Beauty

[BLH]

On 3/26/2015 brandiwine said:

On 3/26/2015 traveler said:

Ahh, a bash ACA thread.

I don't see it as a bash, it's reality. I know of many small community docs that don't have time or staff to deal with all the paperwork and payment delays. They have decided to go to a cash only practice. I was in a small community out of state when I found myself in a local ER. I have Kaiser insurance and they accepted it no questions asked. It took Kaiser 5 months to pay the doc. I was calling them weekly to get them to pay. I was in my Kaiser pharmacy a few weeks ago and a young couple was trying to get their meds and they were told there was a "mix up" with their coverage. It appeared the Colorado connect for health had deleted 10's of thousands of people from their list. A computer glitch yet again. These problems are nationwide. In my opinion this is one of the biggest mistakes in history.

It is a bash. I work for a doctor in a small rural community and we love the ACA. We are making more money because more people have insurance. As a matter of fact we get our money faster then before also. No complaints here!

[azqfan]

I agree this has nothing to do with ACA. It is just sad that people blame all healthcare issues on ACA. Medicare has reimbursement rates much lower than any commercial payors so this truly is a personal decision made by her physician not based on new insurance regulations.

[lavenderfields]

On 3/26/2015 ChynnaBlue said:

You can keep your doctor on your health plan, your doctor decided not to keep you.

Did you ask her for her cash-only prices? Many doctors who do cash-only also offer reduced prices. Have you called your insurance company to get a recommendation from them? My insurance company has a website that lists all doctors that accept my insurance and whether they accept new patients.

I live in a city, so I'm lucky enough to have a lot of options. I've been through 4 different healthcare plans in the last 15 years (job changes) and had kept all the same doctors (primary care, 0B/GYN, specialists) throughout. Recently I changed because I moved from one end of town to the other. My doctors are all in a linked system, so even though I changed my doctors, the new doctors all had my healthcare and insurance records in their linked system. The system also operates several after-hours and urgent care clinic, so I have access to doctors after work and on weekends and they also all have access to my medical records and can see what I was last treated for and what medications I'm on.

$125 per visit and $200 for extended visits. We have so few choices here that I can look in the phone book for doctors in my area. I have been on websites that say they are accepting new patients but when I called, they aren't any longer. They don't keep their websites up to date.

[HappyDaze]

On 3/26/2015 BLH said:

On 3/26/2015 brandiwine said:

On 3/26/2015 traveler said:

Ahh, a bash ACA thread.

I don't see it as a bash, it's reality. I know of many small community docs that don't have time or staff to deal with all the paperwork and payment delays. They have decided to go to a cash only practice. I was in a small community out of state when I found myself in a local ER. I have Kaiser insurance and they accepted it no questions asked. It took Kaiser 5 months to pay the doc. I was calling them weekly to get them to pay. I was in my Kaiser pharmacy a few weeks ago and a young couple was trying to get their meds and they were told there was a "mix up" with their coverage. It appeared the Colorado connect for health had deleted 10's of thousands of people from their list. A computer glitch yet again. These problems are nationwide. In my opinion this is one of the biggest mistakes in history.

It is a bash. I work for a doctor in a small rural community and we love the ACA. We are making more money because more people have insurance. As a matter of fact we get our money faster then before also. No complaints here!

Yes, there are some that are definitely making out better than others. Some win, some lose.

[RespectLife]

On 3/26/2015 traveler said:

Ahh, a bash ACA thread.

HARDLY a bash thread. OP is simply pointing out what has happened to her BECAUSE of it.

Sorry, OP, it has happened to many of my friends too. I don't care which way you spin it...if you are unable to stay with your doctor because of the new health care plans...you HAVE lost your doctor. They can't be expected to participate in the myriad of new plans! My friends did lose their doctors, NOT all doctors are participating in these new plans.

They lost their previous health care plans that were working for them and were forced into paying MORE for new high copay, high deductible plans.

Not ONE person I know has reduced rates. Not ONE person I know has lower copays. Not ONE person I know has lower deductibles. They are all paying higher premiums AND higher out of pocket expenses...such as 'Out of Network' would do to you in this case.

The total lack of truthful information given to citizens while this was being hatched behind closed doors is a disgrace on this country. Remember "We have to pass the health care bill so you can find out what is in it". Sadly, now we know what is in it.

I wish you the best in trying to find the care you and your family need.

[TasMss]

$125 per visit and $200 for extended visits. We have so few choices here that I can look in the phone book for doctors in my area. I have been on websites that say they are accepting new patients but when I called, they aren't any longer. They don't keep their websites up to date.

Ouch! What area do you live in?

[jaxs mom]

In our case, my husbands Dr decided to join a new group which is apparently hospital based so we ended up with outrageous charges for routine testing which now isn't covered by our insurance. He was told by the billing dept, they charge hospital rates for all tests. He was getting lab work for free before. He's been trying to find a new Dr since.

[Gayle2]

Hello,

I am sorry this is happening to you. I have lived in many a small town and your services for everything from dining, to shopping to healthcare are limited just because it is a small town. I don't know what your health or employment circumstances are and frankly it is none of my business but if this is a very critical issue to you, I would consider moving. Healthcare is important.

[Chrystaltree2]

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.

[Madisson]

I just got notified that my ophthalmologist will no longer accept Medicare. No problem....there are lots of choices in larger cities. I feel for people in smaller cities though where it is more difficult to recruit doctors.