Freedom to Choose a Doctor in the US
I find that I'm still thinking today about health-care matters and the train-wreck-in-progress in the US as "we" work towards health-care "reform".
Possibly topping the list of the fear and doubt instilled in the minds of voters by the big health-insurance companies is that universal health-care (usually labeled "socialized medicine") could restrict one's freedom to choose one's own doctor. There's no real reason to think it might happen, but what if the government started telling us what doctor to go to!
But let's think for a moment. Suppose you are in the position of having to find a new doctor as your primary-care physician. You ask around, do some research, and narrow it down to a few names.
What comes next? Aha! Checking your insurer's website to see whether the doctor you've chosen is on the insurer's list of approved providers, i.e., will the insurer accept claims from that doctor for processing.
Wouldn't it be a pity to give up that freedom of choice!
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I welcome comments -- even dissent -- but I will delete without notice irrelevant, rude, psychotic, or incomprehensible comments, particularly those that I deem homophobic, unless they are amusing. The same goes for commercial comments and trackbacks. Sorry, but it's my blog and my decisions are final.
on Tuesday, 23 June 2009 at 11.36
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One of the oldest games in the book: blame the competition for wanting to do unto others what you're already doing to them!
on Wednesday, 24 June 2009 at 00.43
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That's an excellent point. As a matter of law, people should be able to choose their care provider without being restricted to an insurer's list. If an individual's choice costs a bit more than the highest-cost one on the insurance company's list, the company could tell the person he/she must pay the difference. That's fair for all concerned and workable.
on Wednesday, 24 June 2009 at 08.06
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I live in Ontario, where we have universal health care for all residents of the province. We pay OHIP premiums (about $700/yr single, goes through your income tax return), and that covers just about all medical attention. Like Bill in BC, I pay for prescription drugs (though my employer provides insurance) and come age 65 I'll only pay $2/prescription when the province starts picking up the tab. I have diabetes, so my eye exams are covered by OHIP, those without a medical complication have to pay between ages 18-65.
My choice of primary care physician is limited to all doctors in the province, because they all are on the insurer's (OHIP's) list.
the actual limitations are if your physician of choice has a full complement of patients – Barrymycutegaydoctor isn't accepting new patients, having a full practice, and that's more of a problem in Toronto and remote areas.