What Is Concierge Medicine — And Is It Right for You?
A plain-language guide to how MDVIP membership changes the primary care relationship, what's included, and who benefits most.
Most people have experienced the frustration of the modern healthcare system: waiting weeks for a routine appointment, spending more time in a waiting room than with your doctor, and feeling like your concerns weren't fully heard. This is not how primary care should work — and it's the primary reason concierge medicine exists.
Community Health Associates is an MDVIP-affiliated practice in Newtown, CT. This guide explains, honestly and plainly, what concierge medicine is, what MDVIP membership includes, and how you can decide whether it makes sense for you and your family.
What Is Concierge Medicine?
Concierge medicine — sometimes called direct primary care or retainer-based medicine — is a model in which patients pay an annual membership fee directly to their physician in exchange for a fundamentally different level of access and care.
In a traditional primary care practice, a physician may carry a panel of 2,000 or more patients. In a concierge model, that panel is dramatically smaller — which means your doctor has the time and capacity to truly know you.
MDVIP is one of the largest and most established concierge medicine networks in the country, with affiliated physicians across the United States. MDVIP physicians care for approximately 40% fewer patients than traditional practices — meaning more time, better access, and deeper continuity of care for each member. (Source: MDVIP)
What Does MDVIP Membership Include?
MDVIP membership at our Newtown practice provides four distinct categories of benefit:
1. Enhanced Access
- Same-day or next-day appointments — no waiting weeks to be seen
- After-hours direct communication — reach your doctor for urgent concerns outside of office hours
- Longer appointments — unhurried visits that give us time to address your full picture, not just one complaint
- Continuity while traveling — MDVIP support is available even when you're away from home
2. The MDVIP Annual Wellness Program
The signature benefit of MDVIP membership is the Annual Wellness Program — a comprehensive preventive evaluation that goes substantially beyond a standard physical. It covers twelve health domains:
- Cardiovascular and metabolic function, with advanced diagnostics through Cleveland HeartLab
- Diabetes and pre-diabetes risk markers
- Cognitive and brain health assessment
- Respiratory capacity
- Skeletal strength and bone health
- Sleep health and patterns
- Sensory health (vision, hearing)
- Nutritional status and physical fitness
- Weight management factors
- Mental health indicators
- Sexual wellness
- Pharmaceutical optimization
Results are used to build a personalized wellness plan — not just a printout of numbers, but a real year-round strategy for nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, and disease prevention tailored to your specific results.
3. Specialist Support Through Medical Centers of Excellence
If you ever need specialist care, MDVIP connects members to nationally recognized Medical Centers of Excellence — with support coordinating referrals, transferring records, and navigating the logistics of specialized care.
4. Ongoing Coordination and Prevention
MDVIP physicians proactively follow up on test results, monitor chronic conditions more closely, and work with you between annual visits to keep your plan on track. The goal is prevention — not reactive care.
Source: MDVIP outcomes data
How Does MDVIP Work With Insurance?
This is one of the most common questions patients ask — and the answer matters. MDVIP membership does not replace your health insurance. Our practice continues to accept insurance for office visits, specialist referrals, lab work, and hospitalizations.
The annual MDVIP membership fee covers the enhanced access, the advanced Annual Wellness Program, and the additional preventive services that insurance typically does not reimburse. Think of it as two complementary layers: insurance covers the reactive and routine, MDVIP covers the proactive and preventive.
The membership fee is payable quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. It is eligible for HSA and FSA reimbursement and may be tax-deductible as a medical expense — consult your tax advisor. Call our office for current fee information specific to our practice.
Standard Primary Care vs. MDVIP: A Plain Comparison
| Feature | Standard Primary Care | MDVIP Membership |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment availability | Days to weeks | Same-day or next-day |
| After-hours access | On-call service or ER | Direct physician communication |
| Annual physical | Standard exam + basic labs | MDVIP Annual Wellness Program (12 health domains, advanced diagnostics) |
| Visit length | 15–20 minutes avg. | Unhurried, no time pressure |
| Patient panel size | 1,500–2,500+ patients | ~40% fewer patients |
| Insurance accepted | Yes | Yes (plus membership fee) |
| Specialist coordination | Standard referral | Medical Centers of Excellence support |
| Membership fee | None | Annual fee (HSA/FSA eligible) |
Is MDVIP Right for You?
MDVIP membership is a meaningful investment — and it's not the right fit for everyone. It tends to be the best match for patients who:
- Have complex or chronic health conditions that require closer monitoring and more coordination
- Have a strong family history of heart disease, cancer, or other serious conditions and want proactive, advanced screening
- Travel frequently and need reliable healthcare access while away from home
- Have demanding schedules and simply cannot afford to wait weeks for an appointment
- Want a true long-term partnership with their primary care physician — not a transactional encounter
- Are approaching middle age or retirement and want to take a more proactive approach to aging well
If you're currently healthy and have no significant risk factors, standard primary care with a trusted provider may serve you well. But for patients who want the closest possible relationship with their doctor and the most comprehensive preventive evaluation available, MDVIP offers something genuinely different.
MDVIP membership at Community Health Associates is currently open to new patients. If you're curious whether it's right for you, call us — we're happy to walk you through what membership includes and what to expect, before you commit to anything.
Join Our MDVIP Practice in Newtown, CT
Community Health Associates has served Newtown and the surrounding communities for over 40 years. We are independently owned, patient-first, and committed to the kind of primary care that actually makes a difference in your long-term health.
To inquire about MDVIP membership or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jeffrey Friedman, call (203) 270-1077 or visit us at 153 S Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MDVIP concierge medicine?
MDVIP is a concierge medicine network in which patients pay an annual membership fee for enhanced access to their primary care physician — including same-day appointments, after-hours communication, a smaller patient panel, and an advanced Annual Wellness Program with diagnostics that go substantially beyond a standard physical. Insurance continues to cover routine and specialist care.
How much does MDVIP membership cost?
Fees vary by physician and location. The membership fee is payable quarterly, semi-annually, or annually, and is eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement. Call our office at (203) 270-1077 for current membership pricing at our Newtown practice.
Does MDVIP replace my health insurance?
No. MDVIP membership supplements your insurance. Your physician continues to accept insurance for covered visits, labs, specialist referrals, and hospitalizations. The membership fee covers enhanced access and advanced preventive services not typically reimbursed by insurance.
Is Dr. Jeffrey Friedman accepting new MDVIP patients?
Yes. Dr. Friedman is currently accepting new MDVIP members at Community Health Associates in Newtown, CT. Call (203) 270-1077 to learn more or schedule an introductory consultation.
What is included in the MDVIP Annual Wellness Program?
The MDVIP Annual Wellness Program is a comprehensive evaluation covering twelve health domains, including cardiovascular health (with advanced diagnostics through Cleveland HeartLab), diabetes risk, cognitive function, respiratory capacity, bone health, sleep, nutrition, fitness, mental health, and more. Results are used to build a personalized year-round wellness plan.