Is anyone one a little concerned that the new healthcare reform could hurt you more than help you?

[Anonymous]

If you are happy with your insurance, do you wonder if there is a chance that there is something in that "package" that could change things for the worse.
Also, are you all completely clear about what we are getting?

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of well-written summaries of the legislation online, so I am quite confident I know what it says. Also, I am not in the least worried that it will hurt more than help. Reform is needed and this is a good first step.

[Anonymous]

Is there something that says that if you give up your private insurance, you have to take the public one?

[Anonymous]

No but there is something that says if you don't have insuance you can get it!

[Anonymous]

Nope -read up on the summaries, read the language in the bill, pretty confident that I will keep my insurance, and that I might end up paying a bit more in taxes - but that, imho, is a win - because I'd rather pay taxes for helping get people better from illnesses that are cureable if diagnosed early enough, than pay taxes to send our young children to war to be killed. We can't do anything about the latter at this point, but we can sure as heck do something about the former. I came to realize a few years ago that it's NOT ALL ABOUT ME. I also see that if I lose my job, I'll have the chance to get real coverage from health insurance. I see that children can't be denied coverage on the basis of preexisting conditions. I see that children can stay on parent's insurance until their 26. I see that people who've never been able to afford health insurance or were denied insurance can get it now. I see that insurance companies cannot just summarily increase rates and drop coverage. So, no, I'm not worried. Not at all.

[Anonymous]

I'm worried that if more people get health insurance, they will start going to see doctors more and trying to get more access to health care. Good for them, of course, but we're going to need more doctors or else waiting times will get longer. especially if you want to switch to a new doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are happy with your insurance, do you wonder if there is a chance that there is something in that "package" that could change things for the worse.
Also, are you all completely clear about what we are getting?

You sound worried -- are YOU completely clear on what we are getting?

If not, what part don't you understand? Maybe we can help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope -read up on the summaries, read the language in the bill, pretty confident that I will keep my insurance, and that I might end up paying a bit more in taxes - but that, imho, is a win - because I'd rather pay taxes for helping get people better from illnesses that are cureable if diagnosed early enough, than pay taxes to send our young children to war to be killed. We can't do anything about the latter at this point, but we can sure as heck do something about the former. I came to realize a few years ago that it's NOT ALL ABOUT ME. I also see that if I lose my job, I'll have the chance to get real coverage from health insurance. I see that children can't be denied coverage on the basis of preexisting conditions. I see that children can stay on parent's insurance until their 26. I see that people who've never been able to afford health insurance or were denied insurance can get it now. I see that insurance companies cannot just summarily increase rates and drop coverage. So, no, I'm not worried. Not at all.

Agree with this. It is not all about me, and it's extremely unfair that tens of millions of people don't have a basic right to healthcare. We have awesome insurance, no copay, and 90% of our prescriptions are paid. It's not supposed to change, but if I have to pay more in taxes to help cover others, I have to pay more in taxes. We pay nothing close to what citizens of other countries pay in taxes (and not that I want to) that have coverage for their citizens (citizens v. residents is another argument, ugh), and some of those countrie even have free university, like Australia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm worried that if more people get health insurance, they will start going to see doctors more and trying to get more access to health care. Good for them, of course, but we're going to need more doctors or else waiting times will get longer. especially if you want to switch to a new doctor.

Of course, it may mean less time in the emergency room when you have a true pediatric emergency because there won't be a guy ahead of you with the sniffles who decided to come ot the ER because he doesn't have a primary care physician because he lacks health insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm worried that if more people get health insurance, they will start going to see doctors more and trying to get more access to health care. Good for them, of course, but we're going to need more doctors or else waiting times will get longer. especially if you want to switch to a new doctor.

Of course, it may mean less time in the emergency room when you have a true pediatric emergency because there won't be a guy ahead of you with the sniffles who decided to come ot the ER because he doesn't have a primary care physician because he lacks health insurance.

Actually we will likely all spend MORE time in the ER because they will be inundated by newly insured patients who want to see a physician but can't find primary care physicians to see them. As a physician, every physician I know is wondering who the heck is going to take care of the newly insured? And this is the hot topic in the editorial sections of most journals and on physician geared websites/message boards. Most hospitals are prepping for a deluge of new ER patients.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm worried that if more people get health insurance, they will start going to see doctors more and trying to get more access to health care. Good for them, of course, but we're going to need more doctors or else waiting times will get longer. especially if you want to switch to a new doctor.

We have more doctors per capita than any country except Cuba, so what is so special about the US body that we need more docs?

[Anonymous]

Can someone explain why they want to tax "expensive" health plans?

Also, why does the family who decides not to buy insurance have to pay a penalty? Is that per family, or does the Amish farmer with 11 kids have to pay for each child who is uninsured?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm worried that if more people get health insurance, they will start going to see doctors more and trying to get more access to health care. Good for them, of course, but we're going to need more doctors or else waiting times will get longer. especially if you want to switch to a new doctor.

Of course, it may mean less time in the emergency room when you have a true pediatric emergency because there won't be a guy ahead of you with the sniffles who decided to come ot the ER because he doesn't have a primary care physician because he lacks health insurance.

Actually we will likely all spend MORE time in the ER because they will be inundated by newly insured patients who want to see a physician but can't find primary care physicians to see them. As a physician, every physician I know is wondering who the heck is going to take care of the newly insured? And this is the hot topic in the editorial sections of most journals and on physician geared websites/message boards. Most hospitals are prepping for a deluge of new ER patients.

And what a caring physician you seem to be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain why they want to tax "expensive" health plans?

Also, why does the family who decides not to buy insurance have to pay a penalty?

Because, if you only add a bunch of previously un-insurable people (with expensive pre-exisiting conditions) into the risk pool, your expenses will go WAY up and everyone will end up paying more in premiums. You also need to add in a good number of the young and healthy who will pay premiums but not utilize care. These young and healthy people are exactly those who might chose not to purchase insurance without a mandate/fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm worried that if more people get health insurance, they will start going to see doctors more and trying to get more access to health care. Good for them, of course, but we're going to need more doctors or else waiting times will get longer. especially if you want to switch to a new doctor.

Of course, it may mean less time in the emergency room when you have a true pediatric emergency because there won't be a guy ahead of you with the sniffles who decided to come ot the ER because he doesn't have a primary care physician because he lacks health insurance.

Actually we will likely all spend MORE time in the ER because they will be inundated by newly insured patients who want to see a physician but can't find primary care physicians to see them. As a physician, every physician I know is wondering who the heck is going to take care of the newly insured? And this is the hot topic in the editorial sections of most journals and on physician geared websites/message boards. Most hospitals are prepping for a deluge of new ER patients.

And what a caring physician you seem to be?

How is this not caring? I am currently seeing patients every 7 minutes in primary care. Would you want me to increase that to every 4 minutes?
It is not an issue of not caring. It is simply an issue of not having enough hours in the day.

Try and find a primary care physician. There's a post every other day on these boards from people unable to find one who is accepting new patients. And it's not because we're uncaring or sitting on our behinds or taking Fridays off. I'm working 10 hour days every day and I'm still booked solid for the next 3-4 months (as is every colleague I know).

I'm not being uncaring in stating that that the newly insured won't be able to find physicians. It's just the reality.