by: roni caryn rabin new york times oct. 1 st 2012 insurance/?ref=health
TRANSCRIPT
By: Roni Caryn Rabin
New York Times Oct. 1st 2012
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/01/when-doctors-stop-taking-insurance/?ref=health
No More Insurance Private health insurance is usually more than
enough to make an appointment with a doctor. In affluent metropolitan areas, certain
physician's have began to refuse all insurances and require upfront payment.
In the Upper East Side of Manhattan, many pregnant women are paying up to $13,000 out of pocket for childbirth and prenatal careAnnual Check-ups can cost up to $650Pediatricians will charge $150-$250 per reactive
medical checkup
Insurance Companies
Insurance companies try to rein in health care costs by holding down physicians fees.This affects primary physicians the most.
As a result, the trend towards not accepting insurance is increasing in affluent neighborhoods, making it difficult to find an in-network physician close by.
Insurance Data is very sparse on how many doctors
participate in no-insurance or concierge practicesHowever, The Physicians Foundation found that
within the next 1-3 years, 7% of physicians will switch to upfront payment or concierge practices
Patients whose physician stop accepting insurances can go to out-of-network physicians, but must excise caution, as many insurances will not cover the full cost of out-of-network services.
PPACA
PPACA will widen access to health care for individuals, but what happens if primary doctors refuse insurance?If contained to the wealthy, then this is not a
public problem.
But, The Physicians Foundation also found that 50% of physicians plan on reducing patient access to their services within the next 3 years.
Shortage Association of American Medical Colleges
states that we are already facing a shortage of physicians, and by 2025, there will be a shortage of 100,000 physicians.Most Acutely In Primary Care
A report done by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission found that adults between the ages of 50-64 are having difficulty making an appointment with a new physician.30% of privately insured individuals reported
difficulty, compared to 26% in 2008Reactive Medicine Could Become A More Common
Alternative
The Economics
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