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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on April 3, 2008, at 17:50:45
Seriously was told if you have mediciare and a doc won't take it that it's against the law to accept self-pay told to me by a doctor. True or not???? Love Phillipa
Posted by BGB on April 3, 2008, at 22:52:10
In reply to True or Not About Docs And Self Pay?????, posted by Phillipa on April 3, 2008, at 17:50:45
No way. There are many psychiatrists here in Atlanta that work on a cash-only basis. Apparently all of the traffic here has driven us all crazy, as we have overtaxed the mental health industry. The self-pay only psychiatrists advertise that they will accept new patients within 48 hours, and give all patients their personal cell phone number and email address. Many patients with private insurance or Medicare have only two options: wait a month or more for a visit with a psychiatrist, or go check in to a psychiatric hospital.
It's really sad that only the richest Americans are allowed access to quality medical care. Best of luck to you (and everyone else) finding the best care possible.
Posted by your#1fan on April 4, 2008, at 1:10:15
In reply to True or Not About Docs And Self Pay?????, posted by Phillipa on April 3, 2008, at 17:50:45
my doctor treated my like crap when he refused to treat me for ADHD, just lazy of him to do this. Which attention is a problem i have, B-A-D-L-Y.
Getting another doctor.
Posted by Fivefires on April 4, 2008, at 10:26:26
In reply to True or Not About Docs And Self Pay?????, posted by Phillipa on April 3, 2008, at 17:50:45
Your $ is yours. The government has no place in your billfold, unless maybe there is some arm of it to which you owe $.
Your doc not only spoke in an unsympathetic manner, probably prompting you to feel guilt or ignorance, but also implanted an issue which has caused you confusion and worry.
We so do not need more of these bad feelings!
Doctors and their staffs are becoming more and more defensive. They are distracted by paperwork and insurance premiums. We don't go to a doctor with an agenda 'to harm them'!?
frustrating, 5f
Posted by Phillipa on April 4, 2008, at 19:48:55
In reply to Re: True or Not About Docs And Self Pay????? » Phillipa, posted by BGB on April 3, 2008, at 22:52:10
BCG hey we're only about four hours away from each other. This part of the country is booming. Here the wait is 90 days with or without insurance. And a lot are only keeping patients they have had for years. Phillipa
Posted by Zyprexa on April 11, 2008, at 1:50:05
In reply to Re: True or Not About Docs And Self Pay????? » Phillipa, posted by BGB on April 3, 2008, at 22:52:10
I've got health insurance, and just switched from a psychitrist that just stoped taking insurance, and got in to see a new one, who takes insurance, with in a week or less!
Posted by undopaminergic on April 11, 2008, at 5:32:55
In reply to Re: True or Not About Docs And Self Pay?????, posted by Zyprexa on April 11, 2008, at 1:50:05
How difficult, expensive, time-consuming, etc. is it for a doctor to take insurance?
I assume this is a purely American issue, or is it applicable anywhere else too?
Posted by Zyprexa on April 15, 2008, at 0:16:02
In reply to Re: True or Not About Docs And Self Pay?????, posted by undopaminergic on April 11, 2008, at 5:32:55
Thats exactly what I'm saying!
Not going to take insurance, I'll go else where.
The thing is, if they don't take insurance they can charge what ever they want. When they deal with insurance, they have to settle on a pay rate. Which is usualy less that what they are charging.
Its not just an american issue. Some doctors in other countries don't take the health plan. You pay out of pocket, for what is supposed to be a better treatment.
Posted by Phillipa on April 15, 2008, at 19:18:30
In reply to Re: True or Not About Docs And Self Pay?????, posted by Zyprexa on April 15, 2008, at 0:16:02
Stinks doesn't it? Phillipa
Posted by undopaminergic on April 16, 2008, at 12:06:51
In reply to Re: True or Not About Docs And Self Pay?????, posted by Zyprexa on April 15, 2008, at 0:16:02
>
> The thing is, if they don't take insurance they can charge what ever they want. When they deal with insurance, they have to settle on a pay rate. Which is usualy less that what they are charging.
>In my experience, they can charge whatever they want even with insurance - the patient just has to pay the difference between the actual rate and what the insurance will cover.
Posted by Zyprexa on April 16, 2008, at 17:45:59
In reply to Re: True or Not About Docs And Self Pay?????, posted by undopaminergic on April 16, 2008, at 12:06:51
Thats only if they are out of network. I tried that one, didn't work.
Posted by Phillipa on April 16, 2008, at 19:35:12
In reply to Re: True or Not About Docs And Self Pay?????, posted by Zyprexa on April 16, 2008, at 17:45:59
Isn't that an HMO? No restrictions on docs as long as they take medicaire. Hence is the problem. Phillipa
Posted by Zyprexa on April 16, 2008, at 22:32:22
In reply to Re: True or Not About Docs And Self Pay????? » Zyprexa, posted by Phillipa on April 16, 2008, at 19:35:12
I've got a PPO, and if the doctor is out of network. You pay the $500 out of network deductible the the insurance covers 70% of what is left. So doctor bill is $120, pay $40 copay, the the insurance only covers say $70 for a visit. That means only $30 goes on deductible, you pay the rest, $40 copay + $50 not covered + the amount that was on deductible. So $30 toward deductible, after the 16th apointment the insurance pays part of the cost till the end of the year when the deductible gets reset and you start all over again. Insurance or not you pay about the same.
HMO would not even have anything to do with it.
Posted by Zyprexa on April 16, 2008, at 22:33:50
In reply to Re: True or Not About Docs And Self Pay????? » Zyprexa, posted by Phillipa on April 16, 2008, at 19:35:12
If the doctor is in network you only pay $40 copay!
Posted by Phillipa on April 17, 2008, at 18:59:07
In reply to Re: True or Not About Docs And Self Pay?????, posted by Zyprexa on April 16, 2008, at 22:33:50
Thanks for clarifying. Love Phillipa
Posted by undopaminergic on April 17, 2008, at 22:10:38
In reply to Re: True or Not About Docs And Self Pay????? » Zyprexa, posted by Phillipa on April 17, 2008, at 18:59:07
What's HMO, PPO, and "network"?
Posted by Phillipa on April 17, 2008, at 22:24:13
In reply to Re: True or Not About Docs And Self Pay?????, posted by undopaminergic on April 17, 2008, at 22:10:38
Hi you're not from the USA right? HMO etc. as insurance groups that some employers have that dictate what docs your're allowed to see and if you go to one not on their list they don't pay. My Daughter has one in Florida and can't even go to an ob-gyn with first going to a GP who will then refer her to one. Love Phillipa ps some are probably different. I don't have one.
Posted by yxibow on April 23, 2008, at 23:48:40
In reply to Re: True or Not About Docs And Self Pay?????, posted by undopaminergic on April 17, 2008, at 22:10:38
> What's HMO, PPO, and "network"?
An HMO is a Health Maintenance Organisation
The worst (or best depending on your belief) of the two non national and non socialised medical systems. You pay a fee per month, out of pocket or through work (deducted), and you can only use doctors that the HMO deems acceptable (i.e. that they can cheat out of money). So you have a Primary Provider (your GP), and he must refer you to specialists (that are again approved). Special procedures have to be Pre-Authorised and "off network" is considered to be non-authorised or not payed for as much.A PPO is a Preferred Provider Organization. That means that you can go to any Primary Provider you choose, although the copay may be higher than a HMO. You also don't have to have a referral (unless the special clinic has their own referral system, but thats not part of the paying structure) to a specialist. You have a higher deductible on prescriptions (meeting an annual deduction before actually paying less for a prescription) and a deductible anually on doctor's fees and whatnot. These deductibles coalesced can run rather high. But you get the benefit of a la carte for this.
In essence, "Sicko".
But how do you provide socialised health for 300 million people, especially the undercounted and impoverished -- this country still has pockets of people living in situations that you could call "2nd world" or whatever is politically correct.
Canada has its problems with its system but it has 1/10th the people and England has 1/5th the people. Triage happens and especially in England old medication and old practices are still used in non-university areas.
And the worst of it all is that mental health coverage, though supposed to be at "parity" is not -- loopholes can make it 50,000 even if you have a 6,000,000 lifetime policy. And if you touch the mental health side, its a sticky wicket, cancellations can occur leaving people without major med (the other side of the insurance, e.g. emergency surgery) or branded with preexisting conditions -- that's the other part of insurance, preexisting conditions prohibit payment, especially with HMOs. So you fight the legal system and spend lots of money -- I could go on, but there's no free lunch.Ultimately, people who can afford it fork out cash for therapy.
-- end soapbox --
Posted by undopaminergic on April 24, 2008, at 5:04:07
In reply to Re: HMO PPO and the american misinsurance system, posted by yxibow on April 23, 2008, at 23:48:40
>
> But how do you provide socialised health for 300 million people, especially the undercounted and impoverished -- this country still has pockets of people living in situations that you could call "2nd world" or whatever is politically correct.
>
> Canada has its problems with its system but it has 1/10th the people and England has 1/5th the people. Triage happens and especially in England old medication and old practices are still used in non-university areas.
>OK, Canada & England have less population, but they also have fewer doctors (and fewer universities producing new doctors), fewer hospitals, and less tax money to spend on various services. However, I'm not suggesting any solutions.
>
> Ultimately, people who can afford it fork out cash for therapy.
>Yes, that has always been the case, and it's true for the world at large.
Another option, that I'm increasingly relying on, is to acquire the knowledge and tools to treat oneself.
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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