As a pediatrician who has spent years caring for children, I have seen the healthcare landscape change dramatically. Parents today are busier than ever, and the traditional healthcare model often feels rushed and impersonal. You might have found yourself waiting weeks for an appointment or sitting in a crowded waiting room for an hour, only to see the doctor for ten minutes. This frustration is exactly why I, Dr. Anita Sabeti, am so passionate about the concierge model. It brings the focus back to where it belongs: the relationship between the doctor, the child, and the parent.
One of the most common questions I receive isn’t about medical treatments or vaccination schedules. It is about the financial aspect of this care model. Parents want to know the bottom line. They want to understand the cost of concierge pediatrics and what they are actually paying for. It is a fair question. When you step outside of the traditional insurance-driven model, you need to know if the investment makes sense for your family. In this guide, I want to walk you through the costs, the structure, and the immense value that comes with personalized pediatric care.
Understanding the Membership Model
To understand the cost, you first have to understand the structure. Concierge pediatrics, sometimes referred to as boutique medicine or direct primary care, operates differently than the standard fee-for-service model you might be used to. In a traditional practice, doctors are paid by insurance companies based on how many patients they see and what codes they bill. This volume-based system forces doctors to see 25 to 30 patients a day just to keep the lights on.
In my practice, and in concierge pediatrics generally, we operate on a membership model. Think of it like a subscription service or a gym membership, but for your child’s health. You pay a set fee—usually monthly or annually—that secures your spot in the practice. This fee covers the non-clinical services that insurance doesn’t pay for, specifically direct access and time.
The Breakdown of Fees
So, what are the actual numbers? While prices vary depending on the location and the specific doctor, I can give you a general idea of the market landscape. Most concierge pediatric practices charge a membership fee that ranges anywhere from $150 to $300 per month per child. Some ultra-exclusive practices in major metropolitan hubs may charge more, while others offer discounts for additional siblings.
Here is how the pricing generally breaks down:
- Monthly Retainers: This is the most common method. Parents pay a monthly fee automatically. It is easier for budgeting and spreads the cost out over the year.
- Annual Fees: Some practices offer a slight discount if you pay the full year upfront. This usually ranges from $1,800 to $3,500 per year per child.
- Family Caps: If you have a large family, costs can add up. Many pediatricians, myself included, want to make this accessible for larger families, so we often have a maximum family fee per month regardless of how many children you have.
Does Insurance Still Play a Role?
There is a misconception that joining a concierge practice means you have to give up your insurance or that your insurance becomes useless. That is rarely the case. In most concierge models, we adhere to a hybrid system.
Your membership fee covers the “concierge” services—the 24/7 access, the cell phone number of your doctor, the extended appointments, and the administrative support. However, for medical services like vaccinations, throat swabs, blood work, or specialist referrals, we still bill your insurance just like a traditional doctor would. This means you can still utilize the health plan you are paying for, but you get a premium level of service on top of it.
This hybrid approach protects you from catastrophic costs. If your child needs hospitalization or surgery, your insurance is there. But for the day-to-day management of their health, the membership fee ensures you have a doctor who knows your child’s name and medical history by heart.
Analyzing the Value: Is Concierge Pediatrics Worth It?
Now that we have discussed the numbers, we need to address the real question: Is concierge pediatrics worth it? As a parent, you are constantly weighing cost versus benefit. On paper, paying an extra monthly fee might seem like a luxury. However, when you dig into the data and the reality of modern parenting, the value proposition becomes very clear.
When you ask if the cost is justified, you have to look at what you are saving in return. You are not just buying medical care; you are buying time, peace of mind, and convenience. Let’s look at the specific areas where the return on investment is highest.
The Value of Time and Convenience
Time is one of our most limited resources. In a traditional practice, the average wait time for a new patient appointment can be staggering. According to a survey by Merritt Hawkins, the average wait time to schedule a new patient appointment in 15 major cities is approximately 26 days. That is nearly a month of waiting just to get your foot in the door.
Once you actually get the appointment, you often spend 20 to 40 minutes in a waiting room full of other sick children, only to see the doctor for a rushed 10 to 15-minute slot. In a concierge practice, we flip this dynamic. Because I limit the number of patients I accept, I can offer same-day or next-day appointments. When you arrive, there is no wait. My appointments typically last 30 to 60 minutes. This allows me to do a thorough exam, answer every single question you have, and connect with your child so they feel safe and heard.
24/7 Access and Peace of Mind
Children rarely get sick during convenient office hours. Fevers spike at 2:00 AM. Rashes appear on Sunday mornings. In the traditional model, your options during these times are limited to an urgent care center or the Emergency Room. Both are expensive, stressful, and expose your child to more germs. Furthermore, the doctor at the ER does not know your child’s history.
With concierge pediatrics, your membership fee buys you direct access to me. You are not calling a triage nurse line or an answering service; you are texting or calling my personal cell phone. I can assess a situation via video call or text instantly. I have saved countless families from unnecessary ER trips simply by being available to say, “That looks okay, here is what you need to do at home,” or “Yes, meet me at the office right now.”
For many parents, avoiding just one or two ER visits a year—and the high co-pays and deductibles associated with them—can offset a significant portion of the annual membership fee. That financial trade-off makes the question “is concierge pediatrics worth it” much easier to answer.
The Hidden Costs of Traditional Care
When comparing costs, it is important to look at the hidden costs of the standard healthcare model. We often look at the copay as the only cost, but that is not accurate. There are indirect costs that impact your wallet and your quality of life.
- Missed Work: If you have to take a half-day off work to take your child to the doctor because they are running an hour behind schedule, you are losing money or vacation time.
- Unnecessary Testing: Doctors who are rushed and don’t know a patient well are statistically more likely to order unnecessary tests or prescribe antibiotics “just in case” because they don’t have the time to wait and watch or follow up closely the next day.
- Urgent Care Fees: As mentioned before, if your doctor is booked for three weeks and your child has an ear infection, you end up at urgent care paying a higher specialized copay.
By streamlining care and offering telemedicine options for minor issues, I help my families avoid these hidden drains on their finances. I respect your time as much as I respect your child’s health.
The Doctor-Patient Ratio Difference
The reason I can offer this level of care comes down to math. It is impossible to provide personalized attention when you have thousands of patients. This brings me to a crucial data point regarding the workload of physicians.
In a standard, insurance-based pediatric practice, a single physician typically carries a patient panel of 2,000 to 2,500 patients. To manage that many children, the doctor must move at lightning speed. In contrast, in my concierge practice, I cap my patient panel significantly lower, usually between 300 to 600 patients maximum. This reduction in volume is what creates the space for quality care. I am not burnt out, I remember your child’s nickname, and I recall that they were nervous about their last flu shot.
For more insights on how these ratios affect patient care and the evolving landscape of medical practice, you can read this interesting article on the rise of concierge medicine from Forbes.
Holistic and Preventative Focus
Another factor that influences the cost—and the value—is the scope of care. Standard pediatrics is often reactive. You come in when you are sick, or you come in for a quick checklist wellness check. Because of the time constraints, there is rarely time to discuss nutrition, sleep hygiene, behavioral issues, or school performance in depth.
I view the cost of concierge pediatrics as an investment in preventative, holistic health. Because we have the luxury of time, we can discuss the root causes of issues. If your child is struggling with sleep, we don’t just look for a quick fix; we look at their schedule, their diet, and their stress levels. We can develop a comprehensive plan together. This proactive approach often leads to healthier children and fewer medical interventions down the road.
For parents of children with chronic conditions—such as asthma, ADHD, or allergies—the value is even higher. Navigating the healthcare system with a chronic condition can be a full-time job. Having a concierge pediatrician acts as a project manager for your child’s health. I coordinate with specialists, I review records from other doctors, and I make sure nothing falls through the cracks. This advocacy is included in your membership.
Is It Right for Your Family?
I recognize that concierge pediatrics is a significant financial commitment. It is not the right fit for every single family, and that is okay. However, I often advise parents to look at their monthly budget and see where they prioritize spending. We often pay for conveniences in other areas of life—streaming services, food delivery, gym memberships—because they make our lives easier and better.
If you value a relationship-based approach to medicine, if you have a child with complex needs, or if you are a busy professional who cannot afford to spend hours in a waiting room, then the cost is often justifiable. It provides a safety net. It transforms the doctor-patient dynamic from a transaction into a partnership.
Making the Decision
Choosing a pediatrician is one of the most important decisions you make as a parent. It is about trust. When you look at the price tag of concierge care, try to frame it within the context of the service level provided. It is a return to the way medicine used to be—doctors making house calls (which I often do for newborns), doctors answering their own phones, and doctors who truly know their patients.
In my experience, once families make the switch, they find it difficult to imagine going back to the traditional model. The relief of knowing that you can text me at 9:00 PM on a Friday when your toddler falls and hits their head, and getting an immediate, calm response, is priceless. That peace of mind is what you are investing in.
If you are considering this path, I encourage you to schedule a meet-and-greet with a concierge pediatrician. Ask about their fees, ask about their insurance policies, but more importantly, ask about their philosophy. You are looking for a partner in raising your child. When you find the right fit, you will likely find that the cost of concierge pediatrics is an investment that returns dividends in the form of your child’s health and your own sanity.
