Concierge Medicine - Coming Soon to a Doctor Near You?

Since Kuwait likes to get behind the trends of other countries, this may be something that will catch on sometime in the future.

The definition of “Concierge Medicine,” according to Wikipedia:

Concierge medicine (also known as retainer medicine) is a relationship between a patient and a primary care physician in which the patient pays an annual fee or retainer. This may or may not be in addition to other charges. In exchange for the retainer, doctors provide enhanced care, including principally a commitment to limit patient loads to ensure adequate time and availability for each patient.

The practice has been referred to as concierge medicine, retainer medicine, membership medicine, cash-only practice, and direct care. While all "concierge" medicine practices share similarities, they vary widely in their structure, payment requirements, and form of operation. In particular, they differ in the level of service provided and the fee charged.

My mom is 86, retired and receives US government Medicare insurance.  Very few physicians in her area (near Washington, DC) will accept Medicare anymore.  (This is something to think about if you have elderly parents in the US.)    So, her alternative is finding a concierge physician.  She found one and the annual fee is around $2000.

In an article in Health Journal:

The concept of concierge medicine began in 1996, when a Seattle doctor decided to ask his patients to pay a flat fee—or retainer—in exchange for what he called “highly attentive medicine.” This allowed him to not have to rely on fees-for-service that were regulated by insurance companies.  (Full article HERE.)

The article goes on to say that the downside of concierge medicine is that it creates a two-tiered healthcare system for the haves and the have-nots; allowing membership only to those who can afford it.

This concept of membership is popular in Kuwait (health club memberships, auto-purchasing memberships, errand-running memberships, Kuwait official documentation servicing memberships, banking concierge memberships,  travel agency memberships), so I can see concierge medicine coming to Kuwait.