AMA seeks lifetime membership commitment

The AMA unveils premier membership program in hopes of increasing retention in the Association.

By Bonnie Booth, amednews staff. Aug. 7, 2000.

When the AMA unveiled its new lifetime membership program at its Annual Meeting in June, Georgia A. Tuttle, MD, was one of the first to sign up. The New Hampshire dermatologist said her reasoning was twofold -- she wanted to support the AMA at a crucial time in its advocacy efforts and she was happy to not have to deal with renewing her membership annually.

"I believe the survival of the medical profession depends on a strong, vibrant and nimble AMA," said Dr. Tuttle, who is immediate past president of the New Hampshire Medical Society. "It is time to give the organization the financial resources to get the word out to physicians about what we do for them."

Pay now, save later

More than 50 physicians joined Dr. Tuttle in signing up for lifetime membership at the Annual Meeting. Another 20 have signed on since then. The goal for 2000 is 100 lifetime members, said Barry Eisenberg, AMA vice president, membership development and service.

Physicians who become lifetime members pay dues once. The rate is based on the physician's current age through retirement -- a 30-year-old physician would pay $5,070 to become a lifetime member but a 53-year-old physician would pay $3,380. A different dues amount is applied for doctors at every age between the first category, under 30, and the last, 64 and older.

Eisenberg acknowledged that the program is not likely to appeal to everyone, at least not right off the bat.

"It is a premier membership," he said. "It is consistent with the idea that AMA membership is for life. It appeals to a certain segment of our membership."

And, he said, lifetime membership should help the AMA retain members. The Association's current retention rate is 85%, which means it loses 45,000 of its nearly 300,000 members annually. That is something that AMA leaders would definitely like to see change.

"With this program we are asking members one time in their life to become a member and support the AMA," Eisenberg said.

This approach suits Dr. Tuttle just fine. "I think it is a good value," she said. "I looked at the hassle of keeping track of my memberships each year. This is one less thing I'm going to have to think about. It will simplify my life."

Although the cost savings is a selling point for the program, Eisenberg said other special benefits are being developed for lifetime members.

"Tangible benefits are going to be developed," he said. "It is our responsibility as an organization to make sure we provide value for different stages of the physician life cycle."

And he hopes physicians will see lifetime membership as a way to stay plugged into the medical community when they retire.

Indeed, he said, the lifetime program dovetails with the AMA's current life-cycle approach to membership that recognizes that physicians have different needs from their professional organization at different stages in their career and that one size does not fit all.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Pay now, save later

Lifetime dues rates are based on current age through retirement.

      Lifetime      Amount
Age*  dues amount   saved**
----  -----------   -------
 30     $5,070      $11,215
 35     $4,890      $ 9,610
 40     $4,640      $ 7,760
 45     $4,280      $ 6,020
 50     $3,780      $ 4,420
 60     $2,090      $ 1,910

* Age is determined as of Dec. 31 of the year lifetime membership begins.
** Amount saved is the difference between lifetime membership amount and full dues each year until 65, then dues exempt plus two AMA journals for 10 years.

Source: AMA