Should you charge an enrollment fee? People are really split on this one. The answer depends on you. I am for it because I think we mimic gyms and their model and they all have enrollment fees. It also counters those patients who join for month to get in a few times and then quit. Here is some more:
- We do not have an enrollment fee, but are starting to rethink that decision because an enrollment fee discourages the patients who want just want to use you for one visit. We currently do have a re-enrollment fee to discourage patients from dropping in and out.
- My membership payments come out 30 days after they sign up, and I also charge a 1 time registration fee. I have some people choose to pay up front for the year, and I have finally gotten semi-disciplined enough to put this in an escrow account “just in case”. I am about to update my contracts to put a minimum commitment (haven’t decided 3 vs 6 months).
- I don’t. As a consumer my question would be “how much work does it take to enter my demographics into your system?” That’s just me though
- Keep the barriers to entry low and the barriers to re-entry high.
- $50 one time fee. Have had zero blowback.
- $50.00 one time as well. No problems either.
- $50 per family/household. There is work involved in setting up accounts and it’s okay to place value on that.
- I have an initial visit fee of $150 and I occasionally offer half off. New patients are typically 2 hours and it takes me another 2 hours to fax record requests, review & summarize records. But I am mostly geriatrics or younger complicated cases/functional medicine.
- I don’t typically recommend a joining fee but I am mostly neutral on it. I would much rather have them get on board and start paying it. I prefer to avoid any reason for patients to hesitate joining.