you value the specific benefits the membership offers.

It is also worth noting that concierge network membership is not a substitute for health insurance. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and HealthCare.gov both emphasize that primary care memberships do not meet the definition of health coverage under federal law. You still need a plan that covers hospitalizations, specialist care, emergency services, and prescription drugs. Some patients pair a concierge or DPC membership with a high-deductible health plan and an HSA to cover catastrophic costs.

DirectMedicine is a directory of direct-pay, cash-pay, and direct primary care providers across the United States. When you search on DirectMedicine, you can compare practices by location, care model, and the services they list publicly. This makes it easier to see how a network concierge practice in your area compares to independent concierge doctors and DPC clinics nearby.

Because DirectMedicine focuses on transparent-care providers, the practices listed are oriented toward clear pricing and direct patient relationships. You can use the directory to build a shortlist of practices, then contact each one directly to ask the questions outlined in this article. No directory can make the decision for you, but having a clear comparison of your local options is a practical first step.

If you are weighing a concierge network membership against other direct-pay options, start by listing what matters most to you: appointment access, fee level, panel size, or specific services. Then use those priorities to guide your conversations with practices. DirectMedicine's goal is to give you the information and provider access you need to make that comparison confidently.