Concierge psychiatry is a membership model of psychiatric care. Instead of billing insurance visit by visit, you pay the practice directly, usually a one-time fee for an initial evaluation and then a monthly membership. In exchange, you get longer appointments, faster scheduling, and a way to reach your psychiatrist between visits.
Why it exists
In many insurance-based clinics, the economics push toward short visits. A follow-up might be 10 to 15 minutes, and getting a first appointment can take weeks or months. Questions between visits usually go through a portal or front desk. None of that reflects bad doctors; it reflects a system built around volume.
A concierge practice keeps its patient panel small. That makes room for a 60 to 90 minute first evaluation, follow-ups long enough to actually talk, and a doctor who knows your history without reading it off a screen.
What's usually included
- A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and written treatment plan
- Regular follow-up visits, often by secure video
- Medication management, refills, and prior authorizations
- Direct secure messaging or a text line with your psychiatrist
- Coordination with your therapist, primary care doctor, or family
What it costs
Prices vary widely. In Florida, initial evaluations commonly run several hundred dollars to around $1,000, and monthly memberships range from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000 depending on how many visits and how much access are included. A good practice will publish its prices clearly. At my practice, the full price list is on the membership page.
You can often recover part of the cost. Most concierge practices provide a superbill, a detailed receipt you can submit to your insurer for out-of-network reimbursement. Keep in mind insurers reimburse the visits, not the access, so expect partial reimbursement at best. HSA and FSA funds can usually be used too. I walk through the process in this guide to superbills.
Who it's a good fit for
- People who've felt rushed in short medication visits
- Anyone starting or adjusting medications who wants close follow-up
- Busy professionals who need flexible scheduling and fast answers
- People who want care in Spanish with their own doctor, not through an interpreter
- Anyone who wants a second opinion and real time to discuss it
When it isn't the right fit
Concierge psychiatry is outpatient care. It isn't a replacement for emergency services, and it's not the right setting for someone who needs hospitalization or an intensive program. If cost is a serious barrier, community mental health centers, in-network psychiatrists, and sliding-scale clinics are important options, and I'm always glad to point people toward them.
Questions to ask any concierge practice
- How long are visits, and how many are included each month?
- How do I reach the doctor between visits, and how fast will they reply?
- What happens after hours?
- Do you prescribe controlled medications, and under what conditions?
- Will you give me a superbill and a Good Faith Estimate?
- How do I cancel, and what happens to my care if I do?
This article is general information, not medical advice for your situation. If you're in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911.