07-03-2019, 01:53 PM
(07-03-2019, 12:04 PM)Aquapod770 Wrote: I guess that could work, but unfortunately I think it will drive private insurance costs higher. The medicare/medicaid plans are already bloated with so much regulation it can get a little ridiculous. My current insurance premium is only $35 per two-week paycheck. I wouldn't mind going this route, but I feel it may complicate a problem and do little to alleviate health care costs. I do think it would drive us to a single payer system, which is the end goal for a lot of people.
It's a long list, and from 2014, but there is a lot of information about medicare reimbursements in here.
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/100-things-to-know-about-medicare-reimbursement.html
That regulation is a drop in the bucket compared to the regulation for the hundreds of private insurance plans for each state x 50 states. It's one of the main reasons why the majority of patients don't understand how their insurance works and they're pissed off they have to pay more than they thought they're supposed to pay. A large percentage don't know the difference between a deductible, a premium, and a co-pay and the prices vary based upon the setting (PCP, urgent care, ER, specialist, in network, out of network), or that their insurance doesn't pay for everything they want.
Monday I had to speak to a disgruntled patient, "I was told I can't be seen."
"No, you were told if you want to be seen you have to pay cash. The reason for this is because you want to be checked for STDs, but you don't have any symptoms of an STD. If you don't have any symptoms your insurance won't pay for the tests. So if you want the tests done you have to pay for the tests because your insurance won't."
Another issue that always makes them angry is when they can't use their medical insurance for a dental problem.
