Doctors charge anywhere from $1,500 per person per year up to $25,000 or more for a family. This fee acts as a retainer on top of all the insurance-covered services.

i don't know a doctor worth this kind of extra money! i see three specialists and none are so great that i would not switch if they pulled this crap! it almost seems like malpractice to suggest that they won't give 100% unless you pay extra!

Let them go. Once we take over college education for doctors in this country will they eventually feel the pinch of loosing their own patients in time to come. The U.S. cannot afford to be without doctors and doctors we will have. We will open the door wide for those whom wish to become doctors and train them we will to work in this country. Yes there needs to be healthcare reform. It is a broken system and has been for years. Insurance coverage for doctors for liable suits is too high. We need to stop sueing doctors in this country and place limits. You cannot blame them for making this decisioin.

Yes, I Can blame them for making this decision, they need to act responsibly as well, this is not responsibility, it is bordering on criminal. The entire thing makes me ill. There is a great lack of ethics in this. Who would I blame? You are responsible for what you do....

We should have the same health benefits as do the politicians and teachers etc... Why not, it is we the people who pay for everything in the first place... I can not afford to pay for my own health benefits, but yet I am forced to pay for theirs ???

The Government is nothing but a Legalized Mafia......

Good for these doctors.

It still is a free country.

Better than dealing with the slow and low payments from the government.

If the demand is there, it is a good decision for their families.

You people who voted Barry and the Dems into office will soon reap what you sowed. Did you read how many doctors we are short?

Thousands will do the same over the next few years.

My 7 yr old daughter dreams of becoming a pediatrician. I am talking her into law school.

These few docs can go their own way and I wish them well if their way of practicing is economically viable. If not, they'll be back in the fold. I could agree with the statement, “I don’t think it’s right. I think a doctor should take anybody," if the docs did not have to cover their own considerable expenses. No one of them can take care of everybody, and they're entitled to make it in the system as best they can. They are not ethically bound to treat anyone.

People from other Countries come here and get a free education, and it is paid for by the tax payers... Can we go to other countries and get a free education ??? Then these people go back to their own country for a couple of years, then come back here and open up their own practice... There was a study, that showed that it is Doctors and Lawyers that hardly pay back their student loans...

Go figure......

Just like a weed, if you want to get rid of it, you have to take it out by the roots... So to solve the problem, you have to go to the root... And that is the High fee's of hospitals, and doctors, Parm co's, insurance companies ETC... But the Government(legalized mafia) will not go to the root of the problem, because they get money from all of them...

Less Government = Less problems...

The callous Darin Engelhardt, president of MDVIP, flippantly compares latte coffee to premier concierge doctor care. It is ridiculous to compare a Starbucks fancy coffee drinker with a cancer patient in dire need of attentive health care.

Darin Engelhardt is pure evil.

"Just like a weed, if you want to get rid of it, you have to take it out by the roots... So to solve the problem, you have to go to the root... And that is the High fee's of hospitals, and doctors, Parm co's, insurance companies ETC... But the Government(legalized mafia) will not go to the root of the problem, because they get money from all of them...

Less Government = Less problems.."

Huh? You talk about private sector issues, then blame the government?

Less Government = more problems! What's needed is regulation that is enforced, not the total hands-off, exempt from anti-trust laws, etc. which is how private enterprise operates under our current SOP.

I do agree the private corporations pay our congress members off under the table. I'd like to see every member of congress undergo annual audits. Might be interesting to see what shows up.

Well different strokes for different folks, there's nothing wrong with what they are doing, that's their choice, some doctors went into medicine for the money others for the desire to honestly help people, I think this only helps to clarify to the patients what the goals of these practitioners are and that is their right ...

To NY NoMore , Good for these doctors. It still is a free country.

If it's a free country then how come I can't sell my own blood or my body parts (like a kidney) to the highest bidder? How come I cannot sell my deceased relatives body parts to the highest bidder. Maybe we will need to do this in the future to afford the outrageous doctors fees.

You have a right to fire your doctor at any time, but they seldom have the right to fire you as a patient. Thes Doc's aren't taking the insurance money. They have opted out of the system that doesn't and will never work now that congress is hell bent on getting their system through.

This is what it will come to. Private docs for those that can afford it and crap health care for the rest of us. Those of you that wanted change, don't start crying when it affects you.

RECALL THEM ALL!!!

Extensive county hospital networks and cliinics are subsidized by taxpayer dollars. Most of us will never utilize health care services at these facilities, yet we pay for them. If you have the financial resources to pay for concierge medicine, that is your choice. Even in countries with so called model public health care there exist many private physicians who are available for those who don't want to wait in line behind illegal aliens.

This is EXACTLY the reason why all of us are going to get government healthcare shoved down our throats.

Between the government, insurance companies, and doctors, the American people are getting raped - and we don't even get to pick our partners...

jw, oh yes they do fire you! I had moved in with a girl last year and had to switch doctors for 6 months that it lasted because driving an hour each way wasn't practical anymore.
Since then, I have moved back near to my old doctor, and lo and behold, they don't accept returning patients! I have never heard of this practice, and I have 2 members of my family in the medical field! The office manager said it's their policy, and the Dr isn't given messages that I want him to call me, and I'm given the brush-off if I go by the practice to see him to ask if he would personally tell me he won't take me back, but to no avail.
My brother, a DR, says that doctors do absolutely have the right to refuse to treat anyone of their choosing. The Hippocratic oath had NOTHING to do with whether or not a doctor will see you, but business practices sure do!

Doctors run a business. While I would hope a person would go into medicine to help his/her fellow man, they still have a lot of expenses. I am not in the medical profession, but I have repeatedly seen doctors and nurses take abuse because the patient did not exercise common sense. Doctors are torn between trying to do the best for the patient while dealing with the formularies provided by the insurance companies. Becoming a doctor is a challenge, being a doctor seems rather stressful; people who can meet this challenge should be rewarded for their talent and perseverance.

The first real problem is the entitlement nation. A growing population of whiners who expect the best this world has to offer for little or no cost. We have too many people thinking that health care is a right and that they are not accountable to become educated and take responsibility for their own health. Unions go on strike because they have to start paying for part of their health care. Patients think they should receive the latest in medical technology just because they were born in this country.

The second real problem is a for profit health care industry. It's fertile ground for a conflict of interest. We hear a lot about rationed care these days, but most people with an HMO can tell stories of denied care and denied procedures. Treatment plans (a.k.a. formularies) are typically dictated by the accountants in the insurance companies. The health care is only accountable to their share holders, not the patients. Too much money is spent on advertising, executive packages and share holder relations. Most people get their insurance through work, in this situation the insurance carrier only needs to focus on the benefits coordinator, not the individual.

Our nation and health care system is going towards a caste system. If you have a problem with this, blame a lobbyist. If you want to fix this, demand lobbyist reform before any new legislation can be biased. The health care industry has already pumped a quarter billion dollars into the health care reform arena to protect their assets.

Yes there needs to be healthcare reform. It is a broken system and has been for years. Insurance coverage for doctors for liable suits is too high. We need to stop sueing doctors in this country and place limits.

This is nonsense pushed by the insurers and the medical industry. Only 1 in 7 people who are victims of malpractice even file a complaint. The number that sues is only 1 in 3 of those. That means that less that one in 21 that's harmed by malpractice sues, and they have the gall to want to limit us to even less.

It's far past time to completely rethink our health care industry from top to bottom.

The doctor at the start of this article rakes in an additional 200k a year from this over and above what insurance pays her. A general practioner is just plain not worth that much money.

the legislation that will soon be passed is only going to increase the number of doctors who transfer to "cash only" medical practices. as to why a doctor would limit the number of patients who can utulize his services --- what professional doesn't do that ? there are only so many hours in the day. and as far is being "worth the extra money" --- i guess that depends on how badly you need the services, doesn't it ? i imagine some people feel the extra money for a little more specialized care is like eating at a more expensive restaurant instead of going to a fast food joint.

I like my doctor. Good insurance. Not worth an extra $1500.00. My doctor lives in a million dollar house. Ten times the mean house price in my area. The problem is not enough doctors. Health care people are rationed. My daughter tried to get in nursing school. No slots are available. We have a nursing program for over 80 years. Somebody is rationing providers.

Comparing healthcare to lattes and fast food? If anybody thinks that is an apt comparison I wonder about you and your ability to comprehend the complex issues of healthcare. With every post against healthcare it reinforces my belief those people do not understand the depth of the problems of our current system, and certainly misunderstand what other countries have and how it works.

5,000 doctors out of how many doctors? Thanks msnbc for your horse sh!t scare tactics. Nice job of getting your facts together. Using premonitions and guesses from Madame Cleo and the Psychic Friends Network to predict the way medicine will look in this country three years from now does not qualify as reporting.

Doctors are part of the free enterprise system. They are entitled to run their business any way they choose within the law. They should have minimum interference from the federal and state governments. Patients have choices too based on their needs, means, and desired level of care. Its been so long since we paid a doctor directly, we've lost that connection, i.e. business-customer relationship. The current bills the democrats are pushing is nothing more or less than a huge, unconstitutional, federal intrusion into health care. People have got to learn that the government should not be the solution to all their problems and politicians who promise this should be voted out!

The essential problem is that the medical industry has set up a monopoly for itself by getting laws enacted to protect them, but then insist that government regulation of their activities is a bad thing.

How does that work?

"The move to smaller, premium practices will worsen an already dire shortage of primary care doctors, creating an elite group of well-compensated physicians who see fewer and fewer upscale patients, dumping the rest on their increasingly harried colleagues, critics contend. The U.S. is short by between 40,000 and 50,000 primary care doctors now, a figure that’s expected to top 125,000 by 2020, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. That means people who don’t want or can’t afford concierge plans will have a harder time than ever finding a doctor."

The push by Congress for "health insurance reform" will create a terrible system whereby people will have to wait forever for an appointment, and care will be severely rationed. I suspect most doctors will opt out of a government run plan, creating a health care crisis for most people.

If you REALLY want to let your Senators and Representative know where you stand on the Health Care Bills, CALL THEM and tell them how THEIR next vote may affect YOUR next vote in 2010. Here's how;

For your Senator, call (202) 234-3121 and ask to speak with your Senators.

For your Representative, call (202) 235-3121 and ask to speak to your Representative.

These are the phone numbers of their Washington Offices. If you wish to write, their addresses is; Washington, D.C., 20510

If you pass this information on to 10 other people by letter or e-mail or phone or twitter, and encourage each of them to pass it on to 10 other people, you could make a huge difference.

We have way too many citizens who seem to have gone to the dumbya school of reading- if they do read they don't understand. The article didn't say all the doctors were dumping insurance companies- the annual fee for some groups is INADDITION to insurance payments. It's $1200 to $1600 a year on top of insurance premiums to see these guys. They must have copied the idea from upscale beauty salons- the ones that give you a glass or two of wine while you're waiting

for the haircut that's 5x the going rate. I don't have a problem with people paying for this service- our country is filled with people who know nothing and think they're special.

I wonder how much Dr. Debin got in Federal Tax dollars to become an M.D. ? ? Better yet, I wonder if she bothered to pay back any of the Federal Tax she received because there are a large number of M.D.'s don't bother to repay their Loans. With all the Medical Errors M.D.'s make every year, I would question whether or not Dr. Derbin is worth the extra charge. I wonder also if she returns premiums or gives rebates for Medication, Diagnostic or Surgical errors. Personally, I have gotten better care and information from the Nurse Practitioner (NP) that the M.D. . The NP takes more time, actually talks to the patient and does all the work-ups, all the M.D. does is agree with the NP.

They will never last...when its time to come back to poor patients...well sorry ..go study law or bartending cause you are morally wrong and we dont need you after all!

So when does the best care in the world become a right versus a privilege? Adequate care is a human right but not an absolute right. Liberals are spinning their yarn causing the typical bleeding heart confusion tactics...

Bottom line, basic fundimental care should be considered for all and to be clear, if you actually pay you deserve the care you are actually paying for. This "get the best for free" liberal crap will bankrupt the country just as it is doing to California...

Welcome to the 'new' healthcare..., where doctors tell you to deal with your own insurance company. That way they don't need to worry about any future gub'mint run healthcare...

Face IT !!.. all for the Love of Money..forget it , if people are unemployed, lack food or shelter or even need medical care..this is our insensitive, unethical social order..sure, everyone must thrive and try their very best not to get in that situation..however with economic and unwarranted hardships, you may die with out compassion..This is American BIG Business and Big Government philosophy, All For Me, barely little to nothing for you..Greed is our fate....

JimC-300069 "We have way too many citizens who seem to have gone to the dumbya school of reading- if they do read they don't understand. The article didn't say all the doctors were dumping insurance companies"

Did you consider that doctors that take on more "paying" customers will stop taking some "insured" customers? As doctors switch over to more lucrative customers, the demand (and waiting times) for regular insurance care will get more and more rationed.

As the doctor shortage increases, so will the problem.

The government plan to add 40 million more people on insurance while cutting reimbursement rates will create a nightmare scenario.

It's not that we don't know how to read, it's that we DO understand what we are reading.

"Bottom line, basic fundimental care should be considered for all and to be clear, if you actually pay you deserve the care you are actually paying for. This "get the best for free" liberal crap will bankrupt the country just as it is doing to California..."

I actually like the idea of tiered quality "you get what you pay for". I think architects and construction workers should work like this too. Want an extra safe building? Pay more. It would work REALLY well for teachers and police officers, too. Your kids would get a level of instruction commensurate with the amount you pay the teacher (tipping would work well, too). Now, if only we could privatize the military (gov't run ANYTHING sucks!) we could have tiered services there, too. That way we could pay a bigger amount to make sure soldiers do their best for us. And if you are too cheap to pay for the best, you take the standard protective services.

;)

Sorry Captn', poor choice of words I would assume that most doctors would continue to serve even the worst of people until they are given the opportunity to dump them later on. That is business, you are probably a rare occurrance and the doctor puts that manager in to protect him from the outside world.

I am sure that you were able to find another doctor, right? Since you have a couple in your family?

The Health Care debate has (this round) been brewing since March or so. The first villains were the doctors, then big Pharma, now Insurance, and looking like they are going to drag the doctors back into the boogie man role. They will wrap all of them back into this role eventually. If the American public would hold everyone in DC accountable like they are deflecting our attention to everyone else but them, then I think the majority of people would see that we don't want to give DC this kind of power over our lives.

If you don't have health care coverage, I feel for your situation, if it isn't self inflicted. But all of the numbers DC and the media have floated around is this mysterious 15-30 million that they still are not going to be covering when this fiasco is done. And they are refusing to deal with the Trial Lawyers that drive up more costs than all of the other areas combined. And I still don't want to pay to cover any illegal alien out of our taxes!

The faster we can get everyone to actually read the bill and hold DC accountable for every line item in their legislation, the faster we can all get on with our lives. Remember how peaceful our lives are when DC accomplishes - NOTHING!!

Couple of comments:

1) Doctors get paid what they do because there are a very limited number or people who can do their jobs. The education is long, hard and very expensive. Athletes get paid big bucks because not many people can hit a curve ball or catch a football. Same thing.

2) Since when is healthcare a right??? Freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is a right - healthcare is not! Healthcare is an industry and the caregivers in that industry need to be compensated for their work.

3) We need to tackle the insurance industries and medicare. Everyone who has insurance, except for politicians, work for it and pay for it. We cannot simply give it away and expect the healthcare debate to get better. What ever happened to working for what you get and paying for what you get. If the insurance company pays a doctor 50% of their costs, you should get lower service and time with the doctor because he needs to see more patients to pay the overhead and still, if you sell something for 50% of it's cost - you still lose money and need to charge someone else more to pay your bills.

Actually, it's "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" that are our (supposed) rights.

I love how every liberal seems to think that what the insurance company or government (medicare/caid) pays for services goes directly into the doctors pockets. You seem to forget that all doctor's offices have office staff and nurses to pay. The offices are usually rented, so a monthly rent payment and utilities on top of that to boot. Let's not forget about the cost of medical supplies and equipment.

I personally think it is a travesty that any one doctor has to work more than 8 hours a day. But most of you would have them working 24/7 with no retirement. They are people, they have families they would like to spend time with on a daily basis. So kudos to those doctors who have chosen to take a better life for themselves and provide quality service to those willing to pay.

i feel you wioll see much more of this when congress gets done meddling with health care. taking hundreds of billions of dollars away from medicare will really ingratiate the doctors. most will probably quit taking medicare. and insurance premiums will skyrocket because the insurers have to cover people who do nothing to manage their own health. we will all be paying the same premium as the morbidly obese, diabetic, hypertensive, vascular disease ridden, smoker who refuses to diet or exercise. how many want that. it is like having to pay the same auto insurance premiusm as the local drunk with multiple dui's. why punish everyone for some one elses problems. and the medical schools residency programs are all trying to bring in foreign doctors. where i worked 75% were foreign and only 50% american educated. the language barriar was terrible.

True, moleman. And frankly, I can understand why doctors hate seeing the elderly. No doctor should have to see a patient that will take up the same amount of time as 3 regular patients. Maybe doctors should start charging by the minute, with triple the rate after 15 minutes. Quintuple if you complain or start talking about your prostate.

;)

jw-570597....you had best re-think your notion that doctors don't fire patients. We were "fired" by our doctor when we said that we thought that maybe we should consider looking for another doctor because of the poor treatment by his office staff. He proceeded to cancel our outstanding prescriptions the same day of the incident, without notifying us. I went to pick up a refill for my blood pressure medication that had been ordered the day before and was told that the doctor had pulled the prescription. I immediately filed a complaint with our insurance company stating that if I suffered a health consequence involving blood pressure, due to this doctor's actions, that we would be suing the company. They promptly prepared two complaints (one for me and one for my husband) and contacted the doctor to inform him that his actions were illegal and that my prescription must be reinstated immediately. I was able to get the medication that day, but we still changed doctors. The insurance company would not tell us the results of the complaints that were filed. So, don't ever think that your doctor can't fire you!

God for Doctor.

Let supply and demand work it out... the incomes these people generate will motivate young people to undergo the ordeal of medical school... Obamacare will neve achiev that.

There is a law in England that prohibits doctors from taking money from patients... no doubt some of you will think that is a good idea... oh well...

DEMOCRATS ARE SCUM.

I am Retired Military and I use Concierge Doctor service @ $150 a month on top of regular Health Insurance and would not be without it. Just wait till you idiots push this flawed bill to pass. You will wait 3-4 hours to see a Doc and that is wait time in the waiting room on top of 45-90 days just to get that appointment. How do I KNOW? I am Retired MILITARY, that is the Government way and good luck on seeing the same Doc if they even are Doc's. Most are PA's or just Medics you will see, 19-25 year old kids. You will see. ODUNBO will be long gone when your taxes double because of it, MARK MY WORDS. I hope I will be DEAD by then.

Our Senators and Congressmen/women know about this looming shortage, and they tried to address it with a separate bill of $250 billion, in addition to the $1 trillion health care reform bill. It was a sneaky way to "lower the cost" of reform, while actually raising it. Who knows what other sneaky things they will do, just to be able to say Obama's signature legislation passed.

Bottom line, with the bills in the Senate, doctors will get paid less for each procedure, and will only be paid for the procedures the government panel approves. Inovation will be a thing of the past. Doctors will actually be penalized for performing more procedures than the "average," even if they determine you need it. Some bureaucrat will be watching over their shoulders.

I think that in addition to currently having a shortage of general practitioners, fewer doctors will want to practice general medicine when it comes with such banal oversight. Who needs it?

Pass the current health care reform, and you can keep your doctor - if you can find him/her. For those who stay in practice, lines will be longer and the doctor will have to work faster just to make an adequate salary. The doctor-patient relationship will worsen, and lawsuits will increase, so malpractice will increase on the increasingly smaller number of physicians willing to put up with such a situation.

But, the sick will still need care. So, do we raise taxes even more to pay people of lesser intelligence to attend medical schools for free? Do we lower our standards to accept "doctors" from unaccredited medical schools? Just another left hook waiting around the corner. I love the Congressman from Florida who held up posters saying the Republican reforms amounted to saying "Don't get sick." Now how is that any different from what the Democrats are stuffing down our throats.

I guess we deserve what we get for being so stupid as to elect people who only care about themselves and their re-election. One of our founding fathers said long ago, "when the people realize they can vote themselves money out of the treasury, democracy will be lost." Those guys were extremely aware of the human condition. Standby, if this health care reform passes, things will be much worse, certainly not better, and then comes the crap and tax bill. We can't pay America's bills now, so how can we afford to spend ourselves into oblivion. It all makes absolutely no sense, just because people want something for nothing.

Our Family doctor retired. I have not been able to find a replacement for 3 months.Every one I call tell me No new patients There swamped! This is a huge problem that is only going to get worse.Bigger the town or city bigger the problem. Government cant solve the doctor shortage they have tried for many years offering grants loans etc. for education and it has steadily gotten worse. Shows how dumb they are. there trying to put more people in a system that is already over run. There going to force people to buy insurance who will not be able to use it. I have very good insurance and have had it for 20 years I cant get a doctor.So why have it if you cant use it? Maybe the government can force us all to buy airplanes most folks cant get a pilots license or afford the fuel maintenance and storage etc. For those poor folks the planes will be free! They will have a airplane they cant use. But at least in the short run people will get jobs building them.

With the cost of Health Care rising,, the economy and Unemployment, Concierge practices could be a thing of the past.

Have had a chance to go with Concierge doctors. Not a good idea. Would rather go to a clinic of Specialists who confer with their colleagues, and are on the top of the very latest medical treatments.

Some Concierge doctors practice solo, have maybe 1 or 2 other partners, part time, or have a part time doctor to take their place while on vacation. They are connected to the main hospitals.

Doctors go into this type of practice because they can choose their patients, work less hours, and make tons more money. But are they of EXCELLENCE in their field of medicine?. My main question.

They are basically medical, doctor babysitters.

To everyone that has been fired by your doctor, don't blame my post. I said seldom will a doctor fire a patient. I am still sure that more patients fire their doctors than vice-versa.

My point that you people don't focus on, is that we each have a choice, NOW and so do the Doctors. What kind of choices will each of us have after this mess gets shoved into every orifice we have?

Well said brettz in 1.35

I am almost certain this is another attempt by the left wing MEDIA to promote the agenda of the Dems... dont believe everything you read. they are pushing their Health Reform Bill hard and yes there needs to be reform but without government control or even a loophole that may permit it latter... the current draft needs to go back to the drawing board, or better yet NO reform but instead FIX the system that is in Place now... no more programs that dont work and cost too much.... fire the current administration and place sane real americans in office

Some the best medical care I ever received was from a clinic that did not accept Insurance. You pay $65 per visit plus Lab Costs and any medication cost ( They have an in house pharmacy). It was great, no appointment usually no more than a 15 minute wait and the cost was much lower than the cost of Insurance. If you could supplement these programs with low cost In Patient care only Insurance it would be perfect!

Who needs the government?? Go Doctors Go!

"His wife, Marjorie, 64, was sick with a serious adrenal disorder and nervous about having to switch doctors."

I'm nervous about crossing the street sometimes. Doesn't mean I won't do it. Is this supposed to pull at my heart strings? It actually does the opposite. Doctors will stop acting like Gods as soon as we get off our knees.

My 7 yr old daughter dreams of becoming a pediatrician. I am talking her into law school

ha ha, that's so funny and sad.

We will se how well everyone likes these arrangements when they start harvesting body parts from the less fortunate! Think it cant happen? Wait and see.

“This is a multi-tiered health system and has been for a number of years,” said Darin Engelhardt, president of MDVIP, a network of some 300 concierge doctors based in Boca Raton, Fla. “What we’re offering is simply a choice along the health care continuum.”

It's become a sorry state of affairs as far as health care goes in this country. It's becoming apparent, if what this article indicates is true, that our health care system has been corrupted by selfishness and greed. Anyone getting into medicine for big bucks instead of helping people should be questioning their career choices. If the health care system has deteriorated to this extent I see no way of ever changing it to anything affordable for the average people out there. Why are there so few doctors? Ask the AMA, they control the number of physicians who get educated and liscensed. Ask the hospital administrators who set the costs of hospital care, ask the insurance industry why they don't fight the high costs. There are way to many physicians who are thinking like lawyers and business exec's and they have made they whole system disfunctional to the detriment of the people they care for. Very sad.

[[The callous Darin Engelhardt, president of MDVIP, flippantly compares latte coffee to premier concierge doctor care. It is ridiculous to compare a Starbucks fancy coffee drinker with a cancer patient in dire need of attentive health care.]]

That would be a real problem if there were no regular oncologists out there who were willing to take ordinary patients, but that's not the case. Where's the evidence that you are more likely to get better care (in the sense of better outcomes) just because you pay for this service?

"Ask the AMA, they control the number of physicians who get educated and liscensed."

Huh? WTF did you come up with that? The AMA only represents approximately 17% of physicians in this country to begin with. Now you're telling me that they control the number of doctors who and who cannot get into Med school? Give me a break. The cost of healthcare is directly proportionate to the number of State mandated coverages.

Doctors will stop acting like Gods as soon as we get off our knees.

svenolafsan, I think you have it all wrong. In fact it's just quite the opposite. Not enough doctors are acting like God. A benevolent god does what is best for his patient's and not what will generate the most income through insurance, not pander to drug company perks, and not worry about being taken to court.

you dont find too many such gods in our for-profit healthcare system. such god doctors are commoner in so-called socialized medicine settings, which this country will never adopt, because we are too full of ourselves.

This is a sign of the times. For $1600 a year...this comes to 133 a month. For 24/7 personal care, that is not bad. These physicans spend anywhere from 8 to 12 years in school plus come out owing thousands of dollars for their education, and spend thousands of dollars on offices, staff and insurance to protect them from the ambulance chasing lawyers wanting to sue for any and everything. Is tort reform in the new Obamacare...Hell No. If you think that there is a shortage of physicians now, just wait until Obamacare goes into effect. My opthamologist who is over 55 says that he will shut down his practice and do Missionary work...that way he can help the people he wants to help, not the ones that the government tells him to help. He is not going to take anymore of their crap...he has enough with Medicare and because he is such a Patriot, he accepts my insurance through the retired military. He is one of the over the top physicians...he did corneal transplants for my sister-in-law and saved her vision years ago...he is a great doctor and when Obamacare goes into effect, we will lose him. My neice works for a family practicioner in a small town of about 8,000 people...he plans on closing his cliinic if Obamacare gets past. He says it is just not worth the extra personnel and time and wait to get paid...again he is over 55. This will leave this town with no doctor and they will have to travel over 25 miles in any direction for care. A lot of the physicians in this country are over 55 years of age, and you can bet your sweet ass, they will just pull down the sign and retire, because they know it will not be just the pay that will get "Change", but it will be the way they provide their patients with care...big Obama will tell them who can get help and who cannot and how much help they will be allowed to give. Soooo if you were one of the fools who voted in this corrupt, radical president, I hope you get your hope and change....I believe you will, but I don't think it will be what you were hoping for.

This is only the beginning of what's to come....Why do you think people come down to the US to pay full price for good healthcare...And I mean GOOD HEALTHCARE....You will be getting bargain basement quality medical treatment and will have to pay out of pocket for quality care...case in point "Concierge Service"...All you proponents of the BS Healthcare just screwed Americans...Damn all of you...

I can find her cell phone number online for 14.95..........Give me a break.

Some the best medical care I ever received was from a clinic that did not accept Insurance. You pay $65 per visit plus Lab Costs and any medication cost ( They have an in house pharmacy).

Uncommon sense, You hit the nail on the head. If everyone stopped billing insurance and started paying out-of pocket - costs will definitely go down. That is because insurance by its very nature drives up costs. Insurance is not a means of funding health care. It only perverts the practice of medicine.

ctdad; Ok money pants, come on down and pay for ours too since we can't afford a concierge.

OMG, arrogant power hungry Socialist Dems? Ha, you're confused with greedy capitalist pig-dog Republicans.

Sure, going through med school ain't easy or cheap, and then there's additional years internship. But how much income is enough? There is always a real time and materials cost to everything, then a reasonable profit. That's what regulations are for. The problem is the doctor-patient ratio.

From a capitalist point of view, this is a matter of supply and demand. What we need are more doctors and more facilities so doctors will have time for patients, and hospitals will have beds, etc. Why isn't this happening on it's own in the private sector?

When the private sector does not do what's needed, government has to step in. We should put students through medical school on the cheap. Then maybe they wouldn't feel entitled to be millionaires later. We need to build hospitals with tax dollars, then we could expect it to be non-profit. This should be the next step after health insurance reform.

I do not have a problem with doing away with the health insurance. These companies are becoming rich, and with the pay as you go plan we could do away with the over priced healthcare "reform" our so called lawmakers want to shove down our throats. Sad thing is that the poor cannot afford to pay out big bucks just to keep their doctor, pay as you go to the doctor or set up a payment arrangement and keep it. Doctors became more expensive as insurance became involved.

This is capitalism, nothing more and nothing less.

If Doctors want to choose "Privage/Concierge" practice with a limited amount of patients, then why not?

If I were a Doctor, I would do it in a heartbeat for just a few years, then retire at 40.

THIS, my friends, is what it means to be an American! Live Free!

Who do I blame? Besides the elitist doctors themselves I blame Obama and his tinkering with our healthcare system which was still the best in the world, despite he and his henchmen trying to convince us otherwise. We will see MORE of this, not less, if his 2,000 page boondoggle of a bill passes.

NOT embarrassment...the real reaction should be ANGER because these concierge fees are additional charges on top of what the INSURANCE industry sets MD rates at.

MDs cannot charge what they want because the usual and customary fee is pegged back to the discounted rate they accept from insurance companies. So your doctor cannot legally say to you: "Just give me $50, or $100," because she is legally obligated to charge the top non-discounted rate to cash accounts if she accepts ANY insurance payments.

SOOOOO...some poor schmuck who wants to pay cash cannot legally pay what the MD actually would like to receive she has to pay the inflated cash rate pegged before the discount.

For example, if Blue Cross--the non-profit insurer with executives who earn multimillion dollar salaries-- gets a 40% discount then the schmuck pays $100 when the insurance companies pays only $60.

It is a lot like the ridiculous room rates posted on the back of hotel room doors. You might be paying $180/night but the card says the room can rent for $850, which no one ever, ever pays.

EXCEPT in America where if you have no insurance the establishment tries to collect the full amount not the discounted amount.

The nonsense about socialism in health insurance reform is coming from the industry itself and the self-deluded who cannot think for themselves.

The real danger we face is not reforming the system to look more like those of our competitors in Europe, Canada, and elsewhere.

The American economy can no longer afford the luxury of bankrupting the little people through medical expenses while maintaining high salaries, benefits, perks, and earnings for those on the inside track of the system. Too many have been hurt by a job and wage poor economy that places most medical risk on the individual while rewarding those at the top of the insurance, pharmaceutical, medical, and financial structures.

Dr.'s sold out back in the late 70's when the Ins company's started the WE ARE THE RICH.....

If you will just remember...this country has been on a head on crash for years, not just the past 8, didn't matter if gop/dem so many things have gone on behind the scene that 95% of the American people don't have a clue. Everybody for years has said "It's everybody's else problem/fault". Welllll guess who / what has come home to roost, we all are and will pay for the past fools we had no time to pay attention to.

We can blame bush/obama whom every but the truth is it's our own damnfool fault.

We can blame bush/obama whom every but the truth is it's our own damnfool fault

Yep, should have voted for Ron Paul, it takes physician to solve this country's health care problem. I hope he will stil run in 2012

TCBY...Don't need to come down anywhere...I'm here already and fear for my kids....This legislation is so short-sighted it's scary...Why are we re-inventing the wheel when all gov't needed to do was regulate the insurance industry...almost like a utility...but no...that would make too much sense...so let's do this, let's create new legislation for idiots who are too stupid and lazy to take care of themselves and need gov't to do it for them...that's how Socialism begins....I want a CHOICE...you want it, you pay for it...not me...

CMT they do get paid for their time and we pay through the nose for insurance to help pay these costs! as for your mechanic...buy the extended warrenty!

I'm not expecting them to do it for free...I pay insurance premiums every month, the doctor gets paid by the insurance company, PLUS I usually pay anywhere from $50-75 a visit just to say hello!! Let's put it this way...if one of these "concierge" doctors charged me $25,000 a year for my whole family, that would break down to aprox. 2100/month. My household's total takehome pay is only $2600/ month (this is after I pay $800/month in insurance premiums for my family). I can't afford that kind of cost, plain and simple...which means that my family and I get relegated to the "dregs" line, simply because I can't afford to hand over 2/3'rds of my yearly PRETAX income to the doctor.

Nor can MOST seniors afford to pay this type of "greed rape" on top of the Part B, Part C, and Part D premiums out of their meager Social Security each month. What happens to these "concierge" patients when they need more than the GP premium services provide? CASH up front to those doctors too (at multi-thousands of dollars?) It's just another big rip-off by the medical profession. I've been a massage therapist for over 15 years and still charge the same per hour fee as I did when I started....$40 and discount to $25 if a patient can't afford the $40/hr.

I think this example of capitalism will find it's mark on the RICH, if you can afford it why not, if I was the doctors I would do the same, and if they don't like it they can go find another doctor else where, it's about time that the greed be spread around .....

The rich pay quite a bit more for private doctor's, most of the people in these types of programs are going to be middle class Americans and seniors. Wealthy people tend to have private doctor's or the ability to see specialist with little to no notice, by paying large retainer's and other fees.

Remember how AARP came out with tons of commercials in support of the current health care reform bills? They knew that the bills would stip $50 billion per year that currently goes into Medicare, and that would make their "gap" insurance very desirable and very lucrative. Like a huge conflict of interest. No wonder so many people are pulling out of AARP.

Last night they had two separate, new commercials hawking their "gap" insurance as a great thing for improved care, to cover what Medicare will not be covreing.

I guess those commercials were free? NOT, they spent millions on them. Are they flush with cash, or just borrowing the money in anticipation of the huge payback when the democrats pass the health care reform?

And yet there are people on this site who are slamming the doctors and insurance companies. The real villians are escaping scrutiny (your Senators and Congressmen). What's in it for them? They do so little for the "little guy" that you have to wonder what they will be getting out of this. They say abortions are not in this bill. WRONG, the whole bill is an abortion.

Somebody mentioned that insurance companies reimburse doctors at 50% of the cost? There is something very wrong with this statement. How could a practice survive on receiving 50% of what it costs to do something? It can't. It would go belly-up in a very short period of time. Doctors agree to these reimbursements when they contract with the insurance companies to be part of the insurance company's provider network. I'm pretty sure I haven't seen these negotiations showing up in my paper's police blotter. "Dermatology office comes to a standstill while doctor negotiates with insurance company representative at gunpoint." "No charges were filed."

What is driving these doctors to this is not the Government (if you read the article) but the insurance industry! The real culprit behind the ever expanding HC problem in America.

st-1486150, it wasn't that many years ago that if a mechanic wanted your business the diagnosis was pretty much minimal if not free, assuming you would let him do the repair. Not saying you shouldn't pay for a doctors diagnosis but for fear of being sued for a miss diagnosis patients are run through a battery of tests, many of which are not essential, although they are costly....more than most people can afford. Our health care system, or what little is left of it, is pretty much doomed for the average person. Doctors are apparently getting as sleasy as lawyers and congress is not doing anything to address the real problems with the system other than creating another disfunctional health insurance industry.

maddog: You must realize the Obamacare is NOT about reforming the health care industry...it is about power and control. They have already taken a big bite out of private industry with the automobile industry, Wall Street, and financial...now they want to take over the health industry. Just like all of the programs before that the government runs or ran, it will be a disaster. They want the power and control over every aspect of our lives...make no mistake about that. If it were really about lowering health care costs so we could afford our insurance, they would allow the uninsured to get on some form of Medicaid, and then they would fix tort reform, and allow us to pool resources across state lines to get better rates. They want a government run health industry...they have their campaign constituents to repay...like GE who owns NBC news (if you call it a news media anymore) and they are slobbering at the mouth to get the bid for the "new paperless medical record" where virtually thousands of people will have access to your most confidential information. The government doesn't give a @!$%# about your health care...they just want the power.

I pay out-of-pocket now for medical care because of preexisting conditions that aren't covered, a high annual deductible, etc. What I don't like is paying a high premium at the same time in the event of catastrophic illness (when in reality I'd still go bankrupt). So going without insurance and paying direct is a poor person's system. Paying additional fees to the doctor NOT. Paying additional fees to the doctor plus using insurance definitely NOT.

Wanda Murline, and other conspiracy theorists, what's with you? If you must be a fact-challenged fear monger, please do it on a site where you'd be more comfortable, like NewsMax, WorldNetDaily, Free Republic or what have you. People are trying to have a meaningful debate here.

Do you pay your mechanic $1,600 to $25,000 a year IN CASE YOU MIGHT NEED HIM?? That's what these money hungry poor excuses for physicians are charging. Up front. Then you pay in addition should you actually use their services. I don't believe you pay your mechanic that way.

BILOXIPAT if you dont like it find another doctor!! I you dont like it because you cant afford it then get a better job. Either way stop bitching.

my OB/gyn is American born and raised. my other doctors are all foreign schooled and born...i think that's the norm anywhere. American doctors are the minority unless you are watching the telly!

And our medical schools here are training more and more foreign physicians to go back to their own countries to practice (at fees 1/4 or less than they could get here.) Most of the major hospitals in Panama are staffed with US trained physicians as an example.

Don't know where you people see doctors, but even the "foreign" ones are American born and bred. Every single doctor I have seen is US in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Atlanta. I know there are plenty of foreign doctors, but I can read names when I look in the yellow pages for doctors. Forewarned is forearmed!

Why stay here and pay crazy taxes, medical insurance that is through the roof ( thanks to the democrats for no tort reform), getting half as much on a patient visit as 15 years ago ( in some cases less than half). Try to look at it through a Dr's eyes, there is always two sides of the story. Whether I think it is right or wrong should not effect your research of the subject.

JB, tort reform will do nothing to reduce the cost of care. It is already law in many states and guess what? Nothing changed. Many doctors WANT this healthcare reform. You need to do more research on the subject, and while you are at it, check out how effectively it works in other countries (not the lies propagated by insurance companies and republicans who want it all to fail).

Who care's where they're from? I mean seriously? No pride in the fact that we have the best Medical schools in the world? Them coming here isn't stopping any Americans from becoming doctor's, trust me, so the argument makes zero sense whatsoever. My current GP is from Kenya, originally. Probably one of the most personable doctor's I've ever had, likes to talk about anything and everything during checkups. I can remember discussing with him a trip he made back there with some colleagues to administer fetal AIDS vaccines and build clinics, and how different it is there vs his suburban, mostly elderly practice here in America. I for one am proud that people come here to learn, and often stay. Isn't that the whole point of America, opportunity?

What makes you think that foreign doctors want to work here for less money? They have bills, tuition loans to pay back, practices to set up, malpractice insurance to buy, families to raise and educate. I don't think they'd be all that happy with a caste system in medicine, at least not the capable ones. I think our health care system has already seen it's best days if this bill passes.

Who says these foreign doctors are going to school here? Anybody recall that little military action in Grenade a few years back? Those college students that were being rescued were medical students. Lots of US and foreign students attend Caribbean medical schools. A whole lot cheaper and lower admission standards. Might want to make sure your doc's sheepskin says Loyola or Johns Hopkins and not Loyala and Jons Hopkens.

How can there be any reforms on anything, when the Republicans are fightning so hard to keep it 'SCREWED" up. We will never have any kind of reform for anything, so let's all just pay, and thank God we have a job so we can. The last 8 years were hell but that was nothing compared to now, unless every American stands up and say enough is enough, and get it straight politicans are get the hell out of office, it will not get better. The Democracts try to come up with a plan, Republicans sit on the sideline with no ideas, and veto or filibuster. Why can't they come up with a better idea that would work for all, we do not have time for all this useless fightning. America has too many outside enemies to fight, without fightning among her own people. A country divided against itself can not stand; old motto, together we stand, divided we fall. The Health care issue is ridiculous, I'm a senior, and I've always paid big time, no other choice; Oh yes the national defict, I'm always going to pay high taxes, my children, my great grands, and great,great grands will too. I'm middle class so most of the burden of the nation rest on my class; the rich has loop holes and political friends, the poor has nothing, so the middle class is the bread winner of the nation. The continual crying that our children and the generations beyond will be burdened by taxes, will be, no matter what we pass or do not. America has lots, and lots of debt, and we are owned by China and Japan, and probably the Middle East. The sad part about this is, the poor and the middleclass has no say in any of this, but we do get to act a damn fool about Health care, personally, I think we have been had. Fortunately, some of us do have insurance, but for the ones that don't hopefully medicare and Medcaid will help out.

Mary,

"How can there be any reforms on anything, when the Republicans are fightning so hard to keep it 'SCREWED" up."

Excuse me? What do you think they are trying to prevent? The screw-up of all screw-ups. Yeah, we need more government in our lives not less. What was I thinking?

"The last 8 years were hell but that was nothing compared to now"

Hmmmm, hell is 4.7% unemployment? If that's true I may need to rethink my position on hell. But you are correct. Things were a lot better then than now.

"The Democracts try to come up with a plan, Republicans sit on the sideline with no ideas, and veto or filibuster."

No Mary, the Democrats have come up with a plan. No trying about it. Not real sure that the Republicans can veto anything. Ahem! That's a Presidential power! Can't filibuster either. A little secret Mary. They don't have the numbers. There is nothing stopping the Democratics.

"Why can't they come up with a better idea that would work for all, we do not have time for all this useless fightning."

I think they have but I'm sure you haven't spent any energy looking into it, have you? This useless fighting you refer to is just them making noise to try and wake up some people to help them fight against the biggest threat this nation has seen in 100 years. You see Mary, the Republicans can't do a thing about it. So that's why I'm wondering why you're making such a fuss?

I was going to comment on more of your post but the more I read the more poop I came across and besides that my eyes are getting tired.

We have high unemployment and not enough high-paying jobs in the U.S. Why would we import high-end labor? We need to educate our own population to be doctors, and we need to make it affordable for them to get that education.

They kind of have to want to be. No foreign student is taking an Americans spot at the table.

No, with universal healthcare plans, EVERY doctor would be part of the system.....there would be no insurance plans and no cash plans. Everyone would be covered by the national policy. Doctors also are restricting their insurance patients too and most likely are in collusion with the insurance companies to keep a lot of these claims denials to keep their patient loads down. Of course it will be hard to prove that, won't it?

A national health plan would benefits US doctors.

The UK has a national health plan and the government pays doctors a minimum salary of $300,000. And UK doctors work less hours than American doctors.

getalifevirginia-892326

Since I went on Medicare I think my service has been better than when I had private insurance. And as yet I have not had one Dr. turn me down because I am on Medicare, and I have been to many specialists. I am sure there are places that won't accept you...But I have yet to have one doctor or medical clinic turn me down because I am on Medicare.

It appears some people are believing the lies and propaganda of the insurance industry.

How many of you saw 60 minutes Sunday nite? About the cost of dying. Although Palin and others have been blasted by left for speaking of death panels and rationing, the 60 minutes discussion with health field reps sounded strangely/exactly like death panels and rationing.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/19/60minutes/main5711689.shtml?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CBSNewsStory+%28Most+Popular+Stories%3A+CBSNews.com%29

getalifevirginia

Are you sure you don't have Medicaid? I have never had a Doctor say he/she didn't accept Medicare and my Doctor gives me better care than I used to get when i had BC/BS private insurance. I think many posts are just planted by some Republican group that spend their whole day trying to convince Americans that the Obama administration is out to kill them -instead of working as hard as they do trying to overcome what dumbya and dickless cheney did to our economy.

Jim C, you can't be serious, can u? Talking about planted posts! you're on a computer, use it!!! There are dozens of sites that will give u info about doctors not accepting Medicare patients. Instead of spewing your dislike of an administration which is no longer in office, u must look in mirror and realize where the dumb people r. I've posted a few sites for you to look at, since apparently you haven't figured google or the other search programs out yet. Some of the info goes all the way back to 2002.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/17/us/many-doctors-shun-patients-with-medicare.html

http://www.globalaging.org/health/us/2008/doctors.htm

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/16/when-medicare-falls-short/

http://www.medicaresolutions.com/blog/index.php/2009/04/06/many-doctors-opting-out-of-medicare/

Maybe, and it's an issue, but do you have any stories of people unable to find care? Because there are still enough doctor's accepting it at the moment. It's obviously something that needs addressing tho, you cannot continue to cut reimbursement costs and expect docs to keep accepting your patients.

Well, well, well, so I ain't a SECTION 8 after all........Thanks getalifevirginia-892326...........They will see............We will be DEAD if it passes.

To: anti-trust proponent, you did not pay for Medical school and office equipment and get $12 to see each MEDICARE patient. You do not cut your prices if someone can't afford the service, that is plain BS, you simply do not see them again That is right BBBBBB-SSSSSS. You would not do this. YOU LIE.

JimC,

"Are you sure you don't have Medicaid? I have never had a Doctor say he/she didn't accept Medicare and my Doctor gives me better care than I used to get when i had BC/BS private insurance. I think many posts are just planted by some Republican group that spend their whole day trying to convince Americans that the Obama administration is out to kill them -instead of working as hard as they do trying to overcome what dumbya and dickless cheney did to our economy."

I'm glad I'm wearing my boots today. So Jim, what you're saying is your doctor knows what insurance you have? How could that be Jim? Did he go to the office administrator and say "Fran, what kind of insurance does Jim Cock&*%$*$ have?" I like to know so I can treat him differently depending on what kind of insurance he has." Jim, that wasn't even a good try.

I may not have had eight-twelve years of schooling, but my massage therapy training (1.5 years) was as intensive in my studies as any medical student. I even had a med student tell me I was learning more about muscles than he had to do in med school. I may not have the expense of some of the equipment of a medical office, but I do have expenses for my equipment, supplies, office rent, etc. And I also do mobile massage where I still do HOUSE CALLS, which most physicians don't do. I have had several clients that I have treated for more than 3 years at $25/hour. I also did three years of clinical service to AIDS patients at $20/hr. and sometimes at NO CHARGE. I'd rather see that a person gets treated for what really ails them than to see them suffer just because they can't afford to pay me the full fee.

I grew up in a time when our local doctors (in small farming communities) would accept home grown farm produce, meat, poultry, eggs, etc. in exchange for healthcare. Not many doctors will do that anymore either.

And you have NEVER answered my questions about whether you are accessing your VA healthcare benefits along with Medicare. So be careful what you accuse us healthcare professionals of Retired Military.

Some posters need to research universal health care in other countries and not just parrot what they hear on FAUX Noise. Other countries have great health care compared to what we have now. And our choice will be slow care or no care soon if we keep going in the current direction. We'll be thankful for any care.

I agree that insurance is a problem. It just adds a LOT to the cost of care for our country as a whole.

That being said, the doctor who waits for payment is still getting paid, and most likely has a more than healthy cash flow.

I agree that most doctors have a healthy cash flow but that is not the point I should not have to wait for 1 to 3 month's to get paid. I run a small business and i get calls form many companies trying to hire me to do work. when i find out that they are a net30 or a net45 company I suggest that they call my competition as they might need the work more than me. waiting 60 to 90 days to get paid for work preformed is unacceptable. Insurance often takes longer than that.

Most companies wait 30 to 45 days to be paid. I understand your point completely, and when I had a small contracting business, also restricted my customer list to those who paid on completion. Of course, I wasn't making half a mil a year.

Realistically, if we made health insurance illegal, we'd probably find that most people could afford more health care. If insurance was a good deal for most people, they wouldn't sell it.

Just so everyone understands all the concepts. Medicare is the govt run portion of health care for seniors. Most seniors purchase a Medicare supplement from a private company to cover the services and treatments that Medicare doesn't pay for. A few things to remember are:

1) Medicare (remember they are the govt run coverage) denies more claims than any private insurance company. (look it up. There are many websites to verify this on).

2) INsurance companies are the most regulated business in the US. They can NOT increase rates without first submitting a request to the respective state board of insurance. In fact any policy issued within a state must first be approved by the STate bd of insurance to verify that the policy meets minimum guidelines required within state.

3) President Obama has promised that if we like our health insurance we can keep it. But will those who are forced into the public option–which has been estimated to be minimum of tens of millions of currently insured Americans in addition to those “46 million” currently uninsured–be satisfied with their care given that the government program Medicare’s denial of claims outranks any private insurer’s?

freds

You must be talking about private "health" insurance companies whose employees are paid to deny payments. My insurance is run by the government Medicare and Tricare- I have never seen it take months for them to pay- it's usually paid in less than a month but I have seen dishonest medical offices file the same bill 2-3 times trying to get more money. They're denied but it's still taking time that could be spent paying legitimate claims. America seems to be rotten from the inside out- I thought it was just bankers, hedge fund and derivitive guys- they steal on a very large scale but even small businesses are ripp[ing us off every chance they get- most items being sold in grocery stores are smaller sizes than they used to be with higher prices. Car repair places keep broken parts and tell people the part came from their car to get them to pay for repairs they don't need. An honest person these days is rare. Even priests were caught stealing in my area- $8 million over 20 years.

darrell

If you'll read my previous post it would explain why Medicare SEEMS to deny more claims than private companies. Many medical companies (cheating republicans) file the same claims several times for the same treatment- sometimes the treatment wasn't even done- republicans think governemnt money is "free" so they spend their days trying to steal more and more. Deport all Republicans and we'd have a much better country.

JimC-300069 I understand the double billing thing all to well as i have been double billed for medical things myself fortunately i have kept receipts. As far as Medicare i have no idea I mainley remember a workman's comp claim i had where the insurance never paid the bill and the doctors office billed my privet carrier PPO then sent me a bill also. When ever I used medical insurance no mater what company i had it with the bills never got paid on time and the doctors office always sent me the bill in the end some times 3 to 4 mounts later. I am in total agreement that we need health care reform in this country but the bill up for vote is not it. and if the doctors can make their life better by not excepting health insurance than good for them.

freds,

"Great for these doctors. I have worked around doctors offices and seen first hand what they have to go through to get the insurance company to pay up. any one that thinks this is terrible should think of it this way. when you go to work you expect to get paid at the end of the week. If you did not get paid for 1 to 3 months after the job was done you would be mad."

freds, you do know that each State sets the maximum amount of time that an insurance company has to reimburse a physician, don't you? Here in Georgia for HMO claims, payment is due a maximum of 15 business days from the time the claim was submitted. An HMO that misses a payment must mail a notice explaining why. An HMO that misses the deadline on an undisputed claim must pay the claimant the claim amount due plus 18 percent interest. What happens is the doctor's staff often times codes a claim wrong or upcodes a claim to get more money. This flags the claim for manual review. Most claims are paid within 48 hours.

You know fred I've worked around rocket scientists offices and seen first hand that a lot goes on but with my limited education in the field I have no clue what exactly is going on. You might want to take that into consideration before you try to sound like a qualified expert on anything going forward. Just some friendly advice.

Svenolafson

Here in Georgia for HMO claims, payment is due a maximum of 15 business days from the time the claim was submitted. An HMO that misses a payment must mail a notice explaining why.

Reasons why claim not paid on time.

Paper work filed out incorrectly. Authorisation not received prior to doctor visit. My personal favorite Claim under review. Claim disputed charges need clarifying. and almost for got Bill never received must have got lost in the mail.

Most claims are paid within 48 hours

Bull

I have run a business for 30 years and I think I am a qualified expert on excuses for not getting paid.

Georgia HMO is an annimal all unto it self with its no you may not see the doctor you wish. Friends in Georgia have recently related this story.

General practitioner told them they needed a MRI. HMO Denied saying to go to back specialist to find cause of pain 4 week later. Back specialist say Need MRI. HMO say no see a neurologist 6 Week later. Neurologist say need MRI. HMO say OK 5 week later get much needed MRI go back to General practitioner with results for treatment. Oh yes tell me how great Georgia HMO is that is the reason many doctors refuse to except it as insurance.

Well in Texas we have a saying! for this reply that saying would be 'bullSh*t'

Yes Tomindallas there are a lot of sayings in Texas and many of them are Bull Sh*t. I live here and I know. When I read posts like yours I know they are probably coming from some dumb azz in Texas. I see it daily.

That would seem to point out a problem in the training system, which of course the doctors were responsible for setting up, mostly as a justification for exhorbitant fees. It would seem to me that training a GP shouldn't take more than a couple of years, given the ready availability of medical info to help with diagnosis and treatment plans.

Several here seem to be complaining that Doctors income taxes will go up 3-4% a year- these posts seem like plants by republicans trying to fool all the dumb americans (at least half our country is stupid)- Educations loans are deductible as are costs of running a business so the 3-4% increase won't affect the newbies and it shouldn't cause any real hardship on those now making big bucks- very few Doctors pay $100,000 in malpractice- so stop that crappy talk too- that's also deductible. Everybody posting here isn't a moron.

Hi JimC, which half are you in?

OBGYN pay between $17,000 and $200,000 and they should they are rank
23rd in the world in quality (how many babies they kill) They call it infant mortality. It is one of the higher risk insurances.

Debbie i find the Greed the Democrats in Congress alot more Disgusting, landieu pay my state 300,000,000 million dollars or i wont vote for the bill.. Now .. dont get me wrong.. Both sides have done it.. this is the real practice we need to end.. To try and REgulate how much money a doctor makes is just plain ignorant. Union Workers Make 80,000 to 150,000 dollars a year to make your car. Wonder why your car is so expensive? So waht if some Doctors set up a preimum Care service, they still have other doctors in their office that are providing care from insurance, The bottom line is if you dont want to pay it find a different doctor.. FAirly simple..

Steve: Actually Landieu did not say give me the money or I wont vote for the bill. If anything she might have said I won't vote so we can discuss the bill. They are not voting for a bill yet, just voting to discuss it. There is a hell of a lot of difference in what you said than what really happened.

verno .. why did they put it in the bil? was there a good reason other then to bribe her.. If there is No Bill what are they discussing? shouldnt you have a bill before you start discussing it?. Hell i dont know what your talking about

and Verno, you mean that had to give her 300 million just to talk about it? Even worse

Uaw worker make $21 per hour. About 45000 a month. If dr is not making that much a day he/she/it is a moron.

extra zero $4500

I agree but it isn't Obama's fault. Its taken years for this system to get to this point. Its about to leave most of the poor people behind. This was caused by our esteem representatives that have more money than God and don't give a d*mn what happens to the rest of us! Also the insurance companies have done their share as well!

Finally a sane answer from you Tom, thank you.

Yes it is Obama's fault, he proposed this healthcare reform insanity and made this an issue.

If you want healthcare reform, truly to reform the issues associated with this mess....it can be done without spending a dime, without altering anything about the current system.....this "boil the ocean" insanity can be laid at the feet of Odumbo and his stupid policies and ideals.

Fact - the pharma and insurance lobby groups are probably the most powerful lobbyists on the planet and they simply "OWN" our elected officials.....the smart thing to do is regulate both of them, force them to offer more for less, charge less, etc.

Instead, we're going rape medicare, our government is going to jump into the insurance business, employers are going to pass this cost off to their employees or worse use it as an excuse to increase costs and offer less, and everyone that sells or does business with anyone associated with healthcare is going to have a free pass to "steal".......

It's Obama's fault for big government attempting to solve this with the stroke of a pen and throwing trillions of dollars at it.......use some common sense, when was the last time the government got something right?

Stop passing the buck and start blaming the person in charge and if you're that naive to think this is a good thing, guess again.

Sooner or later people simply have to wake up to the fact that Obama's the worst President to ever hold office...you'd think by his actions people would start warming up to that and demanding better.......especially since there is no "checks and balances" in place today...he's got the votes to do whatever the hell he wants!

Man, you sure are trying to upset Bush's title of worst President ever. Won't work.

This bill would actually SAVE money and cover millions more uninsured than the status quo or the pitifully anemic republican bs. The republican alternative actually costs more and will leave more uninsured than we have now. Some of you are probably being purposefully obtuse in the analysis of this complicated problem, but many doctors (yes that is right) and AARP and millions of others support this reform effort, which MUST have a public option.

They voted down the Republican plans and the public didn't even hear about them. By the way, if these plans were so good, why were they crafted behind closed doors? The Chinese were concerned with how much money is being spent for the healthcare. Add the healthcare to the stimulus and we owe a lot of money and our economy is not getting any better. The youth of today will pay for this tomorrow. Europeans pay huge taxes. In Denmark, a small car is taxed at l00%, a large car 300%, income tax 50-70%, sales tax 25%.

isn't concierge healthcare the republican plan... don't pay any taxes so there aren't any government services so that if you can afford something you can have it but if you are permanently disabled and cant work you just die in the gutter. That's it right?

Hmmmm! Maw, You say "our youth of today will pay for this tomorrow." Thats provided there is a United States when they go into the work force. When there is no more money from China, do you think we will be able to afford an armed force to protect this country? Probably not! The best thing you can do is tell your children to take 'Chinese' in school and hope that China protects us so we can pay them back. If they don't then I suspect we all should become Muslims!

Don't pay any taxes? You are talkng about President Obama's cabinet members aren't you? The wealthy (dems and repubs) pay more than their fair share fo taxes. They employ you and I. How about the fair tax? Pay taxes on what you buy.

When this Health Care bill passes we are going to see taxes rise like you have never seen before. Our country is in real danger spending money at speeds never before seen.

Just imagine if it were your house, would you continue to ratchet up your debt?Or would you tighten the purse strings and only buy what you can pay for? Our country cannot pay for this health care bill.

No. County hospitals and clinics are subsidized by taxes that are confiscated from my check. Those who are low income are provided for by the county and Medicare. In California, there is also Medi-Cal for the uninsured. So I pay twice. Health care insurance through my employer and then taxes to help those without insurance. If you are working, you are not only paying for your family but others as well. How is that unfair?

Why? What difference does it make what the Republicans want or for that matter what the bullfrogs want in a pond in the middle of Kansas?

The time for "debate" is gone....the people spoke at these town hall fiasco's and Obama shut them down and the media portrayed them as psycho's.....

The vast majority of Americans didn't want this......nor do they want more debt....more taxes......less healthcare....or to foot the bill for illegal alien healthcare at their expense.

You know what Paul: Your kind, with your biggity azz, are always talking smack when it comes to THIS particular president wanting to do something for the underprivileged and less fortunate. You people have no heart whatsoever. Perhaps you need to be in a situation like the poor of the world to feel their pain and to know exactly what they are going through. And then, just maybe, that slab of concrete can be removed from your heart. God forbid a catastrophy should hit you and your family to wipe you out. I wonder what you will have to say about the government then when you need their assistance.

Oh but we already know some part of that...they keep on whining for the government to 'create' jobs for them. They don't have to earn them or look for them - the government should just create them and give them away. As long as the gorvernment doesn't give something to anyone else but them - it's all good.

Sunshine,

"Your kind, with your biggity azz, are always talking smack when it comes to THIS particular president wanting to do something for the underprivileged and less fortunate. You people have no heart whatsoever. Perhaps you need to be in a situation like the poor of the world to feel their pain and to know exactly what they are going through. And then, just maybe, that slab of concrete can be removed from your heart."

talking smack? WTF does that mean? Please speak English. Thanks in advance. To address the rest of your post I'm pretty sure that the vine would ban me for a decade and it is not technically possible at this time to leave a steamer right here in the middle of my post but I think you get the picture. When someone asks me how I feel or should feel about anything I give them the look like I consider them retarded. Consider yourself getting the look.

[[THIS particular president wanting to do something for the underprivileged and less fortunate]]

By putting them in prison for "tax evasion" because they can't afford to buy insurance? God spare me such "help". Why not simply expand Medicaid to help those people instead of interfering in a system that is already working for most? We already had Medicaid, just make it easier to get. Automatcally include those who are temporarily unemployed. Pay for it by cutting some othr useless program, like the "War on Drug" which is truly money down a rat hole. Legalize marijuana and tax it. Problem solved.

At $1500. per year per person, it sounds about the same price as health insurance, but with better service and the money goes straight to the Dr who gives you that service. I'm confused as to what is the problem?

It's in addition to payment for health care. Better service like Michael Jackson got.

Refuse to see a movie because you think the movie star is being paid too much and you just miss seeing a movie. Going to a cheaper hamburger stand because you feel that the first stand charges too much for a hamburger just means you might get a hamburger that doesn't taste quite as good as what the first hamburger stand makes.

Not getting a thorough medical exam just because you don't have the extra money can mean that a serious condition is missed and you end up dying.

Can you see the difference here?

You missed my point. It was an analogy. People have to get paid, don't you. They will pass this bill, but the lawmakers won't use the one they passed. There is no reason to revamp the whole system in this economy climate.

The hamburger makers haven't engineered a monopoly for themselves with government regulation, and then complain when somebody proposes government regulation of their activities.

Your anaolgy is flawed. Based on the information in the article your anaolgy would better be stated by saying if a customer bought a hamburger for the normal price you'd give them an undercooked, possibly e-coli full half frozen patty on a bun. If they pay the 'extra' concierge money - you might actually cook it properly.

It more like a country club where you have to buy a membership to eat in there cafe. I don't belong to a country club but I heard about them. I belive I use to go to one and eat cod fish. It was good but I never joined. If the Dr. is good it ok. But if it's the Dr. I met at the country club he tended to not close his mouth when he drank to much. Which was most of the time. Every system fails at the individual level. Nobel Prize Winning Economics.

It sounds like a do-able option as far as an alternative way to finance our individual healthcare rather than traditional health ins policies right? It doesn't appear to actually cost more, just set up different.

I don't care about getting it free...i'm more than happy to pay for it. I wouldn't even mind paying my $800/month in premiums, if it meant that I got decent care. But on my family's income, I simply don't have the means to cough up thousands of dollars every month just so that I can get terry-cloth robes at the doctor's office...that's just silly. I don't expect to be treated like a rock-star at the doctor's office, and the people who do are the ones driving up costs. I just want to be treated like a human being.

800 x12 = 9600. a year . Aren't these plans about the same price? With one you get a Dr who works for you, with the other you get "coverage" from an insurance co. I know how I would rather spend 10k.

Maybe we should do away with health insurance all together since it is a mess.

There's about the most sensible post I've seen today. Insurance adds 15-20% overhead to medical care, plus the increased paperwork for the doctor. Most doctor's offices these days have more people doing paperwork than caring for customers.

not to mention how smart standardized cost would be, if plastic surgeons can charge 1/2 or 1/3rd for elective procedures than they charge for ones covered by insurance, makes you wonder?

MT. there you have it. The beauty of the System, Change doctors because you dont agree with it.. but dont criticize others because they want the extra care.. its their choice

and for those doctors that dont do it.. they will get all the patients that can't pay them if they want to work for free thats the doctors choice

Morals?

You obvioulsy are paying for the internet (or stealing it form your work) all the while their are Americans that live on the street have have no food. If this was about morals you libs would be taking these homeless people in and feeding them, but instead you take the high road and say somebody else should do it and blame greedy people.

Steve, the minor detail you aren't addressing is the fact that doctors have engineered a monopoly for themselves using government regulation, and have the gall to insist that they not be regulated by government. That would seem a bit hypocritical, yes?

so, you want to regulate doctors ? there are many regulations the average doctor must fulfill after medical school before he or she can even treat a patient. you want to limit their pay ? go ahead, and see how many people bother to go thru 12 years of school anymore. maybe we should become like old USSR --- where if you have certain proclivities, they pay your way thru school --- of course, then it doesn't seem so bad to limit pay. is that the system we want ?

"If this was about morals you libs would be taking these homeless people in and feeding them"

Isn't that the Republican mantra? Let someone else take care of them?

Nope you are wrong it is about self responsibilty. How about taking care of yourself first and if you have the means and the will you can help others. But it isn't my responsiblity to take cares of others. (My family donates to many causes (mostly Breast Cancer, but many others)

Where are their morals here? It's always about money, money, money and greed.

in washington of course.

I work at the food kitchen on a regular basis. God and I disgree with you Tom - Plymouth. Give all you have to the poor and follow me. Or keep you @!$%# and go to hell. Oh I forgot god was just made up to get jews to fight harder.

Look up the word Monopoly before you use such a big word.. common man. you are the definition of IGNORANT

Steve, the training required is WAY too long, the number of patients accepted is too low, yes they've restricted the number of people available to practice medicine to the point where it amounts to a monopoly.

Hey wake up Frank! You live in a capitalist country! (all those in business have the right to be greedy if they want.) Live with it or vote for change! If you can't find a government representative that agrees with you, then find one and help him get in office. Sitting home complaining and writing on blogs does not change anything!I believe that Obama's administration is doing the best they can! We have to start somewhere but the conservative side has fought for any kind of change as long as I can remember! SEE WHERE THAT HAS GOTTEN US!

hmm - it has gotten 85% covered by health insurance. You know what it hasn't gotten us? People taking responsiblity for themselves. Why should my rates go up because others are unwilling to save a damn dollar to take care of themselves?

ScratchCat, you evidently think that letting doctors set up a monopoly by having the government make the laws they want, and then not wanting any government regulation of their activities is ok. I think it's just plain wrong.

I'd agree that insurance is a stupid idea that adds layers of cost and complexity to the system, but given that the doctors are the ones who engineered this fiasco, it would seem that they deserve some small bit of the blame.

Yes, fair is fair. Those who use government power to set up monopolies should expect to be regulated by that same government.