Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 5521

Shown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

why good docs don't take insurance

Posted by mila on May 2, 1999, at 22:48:02

I have recently been looking for a good Doctor after years of inferior treatment. I have found that the better doctors are not only more expensive (that is to be expected) but they are also unwilling to take insurance. I'm wondering why this is so. Is it just that they don't want to deal with the extra paper work?Or is there some more compelling reason? It seems a shame that decent psychiatric treatment should be accessible only to those who have the money.

 

Re: why good docs don't take insurance

Posted by Sean on May 3, 1999, at 16:31:33

In reply to why good docs don't take insurance, posted by mila on May 2, 1999, at 22:48:02

> I have recently been looking for a good Doctor after years of inferior treatment. I have found that the better doctors are not only more expensive (that is to be expected) but they are also unwilling to take insurance. I'm wondering why this is so. Is it just that they don't want to deal with the extra paper work?Or is there some more compelling reason? It seems a shame that decent psychiatric treatment should be accessible only to those who have the money.

I haven't had this exact problem, but boy am I
pissed off at my insurance company. Isn't it
bad enough that one's medical record will forever
show a history of "mental illness" and then they
don't pay squat on your bill? Crooks, all of them,
making money off of peoples ill fortune and then
selling the data to marketing/risk assessment
firms on the side. But mostly I feel the hurt of
discrimination. Yup, pure KKK-grade ignorance
and bias, and tragically enough, probably fatal
in many cases.

Can you say mis-Managed Care? I knew you could...

 

Re: why good docs don't take insurance

Posted by saintjames on May 3, 1999, at 17:01:47

In reply to Re: why good docs don't take insurance, posted by Sean on May 3, 1999, at 16:31:33

> > I have recently been looking for a good Doctor after years of inferior treatment. I have found that the better doctors are not only more expensive (that is to be expected) but they are also unwilling to take insurance. I'm wondering why this is so. Is it just that they don't want to deal with the extra paper work?Or is there some more compelling reason? It seems a shame that decent psychiatric treatment should be accessible only to those who have the money.
>


I've yet to have a doc that does not take ins.

james

 

Re: why good docs don't take insurance

Posted by Victoria on May 3, 1999, at 19:57:37

In reply to why good docs don't take insurance, posted by mila on May 2, 1999, at 22:48:02

It probably depends on the type of insurance. My doc, like lots, won't participate in HMOs because he doesn't want some insurance clerk telling him what kind of treatment is "approved" or "not approved" by the HMO. If you have fee-for-service insurance with a psychiatric benefit, many doc still don't want to do the billing and wait for the insurance company to pay (and sometimes be limited to the minimal amounts the ins. cos. will pay), but they should be willing to give you a bill with sufficient information for you get reimbursed by your insurance. Also, if you are employed, you may be able to set up a health care reimbursement account with your employer, which takes money out of your paycheck pre-tax and reimburses you for medical expenses. It's your money, but it goes further because it isn't taxed.

> I have recently been looking for a good Doctor after years of inferior treatment. I have found that the better doctors are not only more expensive (that is to be expected) but they are also unwilling to take insurance. I'm wondering why this is so. Is it just that they don't want to deal with the extra paper work?Or is there some more compelling reason? It seems a shame that decent psychiatric treatment should be accessible only to those who have the money.

 

Re: why good docs don't take insurance

Posted by Jan on May 8, 1999, at 19:48:54

In reply to why good docs don't take insurance, posted by mila on May 2, 1999, at 22:48:02

> I have recently been looking for a good Doctor after years of inferior treatment. I have found that the better doctors are not only more expensive (that is to be expected) but they are also unwilling to take insurance. I'm wondering why this is so. Is it just that they don't want to deal with the extra paper work?Or is there some more compelling reason? It seems a shame that decent psychiatric treatment should be accessible only to those who have the money.

Mila,
Please don't think that just because they don't take insurance they are "better" Dr's. I tried paying "out of my pocket" to a Dr 6 months ago. Well $1300 dollars later, I'm broke and NOT feeling any better. It was a real disappointment. I've tried my HMO and out of network. The only thing my Dr did for me was drain my savings. That was a risk I was willing to take to get & feel better, and it didn't pay off. People tell me that you just have to find the right Dr that you like and that will workwith you. I don't have the money to "try" different Dr's until I find the one I "like".

Wouln't it be great if the Dr didn't charge you until he or she actually HELPED you??
( I know that's not right, but at least they would try just a little harder ). I know medicine is just a science, but all I'm trying to do is get my life back.

Jan

 

Re: why good docs don't take insurance

Posted by grace on May 28, 1999, at 17:56:49

In reply to Re: why good docs don't take insurance, posted by Jan on May 8, 1999, at 19:48:54

> > I have recently been looking for a good Doctor after years of inferior treatment. I have found that the better doctors are not only more expensive (that is to be expected) but they are also unwilling to take insurance. I'm wondering why this is so. Is it just that they don't want to deal with the extra paper work?Or is there some more compelling reason? It seems a shame that decent psychiatric treatment should be accessible only to those who have the money.
>
>
>
> Mila,
> Please don't think that just because they don't take insurance they are "better" Dr's. I tried paying "out of my pocket" to a Dr 6 months ago. Well $1300 dollars later, I'm broke and NOT feeling any better. It was a real disappointment. I've tried my HMO and out of network. The only thing my Dr did for me was drain my savings. That was a risk I was willing to take to get & feel better, and it didn't pay off. People tell me that you just have to find the right Dr that you like and that will workwith you. I don't have the money to "try" different Dr's until I find the one I "like".
>
> Wouln't it be great if the Dr didn't charge you until he or she actually HELPED you??
> ( I know that's not right, but at least they would try just a little harder ). I know medicine is just a science, but all I'm trying to do is get my life back.
>
> Jan

A little lecture from someone in a country with free health care. You guys really fucked up when you didn't listen to that very power hungry, manipulative, very repressed lesbian Hillary Clinton. Although she comes across like a shrewd little business freak, the woman had one good idea. Universal medical care.
- a Canadian.


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