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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PriceOfHealthCare

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