Posted on 04/13/2014 10:00:28 AM PDT by Rusty0604
Doctors in Texas are showing us what a medical system without comprehensive insurance might look like. The NYT profiles the rise of Texan direct primary care practices that dont accept insurance. Instead, patients pay flat fees out-of-pocket. In return, doctors save both time and money that they can then pass on to patients.
But theres a catch here, as the article points out. Concierge medicine isnt a new trendweve covered it here before. But now that Obamacare is swelling the ranks of the comprehensively insured, doctors who dont take insurance are increasing the pressure on the system. Theres a hint in the NYT piece that other doctors think its irresponsible for their colleagues to stop taking insurance just as the Obamacare rollout promises to strain practices and hospitals past capacity. This bias against innovators is what happens when federal legislation cements a dysfunctional system in place.
(Excerpt) Read more at the-american-interest.com ...
exactly... you will have to go docs that Ocare declares to be ‘acceptable’
I agree, the difference in cost for vet care and people care is amazing, yet essentially it is the same product. And my cat’s vet certainly drives a very nice care.
At my last job we had very good health insurance, and our copays were $5 for Dr. visit, $5 for any medication, and $0 for any tests. It was 100% paid for (dependents too) by our ER. Some people in my office were at the Dr. office almost everyday for any little thing. They would chide me because I only went if I felt I needed it. I bet if they had to actually pay (or at least pay more) for their healthcare they wouldn’t be running up the demand curve and policy price.
You’re off the track.
I said — You can pay him cash and file for reimbursement yourself, so in effect, yes he does take insurance.
You said — the paperwork is nothing, the real cost is that without insurance, the cost is going to be high. (So even if you do the paperwork yourself you still end up paying more)
I said — No, these docs are cheaper. So, yes you can do the paperwork yourself without coming out paying more.
You said — something I don’t follow about paying for insurance but then not using it, which has nothing to do with the train of the conversation as far as I can see.
my bad, there was another thread about people having ins but having a hard time finding doc's that take it
You said something I dont follow about paying for insurance but then not using it, which has nothing to do with the train of the conversation as far as I can see.
i guess my point there was i don't think i know anybody that doesn't have ins, so going to a doc that doesn't take ins seems like paying twice, once for ins that other docs will take to goto a doc that doesn't take ins/or your regular PCP goes to not taking ins, but if you think the doc is worth it, then he IS worth it... it's your health on the line and all
How does the lack of admitting privileges by the doctor affect admission of a patient?
"Admitting privilege is the right of a doctor, by virtue of membership as a hospital's medical staff, to admit patients to a particular hospital or medical center for providing specific diagnostic or therapeutic services to such patient in that hospital. Each hospital maintains a list of health care providers who have admitting privileges in that hospital. Admitting privileges granted to a non physician is limited to treatment of patient independently, and admission of such a patient to hospital requires a physicians order. Admitting privileges of some physicians are limited to consultative services only.
Access to diagnostic testing will not happen. MRI's, etc...
It's like hiring a lawyer who is not allowed to practice law before the court, only instead of a civil matter of well being, it's your life.
Actually, let me rephrase my original post. I may not have been clear. Assuming that you have insurance, and that it is not network-only, then even if you go to a doctor who accepts no insurance at all, he will give you a receipt once you pay him and you can go through the hassle of collecting from your insurance to pay for some or all of his bill. That’s what I was trying to say. That the doctor policy, no matter what it is, doesn’t stop you from getting reimbursed by your insurance, supposing your plan covers doctors not pre-affiliated and that you’re willing to do the legwork. Ergo, there is no paying twice. There, hope that’s clear.
You do realize you can walk into a test lab and get all that stuff, and FAR more inexpensively than if provided through whatever practice or hospital the doctor works at.
And that’s EXACTLY why that isn’t “good” insurance. HSA’s for everybody!
The AMA did, but most Medical Prof. Specialty Orgs. were must less enthusiastic.
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