Doc Drops health Insurance Coverage for Patients and Makes MORE Money

[JimBowie1958]

He charges a flat rate, encourages patients to take high deductible insurance and refuses medical insurance as payment. He cut his staff and now makes $200l annually and has more time to spend with his patients.

Doctors dump health insurance plans, charge patients less

 

[tap4154]

This is an EXCELLENT and very intelligent solution!

Take gov't out of the equation, pay a small monthly fee that covers minor health issues and checkups, but also carry a high deductible/low premium plan for anything big that may happen.

 

[JimBowie1958]

This is an EXCELLENT and very intelligent solution!

Take gov't out of the equation, pay a small monthly fee that covers minor health issues and checkups, but also carry a high deductible/low premium plan for anything big that may happen.

So why don't more people do this? Why doesn't the Media give it more coverage?

 

[dblack]

This is an EXCELLENT and very intelligent solution!

Take gov't out of the equation, pay a small monthly fee that covers minor health issues and checkups, but also carry a high deductible/low premium plan for anything big that may happen.

So why don't more people do this? Why doesn't the Media give it more coverage?

This has been tried many times in the past. Each time the insurance lobby shuts them down by having them declared to be a type of insurance plan and thus under control of the state regulatory agencies. It'll be interesting to see if this lasts - if indeed it's operational at all. I couldn't find any corroborating stories.

 

[JimBowie1958]

This is an EXCELLENT and very intelligent solution!

Take gov't out of the equation, pay a small monthly fee that covers minor health issues and checkups, but also carry a high deductible/low premium plan for anything big that may happen.

So why don't more people do this? Why doesn't the Media give it more coverage?

This has been tried many times in the past. Each time the insurance lobby shuts them down by having them declared to be a type of insurance plan and thus under control of the state regulatory agencies. It'll be interesting to see if this lasts - if indeed it's operational at all. I couldn't find any corroborating stories.

Is there a link to cases of such plans being shut down as insurance?

 

[dblack]

So why don't more people do this? Why doesn't the Media give it more coverage?

This has been tried many times in the past. Each time the insurance lobby shuts them down by having them declared to be a type of insurance plan and thus under control of the state regulatory agencies. It'll be interesting to see if this lasts - if indeed it's operational at all. I couldn't find any corroborating stories.

Is there a link to cases of such plans being shut down as insurance?

I specifically recall when Romney was pushing for the mandate in Massachusetts (circa 2005) there was a case of doctor setting up a program exactly like the one cited in the article. The state insurance board came down on him as running an 'unlicensed insurance plan' and shut him down. I haven't been able to find a link to any articles on that incident, but I did find this (more recently) - from Utah:

https://insurance.utah.gov/legal-resources/enforcement/enforcement-archives.php

Mentions several such incidents

Cease and Desist Order

Personal Family Physicians; E-Case 2782; Order February 22, 2011.
Unlicensed, violations: 31A-4-106, 31A-1-104, 31A-4-102(1), 31A-23a-402(1)(a)(i).? Respondents are in violation of Utah Insurance laws by contracting with patients to provide health care services in exchange for a prepaid fee, by advertising and soliciting prepaid health services, and for stating that the contract for prepaid health care was not insurance.
License Limitation: Cease and Desist

Dr. Michael Jennings; E-Case 2782; Order February 22, 2011.
Unlicensed, violations: 31A-4-106, 31A-1-104, 31A-4-102(1), 31A-23a-402(1)(a)(i).? Respondents are in violation of Utah Insurance laws by contracting with patients to provide health care services in exchange for a prepaid fee, by advertising and soliciting prepaid health services, and for stating that the contract for prepaid health care was not insurance.
License Limitation: Cease and Desist

 

[JimBowie1958]

This has been tried many times in the past. Each time the insurance lobby shuts them down by having them declared to be a type of insurance plan and thus under control of the state regulatory agencies. It'll be interesting to see if this lasts - if indeed it's operational at all. I couldn't find any corroborating stories.

Is there a link to cases of such plans being shut down as insurance?

I specifically recall when Romney was pushing for the mandate in Massachusetts (circa 2005) there was a case of doctor setting up a program exactly like the one cited in the article. The state insurance board came down on him as running an 'unlicensed insurance plan' and shut him down. I haven't been able to find a link to any articles on that incident, but I did find this (more recently) - from Utah:

https://insurance.utah.gov/legal-resources/enforcement/enforcement-archives.php

Mentions several such incidents

Cease and Desist Order

Personal Family Physicians; E-Case 2782; Order February 22, 2011.
Unlicensed, violations: 31A-4-106, 31A-1-104, 31A-4-102(1), 31A-23a-402(1)(a)(i).? Respondents are in violation of Utah Insurance laws by contracting with patients to provide health care services in exchange for a prepaid fee, by advertising and soliciting prepaid health services, and for stating that the contract for prepaid health care was not insurance.
License Limitation: Cease and Desist

Dr. Michael Jennings; E-Case 2782; Order February 22, 2011.
Unlicensed, violations: 31A-4-106, 31A-1-104, 31A-4-102(1), 31A-23a-402(1)(a)(i).? Respondents are in violation of Utah Insurance laws by contracting with patients to provide health care services in exchange for a prepaid fee, by advertising and soliciting prepaid health services, and for stating that the contract for prepaid health care was not insurance.
License Limitation: Cease and Desist

Just one more case of Americans getting shut down for the benefit of Big Money corporations.

I wonder though if the doctor in the OP is avoiding that regulatory problem by telling patients to get high deductible insurance?

 

[dblack]

Is there a link to cases of such plans being shut down as insurance?

I specifically recall when Romney was pushing for the mandate in Massachusetts (circa 2005) there was a case of doctor setting up a program exactly like the one cited in the article. The state insurance board came down on him as running an 'unlicensed insurance plan' and shut him down. I haven't been able to find a link to any articles on that incident, but I did find this (more recently) - from Utah:

https://insurance.utah.gov/legal-resources/enforcement/enforcement-archives.php

Mentions several such incidents

Cease and Desist Order

Personal Family Physicians; E-Case 2782; Order February 22, 2011.
Unlicensed, violations: 31A-4-106, 31A-1-104, 31A-4-102(1), 31A-23a-402(1)(a)(i).? Respondents are in violation of Utah Insurance laws by contracting with patients to provide health care services in exchange for a prepaid fee, by advertising and soliciting prepaid health services, and for stating that the contract for prepaid health care was not insurance.
License Limitation: Cease and Desist

Dr. Michael Jennings; E-Case 2782; Order February 22, 2011.
Unlicensed, violations: 31A-4-106, 31A-1-104, 31A-4-102(1), 31A-23a-402(1)(a)(i).? Respondents are in violation of Utah Insurance laws by contracting with patients to provide health care services in exchange for a prepaid fee, by advertising and soliciting prepaid health services, and for stating that the contract for prepaid health care was not insurance.
License Limitation: Cease and Desist

Just one more case of Americans getting shut down for the benefit of Big Money corporations.

Yup. That was pretty much the entire zeitgeist of PPACA. To keep us from squirming out from under the thumb of corporate/government control.

 

[JimBowie1958]

I specifically recall when Romney was pushing for the mandate in Massachusetts (circa 2005) there was a case of doctor setting up a program exactly like the one cited in the article. The state insurance board came down on him as running an 'unlicensed insurance plan' and shut him down. I haven't been able to find a link to any articles on that incident, but I did find this (more recently) - from Utah:

https://insurance.utah.gov/legal-resources/enforcement/enforcement-archives.php

Mentions several such incidents

Just one more case of Americans getting shut down for the benefit of Big Money corporations.

Yup. That was pretty much the entire zeitgeist of PPACA. To keep us from squirming out from under the thumb of corporate/government control.

Wonder why the doctor in the OP hasn't been hit yet?

 

[dblack]

Just one more case of Americans getting shut down for the benefit of Big Money corporations.

Yup. That was pretty much the entire zeitgeist of PPACA. To keep us from squirming out from under the thumb of corporate/government control.

Wonder why the doctor in the OP hasn't been hit yet?

Me too. That's why I was somewhat suspicious this is actually operational. Post of you find anything else on it.

 

[Greenbeard]

He charges a flat rate, encourages patients to take high deductible insurance and refuses medical insurance as payment. He cut his staff and now makes $200l annually and has more time to spend with his patients.

It's entirely possible you'll see more of this in the coming years (paired with high-deductible wraparound insurance).

Direct primary care model: Cutting out the insurer - amednews.com

A small but enthusiastic minority of primary care physicians believe they have found a practice model that can save money, improve patients' long-term health and drastically reduce administrative hassles: direct primary care.

Direct primary care practices are an offshoot of the retainer care model, which provides unlimited or less-restricted access to physicians for a set fee. Under direct primary care, patients pay a monthly fee -- sometimes less than $100 -- for unlimited access to a range of primary care services, possibly as complex as minor surgeries and x-rays. Patients at these practices are encouraged to have basic health insurance to pay for specialist and hospital care, otherwise uninsured patients pay out of pocket for care outside the practice.

Direct primary care practices remain a small niche in the private health care market. Between 50,000 and 100,000 people are in such practices, according to an estimate by the Direct Primary Care Coalition, an informal industry association in Washington state.

But the model could become more popular in a few years. Under a provision in the health system reform law, direct primary care practices will be able to participate in health insurance exchanges that will launch by 2014. Those marketplaces are expected to provide coverage choices for tens of millions of uninsured people, as well as for many others who get their coverage from other sources now.

To qualify to offer their products on exchanges, direct primary care practices must provide medical homes and be packaged with wrap-around health plans for noncovered services. Lower-income individuals who choose such combination plans will be eligible for federal subsidies to help cover the cost.

 

[LoneLaugher]

As long as insurance companies are not making money and are not in between you and your doc..........you won't get a complaint from me.

Does the doc in the article treat people who have no money?

 

[Ava]

As long as insurance companies are not making money and are not in between you and your doc..........you won't get a complaint from me.

Does the doc in the article treat people who have no money?

Yes he does. And here he is talking about how his system works:

Fox News - Breaking News Updates | Latest News Headlines | Photos & News Videos

 

[dblack]

He charges a flat rate, encourages patients to take high deductible insurance and refuses medical insurance as payment. He cut his staff and now makes $200l annually and has more time to spend with his patients.

It's entirely possible you'll see more of this in the coming years (paired with high-deductible wraparound insurance).

Direct primary care model: Cutting out the insurer - amednews.com

A small but enthusiastic minority of primary care physicians believe they have found a practice model that can save money, improve patients' long-term health and drastically reduce administrative hassles: direct primary care.

Direct primary care practices are an offshoot of the retainer care model, which provides unlimited or less-restricted access to physicians for a set fee. Under direct primary care, patients pay a monthly fee -- sometimes less than $100 -- for unlimited access to a range of primary care services, possibly as complex as minor surgeries and x-rays. Patients at these practices are encouraged to have basic health insurance to pay for specialist and hospital care, otherwise uninsured patients pay out of pocket for care outside the practice.

Direct primary care practices remain a small niche in the private health care market. Between 50,000 and 100,000 people are in such practices, according to an estimate by the Direct Primary Care Coalition, an informal industry association in Washington state.

But the model could become more popular in a few years. Under a provision in the health system reform law, direct primary care practices will be able to participate in health insurance exchanges that will launch by 2014. Those marketplaces are expected to provide coverage choices for tens of millions of uninsured people, as well as for many others who get their coverage from other sources now.

To qualify to offer their products on exchanges, direct primary care practices must provide medical homes and be packaged with wrap-around health plans for noncovered services. Lower-income individuals who choose such combination plans will be eligible for federal subsidies to help cover the cost.

Not if your pals in the insurance lobby have anything to say about it.

 

[Greenbeard]

Not if your pals in the insurance lobby have anything to say about it.

Happily, they don't.

 

[dblack]

Not if your pals in the insurance lobby have anything to say about it.

Happily, they don't.

That gave me a belly laugh, GB.

Especially rich coming from you.

 

[Vandalshandle]

Well, if it is a simple of matter of increasing one's income by canceliing all contracts with insurers, then I assume that this will soon sweep the nation, and all doctors will do the same thing, a soon as possible, right?

 

[JimBowie1958]

Well, if it is a simple of matter of increasing one's income by canceliing all contracts with insurers, then I assume that this will soon sweep the nation, and all doctors will do the same thing, a soon as possible, right?

Yeah, don't hold your breath

 

[JimBowie1958]

Not if your pals in the insurance lobby have anything to say about it.

Happily, they don't.

Why don't they?