Most healthy people don’t see the doctor until they are feeling unwell, and that may be as little as one time per year. So what is the point of paying a monthly membership if you only see the doctor once a year?

Preventative care

Even if you are as healthy as a horse, you still need to see your doctor annually. Visiting your doctor once a year allows them to get a baseline on your health. This allows them to catch any red flags that need attention early. Early detection has been proven to improve outcomes with everything from preventing diabetes to treating cancer. A study published in 2019 by JAMA Internal Medicine found that people with a primary care physician were significantly more likely to have routine care, fill prescriptions, and get important screenings.

After-hours access

Accidents and dangerous illnesses do not keep office hours. Paying a monthly membership gives you access to your doctor for emergencies even on nights, weekends, and holidays at no extra charge. A single emergency room visit can cost you thousands of dollars, and that will pay for years worth of membership fees.

Lower long-term care costs

Staying on top of your health can reap big benefits financially in the long run. Illnesses and diseases that are caught early can typically be managed or treated with significantly less medical intervention.

Lower cost for medications

Most membership-based practices offer significantly lower cost prescription medications and lab services. The prescription discount is often even less than the copay of medications covered by insurance.

Fair pricing

Clinics base their membership fee on the expectation that they will see you an average of three times per year. Chronic or uncontrolled health issues can mean more visits at first, but the goal for doctors should be better health for their patients, which naturally results in less visits over time. Once you are healthy, the best way to stay healthy is to have a great relationship with your doctor, visiting them annually and only when you really need to.

Membership-based clinics are worth the money you pay every month, even if you don’t see the doctor often. In fact, you might need to see the doctor even less!