Doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online

So, physicians should have no choice how they practice? "Swing low, sweet chariot..."

 

I think it sounds sensible enough for regular check up/minor health issues, but having had a family member with severe medical problems, I don't think that approach works in that situation. It's difficult enough to navigate the health care system, but being seriously ill and trying to figure out coverage and the insurance claims process would be a disaster.

Purely from a customer standpoint, if I planned on switching doctors and was considering two different docs, all things being equal, I'd pick the one who handles insurance claims to avoid the hassle.

 

I think self-selection is an intentional part of the tactic.

 

...so, doctors are starting to follow the MMJ model?!

 

I'm guessing that you were referring to the second paragraph of my post? Obviously, no one knows when they might suddenly get diagnosed with a serious, fast moving disease and they might regret the choice they've made. That said, more often than not in that situation, you'd probably get referred to a specialist anyway (and the specialist could handle the insurance.)

 

Right on. I'm thinking more of my case, where I have insurance through work and going to that doctor would mean that I'd personally have to make insurance claims and work with the insurance company to figure out what's covered and what's not.

 

"Catastrophic health insurance" . . . there is a loaded term.

 

This is where I am at on it.

Some people have amazing insurance. See union workers and select other individuals. However, most don't. I know where my wife works they have a HSA plan that she would have to pay $300 a month for, just to have the plan, then pay a negotiated rate when she or the family had a dr's visit. one of her co workers has the insurance and pays $1000 a month for the plan and prescriptions and such.

Howver, one area I see that could be a tough go is in the catastrophic cases. I just got out of the hospital, and my bill before insurance was $60k. How would a non insured patient pay for something like that?

 

It is not the bills from general practitioners that drives the need for medical insurance. It is when an expert or hospital stay in necessary that most need medical insurance.

Then there is prescription medication . . . pharmaceutical companies do have the right to make a profit.

 

What happens if he tears a tendon or cartilidge, gets food poisoning, breaks an arm, gets a dog bite, gets a soft tissue injury, has foot problems, needs bloodwork done.

A house visit by a general practitioner for $200? Guessing I get get better answers on the internet for zero money. The answer by the house call doctor is a prescription for vicodin and to send you to a specialist.

A country where people only have catastrophic insurance as defined by the insurance company . . . heaven for some here, hell for others.

 

So torn flexor tendon is considered catastrophic? Don't think every insurance company would agree on that. Hold off on that surgery while lawyers battle out in court how to interpret the insurance policy.

What does one do with a torn ACL . . . guessing some "experts" out there will explain how an ACL is not necessary to live a normal productive life.

We don't need a system where individuals are only covered for "catastrophic injuries" . . . yet give people the choice and so many are so financially strapped or only think short term that they don't get any other coverage. Heck many won't even buy catastrophic injury insurance. Then when they get injuried, let them suffer or die for being short sighted?