When Doctors Opt Out: Obama Universal Health Insurance
Here’s something that has gotten lost in the drive to institute universal health insurance: Health insurance doesn’t automatically lead to health care. And with more and more doctors dropping out of one insurance plan or another, especially government plans, there is no guarantee that you will be able to see a physician no matter what coverage you have.
Here’s something that has gotten lost in the drive to institute universal health insurance: Health insurance doesn’t automatically lead to health care. And with more and more doctors dropping out of one insurance plan or another, especially government plans, there is no guarantee that you will be able to see a physician no matter what coverage you have.
Consider that the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission reported in 2008 that 28% of Medicare beneficiaries looking for a primary care physician had trouble finding one, up from 24% the year before. The reasons are clear: A 2008 survey by the Texas Medical Association, for example, found that only 38% of primary-care doctors in Texas took new Medicare patients. The statistics are similar in New York state, where I practice medicine.
More and more of my fellow doctors are turning away Medicare patients because of the diminished reimbursements and the growing delay in payments. I’ve had several new Medicare patients come to my office in the last few months with multiple diseases and long lists of medications simply because their longtime provider — who they liked — abruptly stopped taking Medicare. One of the top mammographers in New York City works in my office building, but she no longer accepts Medicare and charges patients more than $300 cash for each procedure. I continue to send my elderly women patients downstairs for the test because she is so good, but no one is happy about paying.
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Comments
My S.O. is an anesthesiologist and will definitely be “going Galt” if and when this happens, as will a vast number of health care professionals. It will also mean the end of hundreds of small M.D. offices that employ a large majority of women workers. This will happen anyway when taxes of those making 250,000 (not alot for a small business) exceeds 50%, where we are already headed. Thanks for destroying the middle class all you people that voted in “the One”
if obama wants universal healthcare, then he should taxes all of us on it. Yes insurance is expensive, but it is cheaper than having to pay cash for all procedures. no free lunches.
Great post! While I totally support an improvement in our healthcare, I am not so sure a universal healthcare plan is appropriate. I write many pieces of web content especially about the elderly and related health issues so this is definately a post that I can appreciate. Thanks for sharing!