Posted on 06/26/2010 8:18:11 AM PDT by iowamark
Fact of life Drs made a killing on Medicare over the years
“An amazingly honest essay by Ms Estrich.”
Yes and no. This statement seems particularly dishonest:
“I remember the days when the health insurance industry used to advertise that Hillary Clinton would take your doctor away. She didn’t.”
Of course she didn’t, because HillaryCare went down in flames. Estrich is delusional to think that plan would have played out any differently than other versions of government run health care, be they labeled “Medicare” or “ObamaCare.” When the government gets control, declining access and quality inevitably follow.
So kudos to Ms. Estrich for recognizing what’s actually happening to our nation’s largest single-payer health plan. But shame on her for not recognizing or conceding that HillaryCare was simply single payer in sheep’s clothing.
“Her husband had turned 65 and was now eligible for Medicare. Good news...”
Wahoo! More government handouts, benefits, entitlements, and subsidies for Socialized Seasoned Citizens! Who says Socialism doesn’t work?
When I see my doctor bills and how much smaller is the payment from Medicare, I am surprised my doctor has not kicked me out.
Example: Office visit with medium length consultation is $145,
Medicare approved payment $42. That is all I am obligated to pay
if I have not met my annual Medicare deductible, which is usually true since I need very few visits to the doctor.
After meeting my deductible, the doctor still gets only $42.
I almost feel guilty walking out of her office.
your ‘facts’ are screwed up
Maybe those who abused the system did- double billing, billing services never provided, billing for unnecessary tests, etc. It would be interesting to know the extent of that abuse.
I am happy that I never had you for a patient.
nobama care: Stay well or DIE, Citizen!!!!!! (that is if we don’t abort you before you are born)
Irony of ironies, Obama may go down in history as the US president who *ended* socialized medicine.
First of all, Medicare, Medicaid and Obamacare are not mathematically sustainable. But this didn’t prevent the socialists from finally forcing socialized medicine down our throats. However, to do so, they had to kill Medicare. Well, they have done that as well. Medicare is withering on the vine.
They wanted to force Medicare patients into Obamacare. But there is a serious window in the timetable when they will have neither Medicare nor Obamacare. And this matters.
Because Obamacare is loaded with “poison pills”, so it will almost certainly be thrown out in its entirety by the Supreme Court.
This means the new, *Republican* congress can either recreate Medicare from scratch, or just by doing nothing, people will have to go back to paying for their own medical care. Granted, at half the cost of government provided care, and no way the insurance companies can pay for it.
And even if the Republicans buckle under ceaseless assault by the socialists and RINOs, it won’t matter, because there will be no way to pay for a reanimated Medicare. It just can’t be done.
So as a nation, at least as far as health care goes, we have an abrupt return to a free market.
From what I could tell, most of the most famouse Medicare frauds were done by criminals. They set up fake clinics, and billed Medicare with stolen identities.
“nobama care: Stay well or DIE, Citizen!!!!!! (that is if we don’t abort you before you are born)”
Or euthanize you later...
I remember about 10 years ago he saw a sign advertising manicures. He said women pay more to have their nails done than medicare reimburses for an office visit.....BTW it was $15.00 for a complete set of nails.
...eh, you left out the most important step Susan...Tort Reform.
Medicare patients usually need the most time, because they are older, and have more health issues.
When Medicare pays so little, you lose money each time you see a Medicare patient.
It is easier to see younger patients, who usually have only one problem at a time, and get paid more by private insurance.
Huh? You mean like VA DR’s got rich?
Can someone simply pay cash to a doctor in such a situation?
LOL You're darned right, Susan. You're head is empty - full of air.
Now that you've identified the problem what will you do about it?
You at least read the bill so you know what is going on.
Many people don’t, they see, oh, it’s $1000 for this scan and think the doctor is rich. They never realize the guy gets only a hundred and change. It makes for bad relations.
Also, when someone NOT on Medicare goes for the same test, they have to pay an arm and a leg. It’s really down to the core unfair.
“Irony of ironies, Obama may go down in history as the US president who *ended* socialized medicine.”
If the Baby Boomers get their GeriCare(TM) cut off will they riot like the Greeks?
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