Any other doctors thinking of calling it quits?

[Anonymous]

"When I lived in the UK, I had private insurance, but I still had to use public hospitals. I actually don't know of any private hospitals, other than one in London."

I had my first child in northern England. I was covered by the NHS (national health care plan) but used a private OB. Not because I disliked the NHS but due to some confusion when I first arrived, 15 weeks pregnant. My OB worked in a small private hospital, as well as at the local NHS hospital. I delivered at the public NHS hospital.

My after birth care was through the NHS and the level of care was vastly superior to the US. I got daily home visits from midwives and nurses for a couple of weeks, very helpful for a clueless first time mom! I'm all for single payer health care, or a mixed public/private system like in the UK.

[Anonymous]

Universal health coveraged does not mean a "single payer" system. The PP that pointed out that there will be a mixed payer system I think is right on . . . for many of us (insured) people, things prob won't drastically change.

Also, I always continue to be amazed at how people cannot fathom that others lack insurance. Or how people accumulate debt due to medical issues? I don't understand how people don't realize how easy it is to become uninsured or to have poor coverage. It's not a matter of just "get a job" or "go on medicaid."

[Anonymous]

It will be presented as a mix, but once that "public option" is out there, especially if employer contributions are taxed, all of the insurance companies will go under. Ignani has been pretty clear about that.

[Anonymous]

In response to the multiple posters who ask why complaining docs don't just switch to private practice, no insurance. It's ILLEGAL! If you work in a hospital setting, you are required to take any sick patient and not permitted to ask about coverage. That's a good thing. That is the only way the uninsured get into emergency rooms and ICUs. They can't go to primary care docs, which is why our ERs are overburdened.

There are some states (Illinois) which haven't reimbursed hospitals for Medicaid patients for years. So those doctors are required to see all patients, but are paid for only the fraction of them with insurance. Some hospitals get around it by referring patients with "complicated" cases like ear tubes to other hospitals, but ultimately someone is giving free care.

And though I have a PhD in a field that is totally unrelated to what I'm working in, I do not think it is at all comparable to doctors not earning large sums after med school and residency. I was PAID (pennies, but still) through grants and TAing to go to grad school. I left grad school with no debt. That is very different from a doctor paying a few hundred K to get through med school, and then going through residency and fellowship earning only 30K a year for 4-7 years. The two aren't even comparable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In response to the multiple posters who ask why complaining docs don't just switch to private practice, no insurance. It's ILLEGAL! If you work in a hospital setting, you are required to take any sick patient and not permitted to ask about coverage. That's a good thing. That is the only way the uninsured get into emergency rooms and ICUs. They can't go to primary care docs, which is why our ERs are overburdened.

There are some states (Illinois) which haven't reimbursed hospitals for Medicaid patients for years. So those doctors are required to see all patients, but are paid for only the fraction of them with insurance. Some hospitals get around it by referring patients with "complicated" cases like ear tubes to other hospitals, but ultimately someone is giving free care.

And though I have a PhD in a field that is totally unrelated to what I'm working in, I do not think it is at all comparable to doctors not earning large sums after med school and residency. I was PAID (pennies, but still) through grants and TAing to go to grad school. I left grad school with no debt. That is very different from a doctor paying a few hundred K to get through med school, and then going through residency and fellowship earning only 30K a year for 4-7 years. The two aren't even comparable.

Private doctors can refuse to accept insurance. So can doctors in hospitals if the case is not an emergency, like elective surgery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"When I lived in the UK, I had private insurance, but I still had to use public hospitals. I actually don't know of any private hospitals, other than one in London."

I had my first child in northern England. I was covered by the NHS (national health care plan) but used a private OB. Not because I disliked the NHS but due to some confusion when I first arrived, 15 weeks pregnant. My OB worked in a small private hospital, as well as at the local NHS hospital. I delivered at the public NHS hospital.

My after birth care was through the NHS and the level of care was vastly superior to the US. I got daily home visits from midwives and nurses for a couple of weeks, very helpful for a clueless first time mom! I'm all for single payer health care, or a mixed public/private system like in the UK.

All that plus UK doctors are some of the highest paid in the world. No kidding.

[Anonymous]

Why did you opt for private insurance? Could it possibly be the maternal health is considered something that national health insurance would cover fairly well perhaps but cancer another story? There is a rationing board in UK--we don't have that in the states ..now at least.

[Anonymous]

We had to go to the emergency room while in the UK, and got excellent care immediately, equal to or superior to any care we've received in the U.S. And when we walked out the door -- no bill. Nothing, nada, even though we explained we are insured, we are Americans. They smiled and waved goodbye.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had to go to the emergency room while in the UK, and got excellent care immediately, equal to or superior to any care we've received in the U.S. And when we walked out the door -- no bill. Nothing, nada, even though we explained we are insured, we are Americans. They smiled and waved goodbye.

Ahem. Somebody paid, it's called taxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had to go to the emergency room while in the UK, and got excellent care immediately, equal to or superior to any care we've received in the U.S. And when we walked out the door -- no bill. Nothing, nada, even though we explained we are insured, we are Americans. They smiled and waved goodbye.

Ahem. Somebody paid, it's called taxes.

High taxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did you opt for private insurance? Could it possibly be the maternal health is considered something that national health insurance would cover fairly well perhaps but cancer another story? There is a rationing board in UK--we don't have that in the states ..now at least.

That is a good point. Some countries prioritize care to the young and childbearing women. Then when you complain about backpain in your 50's, too bad. It makes economic sense to do that.

[Anonymous]

Also should be added that 85% of US is insured and in the 15% mix which is reported by the gov..something like 12 million illegals..somehow they get into the numbers because they are here eve though they are here illegally. Anyway..if you took them out of the picture you have only 10% uninsured. This is somehow not reported and Nancy Pelosi is pretty open that the illegals should also be insured by us. Hmmmm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also should be added that 85% of US is insured and in the 15% mix which is reported by the gov..something like 12 million illegals..somehow they get into the numbers because they are here eve though they are here illegally. Anyway..if you took them out of the picture you have only 10% uninsured. This is somehow not reported and Nancy Pelosi is pretty open that the illegals should also be insured by us. Hmmmm

You didn't know? The illegals get more care than the rest of us. Heck, organ transplants, the works. And if there is malpractice, they get to sue the doctors, and live here rich, without fear of deportation.

[Anonymous]

Regarding the illegals in US stats..this came as a surprise to me actually. I still can't believe that so many people want to jeapardize their insurance for such a small percentage of US uninsured..and that percentage does include people who don't prioritize health insurance they way a lot of people do. I fear that people are just thinking ..oh I hate paying my half of the insurance at work and how great to have the gov handle it or I am so mad that I my deductable is so high and I don't like co pays and don't realize that you may get some kind of preventative care but when you are really really sick you want good ol US healthcare..again this is why so many Canadians are coming here for catastrophic treatment. It shows how many people can be manipulated by what they see on tv.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had to go to the emergency room while in the UK, and got excellent care immediately, equal to or superior to any care we've received in the U.S. And when we walked out the door -- no bill. Nothing, nada, even though we explained we are insured, we are Americans. They smiled and waved goodbye.

Ahem. Somebody paid, it's called taxes.

High taxes.

Very High Taxes.

You must not have had a nightime emergency. If you do, you will quickly find out that most of their equipment is shut down for the night, because they can't afford the staff.