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by Micaho on 20 May 2013 - 11:05
"Guess I'd better stay healthy."
Shelley, the problem is that you're going to have to pay for Obamacare whether you're healthy or not.
Shelley, the problem is that you're going to have to pay for Obamacare whether you're healthy or not.
by Blitzen on 20 May 2013 - 16:05
No, Michado, some people are going to pay for health care instead of getting a free ride.
by Micaho on 20 May 2013 - 20:05
No, Blitzen, everyone is going to pay for health care whether they need it or not, and get the health care the government allows regardless of what they need..
by GSD Admin on 20 May 2013 - 21:05
So, you would rather they didn't pay for insurance and stick the hospitals when something happens and they can't pay? What happens when they can't pay? Who do you think pays for people with no insurance? You don't want government to pay and you don't want the people to pay so what exactly do you want, some cheese with that WHINE?
by Bhaugh on 21 May 2013 - 02:05
Well since I work in the medical field specifically in medical billing, billing out those medical claims (and have for years upon years) here is what I expect to happen.....
A good many of the Medicare Advantage companies will fold when they stop getting the hefty subsidies from the govt. That's why there are so many now to choose from because the govt gave them money to open shop. That money will be funneled back into Obamacare and without the subsidies, most will vanish.
I'm not sure why CMS thinks they can raise the rate when last year and this year they were proposing a 27% pay cut in physician reimbursements. Every year docs hold their breaths to see what good ol CMS has in store and it has only been Congress that has stopped deep cutting in reimbursement. For those of you who think docs are raking it in. Honestly, a senior patient is just too costly to care for. Other than office visits, Medicare doesn't pay crap. Senior patients cost twice as much to care for as a younger person and heal in two to three times the time. Sometimes they don't heal at all. Its pretty sad really.
Physicians are tired of being told how to care for their patients (Medicare Advantage plans and HMO's) and receive little reimbursement for the care they provide. Some times we don't even get that and treat patients for free. So why bother to take any insurance. Our group right now is working on ways to rely less on insurance and more on cash. I think docs will continue to step away from insurance and more into a cash type setting. They can lesson their staff load and not be told how, when why, where. It was this way when I started a million years ago and I see it swinging back that way now.
The publics perception that insurance will somehow save them just isn't going to happen and think those of us in the medical field will see more deaths. High costly surgeries won't be offered to those who cannot get back to work and pay back what insurance companies forked out. The only true benefactors in this will be the insurance companies who will rake in BILLIONS of dollars. I cannot afford the premiums to cover my son. He will have healthcare but most likely not by my docs or the many docs who are tired of the crap being fed to them. Many will leave and be replaced by foreigners which is actually happening right now. It may not be so noticeable if you live in a rural area, but I live in Vegas and its quite common here. If I want my son to get the care I think he should have, Ill be paying cash as I have been all along.
One last thing.......I personally do not know of one physician who is living high off the hog and hasn't for some time. They often give away their services because insurance won't pay or the patient won't pay. They still pay high malpractice, staff and outrageous overhead. Do you know how much a digital x-ray machine cost? So much that now they just lease them...No other profession has offered to give their time away so why should a physician do it? They took an oath to do no harm not to go pro bono.
Barb
A good many of the Medicare Advantage companies will fold when they stop getting the hefty subsidies from the govt. That's why there are so many now to choose from because the govt gave them money to open shop. That money will be funneled back into Obamacare and without the subsidies, most will vanish.
I'm not sure why CMS thinks they can raise the rate when last year and this year they were proposing a 27% pay cut in physician reimbursements. Every year docs hold their breaths to see what good ol CMS has in store and it has only been Congress that has stopped deep cutting in reimbursement. For those of you who think docs are raking it in. Honestly, a senior patient is just too costly to care for. Other than office visits, Medicare doesn't pay crap. Senior patients cost twice as much to care for as a younger person and heal in two to three times the time. Sometimes they don't heal at all. Its pretty sad really.
Physicians are tired of being told how to care for their patients (Medicare Advantage plans and HMO's) and receive little reimbursement for the care they provide. Some times we don't even get that and treat patients for free. So why bother to take any insurance. Our group right now is working on ways to rely less on insurance and more on cash. I think docs will continue to step away from insurance and more into a cash type setting. They can lesson their staff load and not be told how, when why, where. It was this way when I started a million years ago and I see it swinging back that way now.
The publics perception that insurance will somehow save them just isn't going to happen and think those of us in the medical field will see more deaths. High costly surgeries won't be offered to those who cannot get back to work and pay back what insurance companies forked out. The only true benefactors in this will be the insurance companies who will rake in BILLIONS of dollars. I cannot afford the premiums to cover my son. He will have healthcare but most likely not by my docs or the many docs who are tired of the crap being fed to them. Many will leave and be replaced by foreigners which is actually happening right now. It may not be so noticeable if you live in a rural area, but I live in Vegas and its quite common here. If I want my son to get the care I think he should have, Ill be paying cash as I have been all along.
One last thing.......I personally do not know of one physician who is living high off the hog and hasn't for some time. They often give away their services because insurance won't pay or the patient won't pay. They still pay high malpractice, staff and outrageous overhead. Do you know how much a digital x-ray machine cost? So much that now they just lease them...No other profession has offered to give their time away so why should a physician do it? They took an oath to do no harm not to go pro bono.
Barb
by radarsmom on 21 May 2013 - 09:05
Actually, Bhaugh, we are losing doctors at an alarming rate in the rural area I live in, my provider was operating on such a slim margin that he could not afford the cost of the computerized recordkeeping system that the law mandates, and hung it up. A great doctor who took time with patients, urged proactive preventative lifestyle changes, treated many patients for free or reduced cost, and genuinely cared. Many of the doctors here who are at all close to retirement are hanging it up, too. I don't care where my doctor comes from, I just want to have a doctor!
by fawndallas on 21 May 2013 - 10:05
Sorry to say "see, you thought I was just whining" when I grumped about this a few months ago. Just wait, there are more surprises to come in 2014. All will be affected in one way or another.
As I said before, insurance regulation is just one side of the equation. The cost of care needs to be controlled also. As long as insurance is for profit, there will be inequality.
Something to think about.... Where will we be in 10 years when more of our nation is retired and not contributing to these social programs? If it sucks for us, how will our grand kids find it?
As I said before, insurance regulation is just one side of the equation. The cost of care needs to be controlled also. As long as insurance is for profit, there will be inequality.
Something to think about.... Where will we be in 10 years when more of our nation is retired and not contributing to these social programs? If it sucks for us, how will our grand kids find it?
by Blitzen on 21 May 2013 - 10:05
Here in FL doctors are living quite well. Most only work 20, 25 hours per week. They love medicare and have made tons of money from it. Of course they are concerned that their charges are going to get reigned in and need to be concerned about how they bill for their services. What's wrong with that?. Why shouldn't they be held responsible? No doctors in less populated and poorer area of the country/world is nothing new and has been going on long before Obamacare was even thought of. Why?
Doctors who accept medicare and medicare advantage are NOT subject to being told how to treat their patients. Where did that come from? They are limited to REASONABLE fees for specific services. Hospitals that charge $10 for an aspirin may not be able to do that anymore but then again maybe they will get creative with their billing. What ever happened to the concept of non-profit making hospitals anyway? Every provider directory clearly states -"They are independent contractors....plans do not endorse,control, or interfere with the clinical judgment or treatment recommendations made by the physician or other providers listed in this director or otherwise selected by you".
They will get their money one way or another, mostly by billing the patient for the additional costs. I had to pay almost $100 for a diagnostic mammogram, that was the difference between what the hospital charged and what medicare advantage paid for. Don't even think that the doctors and hospitals are going to settle for what medicare/Obamacare will pay. Go to a dentist here with Humana and you will still walk out with a $200+ bill because they "require" more extensive xrays and a deeper cleaning than Humana pays for. If you need cataract surgery, medicare won't pay for the most current types of lens implant, if you want that you have to pay the difference. Guess which surgery the opthalmalogists recommend. Maybe one should stop believing everything negative they hear about Obamacare on cable news and read on right wing websites and do their own research.
Michado, I am tired of hearing - I can't afford Obamacare. No one even knows yet what it's going to cost them, do they? If they are truly low income, they can opt out. Do these people have the internet? Cell phones? I-pads? A big monthly texting bill? Cable TV? More dogs than they can afford? Do they eat out, eat junk food? Do they smoke? Drink alcohol? It's mostly about priorities. I am the first to try to help out anyone but frankly I'm tired of subsidizing health care for people who make as much or more than I do but live bigger. That's BS. They need to suck it up, sacrifice, and pay their own way. I find it ironic that those who are so against welfare of any type, think the 49% are freeloaders, but think it's fine to pay for health care for those who just don't want to pay for it themselves regardless of their finances.
Doctors who accept medicare and medicare advantage are NOT subject to being told how to treat their patients. Where did that come from? They are limited to REASONABLE fees for specific services. Hospitals that charge $10 for an aspirin may not be able to do that anymore but then again maybe they will get creative with their billing. What ever happened to the concept of non-profit making hospitals anyway? Every provider directory clearly states -"They are independent contractors....plans do not endorse,control, or interfere with the clinical judgment or treatment recommendations made by the physician or other providers listed in this director or otherwise selected by you".
They will get their money one way or another, mostly by billing the patient for the additional costs. I had to pay almost $100 for a diagnostic mammogram, that was the difference between what the hospital charged and what medicare advantage paid for. Don't even think that the doctors and hospitals are going to settle for what medicare/Obamacare will pay. Go to a dentist here with Humana and you will still walk out with a $200+ bill because they "require" more extensive xrays and a deeper cleaning than Humana pays for. If you need cataract surgery, medicare won't pay for the most current types of lens implant, if you want that you have to pay the difference. Guess which surgery the opthalmalogists recommend. Maybe one should stop believing everything negative they hear about Obamacare on cable news and read on right wing websites and do their own research.
Michado, I am tired of hearing - I can't afford Obamacare. No one even knows yet what it's going to cost them, do they? If they are truly low income, they can opt out. Do these people have the internet? Cell phones? I-pads? A big monthly texting bill? Cable TV? More dogs than they can afford? Do they eat out, eat junk food? Do they smoke? Drink alcohol? It's mostly about priorities. I am the first to try to help out anyone but frankly I'm tired of subsidizing health care for people who make as much or more than I do but live bigger. That's BS. They need to suck it up, sacrifice, and pay their own way. I find it ironic that those who are so against welfare of any type, think the 49% are freeloaders, but think it's fine to pay for health care for those who just don't want to pay for it themselves regardless of their finances.
by Blitzen on 21 May 2013 - 10:05
What surprises would they be, Fawndallas? How about some links to all the devastation that is coming down on us next year - not quotes from FOX news, let's put the facts on the table, not just complaints from the medical world who stand to lose the most in the long run and who might have to live like the rest of the country.
by Micaho on 21 May 2013 - 13:05
Obamacare was not designed to provide medical care to the poor uninsured. It was to force citizens who could afford insurance to pay for coverage instead of bilking the government. There will still be many poor uninsured that the taxpayers will fund, but more people able to pay will contribute to the fund. Then, by also cutting expenses for "unnecessary" services, the government hopes to reduce the ongoing deficit. My opinion is this: (!) There should have been a better way to get the free loaders to pay for their own medical care without disrupting everyone else's coverage. (2) Cost cutting will decrease available services. Some doctors will not provide services "off the books" (for cash) just because the bookkeeping and risk of audits and penalties won't be worth it. Those that provide services for cash will cater to the wealthy. Some Americans are already going to India and Asia to get the medical treatments they want at reasonable prices
And again the poor and middle classes, and seniors will be screwed
Increased health care premiums are scheduled to start in October. The system will be fully implemented by 2017. We'll see how it goes.
And again the poor and middle classes, and seniors will be screwed
Increased health care premiums are scheduled to start in October. The system will be fully implemented by 2017. We'll see how it goes.
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