Fed up with declining payments and rising red tape, a small but growing number of doctors is opting out of the insurance system completely. They're expecting patients to pony up with cash. Some doctors who have gone that route love it, saying they can spend more time with and provide higher-quality care to their patients. Health advocates are skeptical, worrying that only the wealthy will benefit from this system. In Wichita, Kan., 32-year old family physician Doug Nunamaker switched to a cash-only basis in 2010 after taking insurance for five years. ("Cash-only" is a loose description. Nunamaker accepts payment by debit or credit card too.)
http://money.cnn.com/2013/06/11/news...-only-doctors/
WOW! a $90 cholesterol test for $3!
The link is a '404' for me. Can say while under an old insurance plan we always paid cash for minor procedures and dental. I'd say if that doctor is doing 3 dollar cholesterol tests he must be scamming the system somehow. I could routinely get 25% off most 'in house' work but if a lab was needed there was no discount on that part.
I don't see how any major injury or illness doctor can forgo insurance patients, and I'd bet mostly older, ready to retire doctors are contemplating cash-only.
I am not sure that would work in a lot of places.
Why not? We are looking at reducing our premiums taking a higher deductable plan and going to this type of doctor. Obama took something that might of been bad for some people (15%) and made it worse for more people (85%).
Why not? We are looking at reducing our premiums taking a higher deductable plan and going to this type of doctor. Obama took something that might of been bad for some people (15%) and made it worse for more people (85%).
Fed up with declining payments and rising red tape, a small but growing number of doctors is opting out of the insurance system completely. They're expecting patients to pony up with cash.
Some doctors who have gone that route love it, saying they can spend more time with and provide higher-quality care to their patients. Health advocates are skeptical, worrying that only the wealthy will benefit from this system.
In Wichita, Kan., 32-year old family physician Doug Nunamaker switched to a cash-only basis in 2010 after taking insurance for five years. ("Cash-only" is a loose description. Nunamaker accepts payment by debit or credit card too.)
http://money.cnn.com/2013/06/11/news...-only-doctors/
WOW! a $90 cholesterol test for $3!
Fed up with declining payments and rising red tape, a small but growing number of doctors is opting out of the insurance system completely. They're expecting patients to pony up with cash.
Some doctors who have gone that route love it, saying they can spend more time with and provide higher-quality care to their patients. Health advocates are skeptical, worrying that only the wealthy will benefit from this system.
Because if you have a chronic condition like cancer or diabetes or kidney impairment, you are not going to get all your care for $1200 a year. In addition, doctors who are affiliated with hospitals/health systems are not going to be able to opt out of the insurance.
You don't go to an MD for cancer.......DUH
That was as interesting for what it didn't say as what it did say.
One big knock on 'socialized' medicine is if the cost is very low folks will abuse the system by demanding a lot of medical attention because it costs them so little. the doctor would have to have a system to triage out hypochondriacs and the chronically ill like childhood asthma. So his patient list will be folks who are basically healthy but don't want to use a 'wellness' urgent care or 'well-fast' clinic. I would imagine for these folks the even cheaper route is a clinic where you pay 50 to 90 bucks per visit.
I don't see how dropping one employee, that's what 40% means in most doctor offices, saves huge amounts of money 20-30K most likely. What he didn't go into any detail is just what kind of test a 3 dollar test is compared to a 90 dollar one. I get free cholesterol tests every time i give blood, dunno if they are the same quality as the lab one. Would be interesting to know.
it appears these doctors feed in a very narrow niche, even the surgeon, so their patients will still have to carry insurance. Dunno about others but the wife and i are self employed. We have been plan shopping as our plan is up for renewal. The high deductible plans with no pre-existing run 300 to 400 a month. So if you want to have some form of protection if you get cancer, major illness or accident then it would be 100 a month for the cash only doctor plus 329 a month major medical, the complete coverage plan is 336 a month with 50 dollar co-pays per visit. I don't see the savings.
The article says 4% of the doctors are cash only- financing your healthcare on a credit card seems the worst kind of financial planning but hey to each their own.
The drawbacks for the doctor seem to be on constant guard for 'problem' patients, still need medical insurance and the care and feeding of the services outside his office may become problematic- just how does a doctor get 3 dollar tests? Does the imaging clinic remain content with 400 fees for MRI's? Is that price based like the airlines do airline miles tickets- dates and times blacked out?
Still the idea of doctors FINALLY getting on board with cost management is critical to EVERYONE in the system is encouraging...eace
You don't go to an MD for cancer.......DUH[/QUOTE
Oncologists aren't MD's? :roll:
I sure as hell don't go to my family doctor for cancer, damn, that is a specialist which is why you keep high deductable, please don't make me pull out a chalk board to explain the obvious.
Fed up with declining payments and rising red tape, a small but growing number of doctors is opting out of the insurance system completely. They're expecting patients to pony up with cash.
Some doctors who have gone that route love it, saying they can spend more time with and provide higher-quality care to their patients. Health advocates are skeptical, worrying that only the wealthy will benefit from this system.
In Wichita, Kan., 32-year old family physician Doug Nunamaker switched to a cash-only basis in 2010 after taking insurance for five years. ("Cash-only" is a loose description. Nunamaker accepts payment by debit or credit card too.)
http://money.cnn.com/2013/06/11/news...-only-doctors/
WOW! a $90 cholesterol test for $3!
40% is a hell of lot more than one employee! The doctor I go to that would be 5 out of 10 employees in his office. WOW just wow!
I sure as hell don't go to my family doctor for cancer, damn, that is a specialist which is why you keep high deductable, please don't make me pull out a chalk board to explain the obvious.
I think you are confusing GP's and MD's. Doctors are MD's regardless of what they specialize in and regardless of how many other letters follow the MD. I sure as hell hope you don't go to one of those Phd doctors if and when you get cancer.
That's why the best way to go is pay out of pocket for the normal stuff, and pay for a catastrophic care package.Because if you have a chronic condition like cancer or diabetes or kidney impairment, you are not going to get all your care for $1200 a year. In addition, doctors who are affiliated with hospitals/health systems are not going to be able to opt out of the insurance.
Weird, that page is gone now. Hmmm.....
At any rate, it makes sense to me. A primary physician isn't doing surgery, performing extremely expensive tests, etc. Doctors don't have to. I suppose it depends on an area's demographics, but it could certainly work. After all, people can still get reimbursed through their insurance companies and have the check (which I assume wouldn't cover the total cost of the service...or maybe it would...?) mailed to them directly. They're entitled to do that if they wish.
I think you are confusing GP's and MD's. Doctors are MD's regardless of what they specialize in and regardless of how many other letters follow the MD. I sure as hell hope you don't go to one of those Phd doctors if and when you get cancer.
I knew it-FIsher meet chalkboard. I go to my family physician whcih in this case would be the subject of the thread. Should he determine I might have cancer after ths standard test with indicators he would REFER me to an oncologist probably at MAYO which my higher DEDUCTABLE insurance would cover that I am paying much less for because I have a low cost physician for physicals and routine blood work.
Damn, please refrain for posting to me if you require this chalkboard crap!
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