Beauty

[MarenSeattle]

On 3/27/2015 2boxers said:

we have several doctors in my small town closing shop rather than deal with the obamacare

sorry to hear of your trouble if it makes you feel any better just remember that the political party that shoved this down our throats took a real shellacking in the last election.

>

Never mind. I'm not going to even bother.

[MarenSeattle]

On 3/27/2015 Breea said:

I work in a hospital and one positive effect of Obamacare has been that families no longer have "Pre-existing" conditions counting against them! This has really supported and assisted families with children who have very expensive chronic needs.

And also for older people who switch jobs but couldn't get insurance because of a pre-existing condition. There's a reason why medical costs are the number one cause of bankruptcy in our country. If you can't get insurance, you spend every cent you have to keep your loved one alive. And then you lose your house. And people didn't see why changes were needed?

[keithsmom65]

On 3/27/2015 MarenSeattle said:

On 3/27/2015 Breea said:

I work in a hospital and one positive effect of Obamacare has been that families no longer have "Pre-existing" conditions counting against them! This has really supported and assisted families with children who have very expensive chronic needs.

And also for older people who switch jobs but couldn't get insurance because of a pre-existing condition. There's a reason why medical costs are the number one cause of bankruptcy in our country. If you can't get insurance, you spend every cent you have to keep your loved one alive. And then you lose your house. And people didn't see why changes were needed?

Most people just don't get it. They didn't pay attention when they needed to, or learn what they needed to do, if anything pertaining to them, like to O.P. And something like this occurs, and they blame the government. It's not the health care program's fault.

Many people are no longer becoming physicians in today's techno world, and there is a massive shortage of doctors everywhere, all over the world.

Those who do practice can call the shots on their business, and should !

The O.P. is not out of a doctor, just doesn't want to stay with this on and have to pay cash. She can go to the other place and wait for 2-3 months for new-patient visits. I do it all of the time. But I plan ahead and don't complain!

[skuggles]

On 3/26/2015 Chrystaltree said:

Your doc isn't dumping you, she's dumping the insurance companies and it has absolutely nothing to do with the Affordble Care Act. This might be new to your area but it's been happening elsewhere for several years now. Some call them boutiqe practices. Physicians have fewer patients, they can spend more time with each patient and what care or tests or surgeries they order don't require authorization from an insurance company. Insurers have made it difficult for physicians to do what they were educated to do, care for their patients. There are thousands of rules and books of paperwork; audits; payment reductions. So some doctors have decided that it's easier for them to opt out agreements with insurance companies. I think this trend will grow. You can stay with your doctor as a self pay patient. Call your insurer and ask them how to submit a claim for reimbursement; make sure you request the proper forms for reimbursement and make sure you understand....really understand the process for reimbursement. You can also find a new doctor; a 3-4 month waiting list isn't such a long time to wait at all. I've been with the same physician group for 30 years and I have to wait that long for routine or yearly physicals.

^^^^^ This. I recently lost my primary who started a concierge practice. I would have to pay 1000 dollars outright to join, and of course my insurance would still cover my hospitalizations, labs, and visits, all with copays. I would get more time and attention according to this doc, because the practice would limit the number of patients.Not really sure of any more of the details, because I chose not to pay this fee. So slightly different situation, but also the result of the growing frustration of primary care physicians with the constraints placed on them by all insurance companies.

[Reba055]

I'm going to reply one more time about this and then try to butt out because it is not bringing out the best in me. I need to stick to commenting on beauty and fashion. We need to have personal accountability. Our government can't manage and police what programs they have now. They have no business managing healthcare. Instead of dealing with the specific issues that existed they have revamped a whole system that once again has put a drain on the middle class. The more we continue with the mentality that relies on the government to provide you with something, the more we fuel a new generation of entitlement. It isn't fair to the young people of today that are working hard, living within their means and struggling to build a life for themselves. It is not fair to the older citizens who have worked hard and made sacrifices to have what they have today. With all due respect, I don't agree that we should just accept that there are scammers and will always be scammers. It's time for us as a society to stand up and say enough is enough and stop trying to not hurt anyone's feelings or appear insensitive to those that have made and continue to make bad choices. As wrong as things were years ago such as ostracizing unwed mothers, it is as equally bad today to accept anything someone does in fear of making someone feel bad. We should not judge nor should we be forced to assume financial responsibility for those who continue to make poor choices. The problems with the healthcare system did start years ago and there have been many contributing factors. Somewhere along the line, things have gotten way off track. It's one thing to be uninsurable due to a pre-existing condition and having to go to the ER and receive treatment. It's another thing to decide that you would rather spend your money on a new car, eating out, trips, whatever, than pay for health insurance with the mentality that if anything happens you can just go to the ER and they have to treat you. Someone pays, and it's the taxpayers. It reminds me of how when people do stupid things, the government wants to jump in and make a law for it. I'm sorry, but there's only so many laws you can make to police stupid. Shouldn't people feel accountable to those around them and to general decency to not act like complete morons? How did things get so out of whack? Maybe it's time that we need to stop smiling, patting everyone on the back, saying " it's ok" and stop bailing out everyone who acts like an idiot. Expecting the government to regulate and dictate everything you can and can't do and what you will and must pay for is a slippery slope...

[MarenSeattle]

On 3/27/2015 Reba055 said: I'm going to reply one more time about this and then try to butt out because it is not bringing out the best in me. I need to stick to commenting on beauty and fashion. We need to have personal accountability. Our government can't manage and police what programs they have now. They have no business managing healthcare. Instead of dealing with the specific issues that existed they have revamped a whole system that once again has put a drain on the middle class. The more we continue with the mentality that relies on the government to provide you with something, the more we fuel a new generation of entitlement. It isn't fair to the young people of today that are working hard, living within their means and struggling to build a life for themselves. It is not fair to the older citizens who have worked hard and made sacrifices to have what they have today. With all due respect, I don't agree that we should just accept that there are scammers and will always be scammers. It's time for us as a society to stand up and say enough is enough and stop trying to not hurt anyone's feelings or appear insensitive to those that have made and continue to make bad choices. As wrong as things were years ago such as ostracizing unwed mothers, it is as equally bad today to accept anything someone does in fear of making someone feel bad. We should not judge nor should we be forced to assume financial responsibility for those who continue to make poor choices. The problems with the healthcare system did start years ago and there have been many contributing factors. Somewhere along the line, things have gotten way off track. It's one thing to be uninsurable due to a pre-existing condition and having to go to the ER and receive treatment. It's another thing to decide that you would rather spend your money on a new car, eating out, trips, whatever, than pay for health insurance with the mentality that if anything happens you can just go to the ER and they have to treat you. Someone pays, and it's the taxpayers. It reminds me of how when people do stupid things, the government wants to jump in and make a law for it. I'm sorry, but there's only so many laws you can make to police stupid. Shouldn't people feel accountable to those around them and to general decency to not act like complete morons? How did things get so out of whack? Maybe it's time that we need to stop smiling, patting everyone on the back, saying " it's ok" and stop bailing out everyone who acts like an idiot. Expecting the government to regulate and dictate everything you can and can't do and what you will and must pay for is a slippery slope...

You're right -- after all, who better than a for-profit business should have a say in how my doctor treats me? And who better than that company to decide that my very ill grandchild shouldn't receive any more care?

[MAmom]

I live on Cape Cod, & there were docs who changed to "Concierge" 10 years ago. Their join fee was $2000.00, but for that you would get a hot line to him whenever you had a problem and more time spent with you during office visits. I should ask around & see if this is still a popular practice model.

[Stray]

Yes, the people with pre existing conditions have been helped but I think the entire population would have been served better if SSI for the disabled included them or Medicaid reformed..they require more intensive and frequent care which burdens an already burdened system. Insurance companies are a business and that's the long and short of it and they exist for profit. These same insurance companies are in the same health care exchanges. If you don't think that ACA affected your insurance rates, you are naive ....if you don't think that the middle income bracket is footing the bill, you are in denial and if you think any politician/party is worried about the uninsured or your health, you are sadly misguided; it is a political platform and that's all you are to them...they are not walking in our shoes. Yes, some people were helped but 35 million are still uninsured. I live in NJ and receive care in NY; those in ACA exchanges can not seek care in NY but must remain in NJ. Thank God I am insured through my former employer and Medicare as I live where I do so that I can access excellent physicians and care. At my former organization , the only option available for active employees is a high deductible PPO with a very big price tag and the HR department stated it was due to ACA; we had eight plans prior to the act. If they would have reformed Medicaid and monitored abuse and used entitlement programs already established, there would be no need for universal healthcare. If we had universal health care, it would be universal which would mean one program for everyone and a single entry system. That's why it works in other countries....there is no Medicaid, SSI or Medicare just one system for all. You can't go from capitalism to socialism in one sweeping stroke and expect it to work....because it doesn't!

[skuggles]

Reba, I think the answer would be, that everyone needs to get out and vote. I think that the health care system is in dire straits, and that the days of scapegoating the scammers and freeloaders as a solution, are truly over. They are a byproduct of the sick system.

[Reba055]

On 3/27/2015 MarenSeattle said:

On 3/27/2015 Reba055 said: I'm going to reply one more time about this and then try to butt out because it is not bringing out the best in me. I need to stick to commenting on beauty and fashion. We need to have personal accountability. Our government can't manage and police what programs they have now. They have no business managing healthcare. Instead of dealing with the specific issues that existed they have revamped a whole system that once again has put a drain on the middle class. The more we continue with the mentality that relies on the government to provide you with something, the more we fuel a new generation of entitlement. It isn't fair to the young people of today that are working hard, living within their means and struggling to build a life for themselves. It is not fair to the older citizens who have worked hard and made sacrifices to have what they have today. With all due respect, I don't agree that we should just accept that there are scammers and will always be scammers. It's time for us as a society to stand up and say enough is enough and stop trying to not hurt anyone's feelings or appear insensitive to those that have made and continue to make bad choices. As wrong as things were years ago such as ostracizing unwed mothers, it is as equally bad today to accept anything someone does in fear of making someone feel bad. We should not judge nor should we be forced to assume financial responsibility for those who continue to make poor choices. The problems with the healthcare system did start years ago and there have been many contributing factors. Somewhere along the line, things have gotten way off track. It's one thing to be uninsurable due to a pre-existing condition and having to go to the ER and receive treatment. It's another thing to decide that you would rather spend your money on a new car, eating out, trips, whatever, than pay for health insurance with the mentality that if anything happens you can just go to the ER and they have to treat you. Someone pays, and it's the taxpayers. It reminds me of how when people do stupid things, the government wants to jump in and make a law for it. I'm sorry, but there's only so many laws you can make to police stupid. Shouldn't people feel accountable to those around them and to general decency to not act like complete morons? How did things get so out of whack? Maybe it's time that we need to stop smiling, patting everyone on the back, saying " it's ok" and stop bailing out everyone who acts like an idiot. Expecting the government to regulate and dictate everything you can and can't do and what you will and must pay for is a slippery slope...

You're right -- after all, who better than a for-profit business should have a say in how my doctor treats me? And who better than that company to decide that my very ill grandchild shouldn't receive any more care?

There are already rules and regulations in place. How about the government worries about enforcing them??