ObamaCare - Page 8

Well, it would be unfortunate not to have the industry experts testify to the Senate on issues concerning us all. That is quite common. It is the American Way. If the conclusions drawn are not to your liking.... don't blame the industry.

However, I have always felt a rebellion against the creation of an Insurance Ideal. I've ranted on this before with my favorite saying I learned as a kid, "Wampum for Worry". Remember, Hartford, CT is the "Insurance Capital"! Insurance was invented to encourage the gamble of entrepreneurship. Observe how, even in our modern day, we have accepted gambling for the tribes.

Is it then a surprise when it comes to health seeking values on a consumer level, I have no clue what seeking treatments and diagnostics cost? There is no standard, just constant negotiation. The single payer using cash seems to be at the greatest disadvantage. Unless the visit is "under the table". Could happen, surely it still does happen. Cash is becoming a hassle and our Dr.s. like everyone else, all have their computers giving access to RX, hospitals, banking, etc.

I don't see ever, reverting to cash only, or payment of a broody hen, that just won't be the future.
 

Carlin, we get our insurance from Geico for HALF the price of other providers including GMAC, endorsed by Good Sam's owners club as the most reasonable policy available to motorhome owners. Good Sam's says it caters to owners of MH's, 5th wheels, travel trailer, etc. It pays to shop around.

Oh goody. I will be forced to pay for a health care system that makes MedicAid look like top-drawer insurance, diagnosed and treated by nurse practitioners and C & D students from off shore schools... if I'm lucky, and only then after weeks of waiting for an appointment. (British National Health comes to mind)  Chances are the only time an MD will see me is to sign my death certificate when I die in the waiting room for something that could have been successfully treated had it been diagnosed in time. 
Whoop-tee-frikkin-do. 

Just some interesting reading

From the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured study  http://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/8384.pdf

If all states implement the ACA Medicaid expansion, the federal government will fund the vast majority of increased Medicaid costs.  State spending would increase over 2013-2020 by only 3% with federal spending increasing over the same period by 26%.  If all states implemented Medicaid, the expansion would generate a net savings of $10B from 2013-2020.  Providers as a whole would receive more revenue if states adopted the Medicaid expansion.  Hospitals are estimated to receive $314B (18% more) in additional money from 2013-2020 than if the states did not expand Medicaid

If every state accepted the Medicaid expansion, an additional 21.3M people would be enrolled by 2022, an increase of 41% and combined with other ACA provisions the total amount of uninsured would decrease by 48% with most of those insured being children.

The additional state cost of implementing the Medicaid expansion over 2013-2020 would be and increase of 0.3% over what they would spend if they did not implement the Medicaid expansion. 


 

Good luck finding a decent doctor that will accept Medicaid when this much-lauded expansion comes through, and you can just FORGET finding a dentist that will accept it. There are only two clinics within 10 miles of my home that accept my Blue Shield HMO program, the one I paid nearly $300/mo at work for, and NEITHER are accepting new patients. I ended up going to an ER to get my stupid dog bites treated, paying most of the cost out of pocket.

Too bad Kaisers "study if you want to call it that" is flawed. More patients seems to be the "jackpot" solution for most of these so called studies. But more patients with extremely low reimbursement rates from Medicaid mean physicians will need to see 3x as many. Do you know what that will do for your wait time? My docs wont even see Medicaid patients unless the patient was in Trauma and there is absolutely no other way of payment. We saw a Boston Medicaid patient one time. The rate was so low, the doc ended up seeing the patient for free in Trauma with a few thousand dollars in surgery care. My state Medicaid pays decent, most are horrible pay. Why bother accepting Medicaid when docs can offer the same care to a cash pay patient. That's a no brainer.

And I disagree with you Bee. The wave of the future WILL BE cash. It's already happening but it's just not as main stream as insurance. Our office offers patient cash prices and gives splints at almost cost to patients. If this was really about patients getting insurance and not about insurance companies raking in BILLIONS, then open clincs where patients pay a nominal cash fee. Cap premiums and go back to a flat rate pay...insurance pays a share and patient pays a share. Provide reasonable major medical plans to cover patients to prevent wiping them out over a costly hospital stay or surgery.

Our #1 patient that is sent to collection.....patients who have insurance who refuse to pay their coinsurance, copays, deductible. How is Obamacare going to change that?

Barb