Both online urgent care and concierge medicine are alternatives to traditional care, but the real choice for most Georgia patients is visit-based care versus membership-based care. Online urgent care is usually the better fit if you want one virtual visit for a minor acute issue: Med Membership’s option is $79 and includes seven days of related message clarification. Concierge medicine makes more sense if you expect ongoing support, since Med Membership’s $99-per-person monthly membership includes one clinically appropriate video visit, up to four brief secure-message consultations, and routine referral coordination, with a monthly commitment.
If you are comparing telemedicine options in Georgia for minor acute concerns or broader ongoing support, the differences that matter are cost, how many visits and messages are included, what follow-up actually covers, which costs stay separate, and what happens when a virtual visit is not enough. The comparison below walks through those service details, payment structure, questions to ask before choosing, how to prepare for a telemedicine visit, and the specific Med Membership options confirmed by physician founder Dr. Andre Haynes. It does not determine whether telemedicine is appropriate for your medical concern.
The short answer: compare the visit and the ongoing support
The $79 option is a single online urgent care visit with seven days of related message clarification, and virtual care often offers faster appointments than traditional care. The $99 monthly membership includes one clinically appropriate video visit, up to four brief secure-message consultations and routine referral and results coordination. Additional member video visits cost $49 each.
Start by comparing the kind of access you expect to use, the limits of that access and the monthly commitment. Also compare how and when you can communicate with doctors, not just how many visits are included. Neither a booking nor membership enrollment guarantees a prescription or a particular treatment. Review the current Med Membership visit and membership details and confirm the scope with the team before clinical care.
Online urgent care and membership compared
Comparison point |
$79 urgent care visit |
$99 monthly membership |
|---|---|---|
Payment structure |
One visit at $79 |
$99 per person per month |
Video visits |
The scheduled virtual appointment for convenience |
One clinically appropriate video visit included monthly; additional member video visits $49 each |
Messages |
Seven days of related message clarification |
Up to four brief secure-message consultations |
Coordination |
Ask what applies to your visit |
Routine referral and results coordination, with support to help you keep track of follow-up needs |
Separate costs |
Confirm any medication, testing or outside-care charges; online urgent care often uses a per-visit or insurance-copay model when applicable |
Medications, tests, imaging, specialists and in-person care are separate |
Ongoing commitment |
Confirm the charge for any later appointment |
Month-to-month; no enrollment fee or rollover |
What the $79 online urgent care visit includes
The one-off visit provides a way to schedule a telemedicine conversation for straightforward, minor acute issues handled remotely without first selecting the monthly membership. Its seven-day related-message clarification period is tied to that visit. It should not be interpreted as seven days of unlimited new consultations or a promise of immediate replies.
Before booking, ask what the visit covers, which non-life-threatening conditions it can address, and whether that includes common illnesses such as sinus problems. Confirm any additional charges rather than assuming that a message, a new concern or an outside service is included. Even if the original issue seemed simple, another appointment may be required for a new concern.
What the $99 monthly concierge medicine and direct primary care membership includes
The membership offers defined ongoing telemedicine support. Each month includes one clinically appropriate video visit, up to four brief secure-message consultations and routine referral and results coordination. Some concierge-style memberships, such as 1Care2Go, include unlimited virtual care and house calls. Some membership models also remind members when they are due for screenings, vaccines, or follow-up visits. Additional member video visits are $49 each. Some memberships also include one free urgent care house call each month. The plan is month-to-month, has no enrollment fee and does not roll unused benefits into another month. Many concierge medicine practices use a fee-plus-insurance model through an office, with membership fees and insurance coverage both required and annual contracts common, unlike this month-to-month offering.
Defined benefits matter more than the word “concierge.” Some concierge practices market same-day appointments and 24/7 physician access, but this membership does not promise either. It is built for more ongoing provider support than one-off online urgent care visits, where patients typically do not have continuing relationships with the clinician. This membership does not provide unlimited or 24/7 access. Ask how the messaging allowance works, how visits are arranged and which enrollment and cancellation terms apply. Do not assume that the membership includes the services of a specialist simply because referral coordination is included.
Compare the costs beyond the advertised price
A useful comparison separates the practice's visit or membership charge from other services. Med Membership's membership price does not include medications, testing, imaging, specialist care or in-person care. Ask about any likely separate charges before proceeding. At the high end, concierge medicine can cost up to $25,000 annually, while direct primary care is often priced up to $100 monthly. Direct primary care also often emphasizes unlimited access to primary care services and may allow cancellation at any time, which is a different structure from plans that separate visit use, referrals, labs, or blood work.
HHS guidance on paying for telehealth recommends checking costs with the provider or insurer before a visit. Most insurance plans cover virtual visits like in-person visits, but you still need to verify the specific practice and service. General information about insurance coverage does not establish that a particular practice, clinician or service participates in your plan. Confirm any applicable coverage directly; this guide does not state Med Membership's insurance-acceptance policy.
Med Membership also offers a conversion credit: join within seven days of a paid $79 urgent care visit and that $79 applies toward the first $99 membership month, leaving $20 additional. The initial visit counts as the included monthly visit. The credit is limited to one per person and has no cash value. Ask the team to confirm the enrollment details before joining.
Questions to ask before choosing either option
What does the visit or membership cover for the concern I want to discuss, and does virtual care extend beyond urgent needs into some chronic disease management depending on the practice?
How do I arrange a video visit or use the appropriate messaging channel?
What happens when I need another appointment or use the monthly allowance?
Which charges, outside providers or in-person services are separate, and is care limited to the practice or coordinated through a wider provider network?
How will the clinician decide whether a virtual visit is appropriate?
What should I do if I need care outside the practice's available access?
These questions help you compare access without using a price or membership label to decide clinical suitability. Online urgent care uses digital platforms to connect patients to clinicians, so confirm how follow-up is handled. If an examination, testing or another setting is needed, discuss the next step with the clinician. This website and appointment scheduler are not emergency services; call 911 for a medical emergency.
Preparing for the virtual visit
HHS telehealth preparation guidance suggests checking visit instructions, testing your device and internet connection, and finding a quiet place where you can speak privately. Before the visit, ensure you have a webcam, microphone, and stable internet, and when possible join from home in comfort and privacy. Ask in advance if you need help accessing the appointment.
Med Membership uses Calendly for scheduling, with team follow-up afterward. Visits and billing are handled through eVisit. The team may also send follow-up instructions by email, so check that message if you need help accessing the visit. Keep health histories, records and other private medical information out of public website forms and Calendly; follow the clinical instructions provided by the team.
Use our Georgia telehealth appointment preparation checklist for a step-by-step review of joining instructions, technology, privacy, medication notes and questions to ask before your visit.
Frequently asked questions
How does online urgent care differ from a walk-in clinic near me?
Med Membership offers scheduled online urgent care for people in Georgia, giving remote access for minor acute issues without traveling to a clinic. You choose an available appointment time in Calendly, the team follows up with instructions, and the visit and billing take place through eVisit. This is a virtual appointment rather than a walk-in clinic visit, so people dealing with straightforward non-life-threatening conditions may prefer the convenience of care from home. The clinician assesses whether telemedicine is appropriate; an in-person evaluation may be needed. You can book the one-time urgent care option without joining the monthly membership, which works for patients who want help without an ongoing membership relationship.
Is a telemedicine membership health insurance?
No. Med Membership's defined service membership is not health insurance. It is a service arrangement, not insurance coverage, and separate office, lab, or outside-care costs can still apply. Do not treat the monthly payment as coverage for hospital care, outside clinicians, medications, labs, or other separate expenses.
Does the membership mean unlimited visits or immediate responses?
No. The plan has defined visit and message allowances and does not provide unlimited or 24/7 access. Confirm current appointment availability and how to use the service with the team; no clinical response time is promised here.
Where can I review the current options or schedule?
Review the current Med Membership options to learn more before you schedule, or choose an available appointment in Calendly. The team follows up with instructions and can help set expectations for the visit process and available appointments before care. General information does not replace an individual clinical assessment.