Yes, call it boutique medicine or what you like, but for those of us not carryin medical insurance and needing to see a doctor they are a blessing. All cash payments mean lower prices for the patient in many cases. At least that has been my experience and doctors who take the time to listen to you. In my case the ER doctor diagnosed me with TIA, ordered several CAT scans (one, if I had been coherent would've refused it was of my abdomen for a benign fibroid tumor)blood work, started IV's etc. Top if off, if it had been a stroke...never gave me the meds to stop a stroke. Later the catastrophic insurance I was carrying refused to pay. Chaching to a $5000 bill!
Follow it all up with my Cash accepting doctor who listens to the story of that night...it was not a TIA. It turned out to be a nocturnal seizure. Why was I unable to control the ER tests...I was postictal and the ER doc. missed it...big time. DX is I am part of the 20% of the epileptic population that suffers with nocturnal epilepsy. Ding! Ding! To the doctor for under $500 bucks for making the right diagnosis. Help me revamp my nutrition to support and calm the brain. That my friend decreased the amount of meds. needed to control the nocturnal seizures. And has resulted in me being able to keep my license, thereby remain working for income.
The point is somewhere there is a huge flaw in the system. Be it the hospital or insurance or bankruptcy, but something needs to give for those of us stuck in the middle right now. Who were all those specialist that night in the ER? Thank God for a few good doctors who say the *blank* with the insurance companies, charge reasonable rates, and know their patients. Yes, two teirs of medicine are developing. Boutique or HMO? So far, I'll take my boutique doctor who has the time to take care of me.
Boutique medicine (also called "concierge care") is much more expensive than insurance. Retainer rates run from $1,500 to $2,500 a month and up, not including special services.