Recently I was at my doctor’s office and noticed signs posted saying that the doctors group is no longer accepting Medicare and Medicaid patients. I just had to ask why, so I went to the receptionist and inquired. I was told that both the Federal Government and some State governments were cutting back payments to the doctor’s for services performed. And, in fact, sometimes the payments were leaving doctors with a negative balance. I must have had my face all screwed up and contorted, because she asked if I needed any water after I digested what she had just told me.
This whole drawn out Healthcare drama is like treasure hunting blindfolded. A lot of people forming this bill, including both Republicans and Democrats are creating paths and worm holes that lead to some mythical destination which yet has been introduced. The scary part is not the unknowns of this whimsical healthcare plan, but instead the axe men who are chopping away at the Medicare and Medicaid coverage that is currently in place. I have private coverage, but I know first hand family members who are losing doctors that have dropped out from government sponsored plans. Yes my premiums are staggering, but at least I still have my doctors. If I believed in conspiracies, which I might have been guilty of before, I would say that behind-the-seen practices are taking place to push non private insured people toward having to use a new Healthcare plan. I bet you’re asking how I formed this idea from a bucket of bolts, so I’ll tell you.
If doctors are dropping Medicare and Medicaid due to ultra low reimbursements, then what choice do non private insured people have? Drive greater distances to find a doctor who is willing to accept those coverage’s? Or go to the local ER? Even still, there is always a choice to go to the county Health center.
What if doctors were told that they would receive a competitive reimbursement under this new Healthcare plan? And that the amount would be closer to private insurance reimbursement? Sounds great! But wait, isn’t that bribery? Or is that similar to lobbying? I thought the new Administration did not like lobbyists, but it seems like they are offering higher reimbursement payments if doctors see patients on the new health plan. What’s the difference between groups paying the Senators and the Federal government making deals with Senators to get their support?
When is this plan going to kick off if it is passed? I thought I read somewhere 2014. So what do people do in the mean time? Also, when does the triple taxation, err I mean the premium collections start for these folks? Who is going to oversee the Plans balance sheets? Last I checked our deficit is in the Trillions, so I would like to know if someone with better accounting is going to be the Plans administrator. Also, what about inflation, are premiums going to rise every year like they do with my private health insurance? After all, as technology gets better in the medical field, someone is going to have to absorb the costs.
Is there a need for all American’s to have coverage. Yes there is. Does health insurance cost a bunch? You bet it does! But if the Government was playing a football game against the obstacles of a healthcare plan, I would bet they would be running down the field without a helmet on and getting quite a few concussions along the way. Why do I think this?? Because lately some people in Congress seem delusional and oblivious to what their constituents are trying to tell them, and deciding to vote on what they personally feel instead. I also addressed the issue of a Socialized Healthcare plan in an August 2009 podcast. Some of the same questions have yet to still be answered. Please feel free to leave your comments to this post.