I take my kid to one of those for the little stuff and the visit is usually cheaper than co pays in network
Not all of them. I am a member of a concierge practice and it is nice. However there are cash only clinics where a ‘membership ‘ isn’t required. They seem to work too. The key is that most don’t take insurance or Medicare. This reduces overhead significantly and they get paid immediately rather than having to wait forever to get paid. I read that a $1000+ MRI costs less than $400 with similar savings other places. Look at Lasik and other procedures not usually covered by insurance. The cost of those services has gone done over the years and quality keeps rising. Why COMPETITION!!!!!
Because a lot of people didn't, don't & never will pay their fucking Bills. Not just a few either. Insurance protects both patients & doctors. Do you have any idea how many frivolous lawsuits are dropped on a general physician per year? "You said I had broncitis, the other doc says I gots me some swollen tonsils". You owe me 'bout $5 million dollars". That's not ever an exaggeration. Insurance has been the norm for decades now. It's not perfect at all, but it's what we've have. He's correct to look at you as if you are clueless & likely some disdain. You want to tell the doctor what's wring with you & how much it's gonna cost you to fix you, if he can? How are you at diagnosing yourself with pancreatic, liver or colon cancer? How about nephotic syndrome in a child? Be-bopping into a doctors office saying "Doc, my belly's been aching for about a month...I think I have that IBS I seen on the TV is fucking ridiculous. Should they post it like in a barbershop? Haircut $20 Haircut w/ shampoo $23 Here's what it would look like without insurance & sometimes with insurance: Cold $65 Physical for work $85 Pancreatic Cancer $ You're Fucked Colon Cancer $ You're Fucked How the frick does he even guess at how many $15-$23 tylenol you'll gobble up in in the hospital or "skilled nursing facility" while you're convalescing? And let's not forget thosr pesky secondary infections that can pop up post-op, requiring a prolonged facilty stay. Hell, you might as well bring in a fucking 1980 Fiat convertible & tell him your engine is making a "Pinging noise" & ask him how much it will cost to fix.
You're acting like I'm saying there should be no insurance at all. I'm saying insurance doesn't need to be involved in routine treatment. You go to the doctor with a bellyache and he knows there's a stomache virus going around, there's no reason he shouldn't be able to say," 20 for the visit and another 20 for the shot of penecillin" or whatever the treatment is. But if he can't figure out a good reason why you've got a bellyache in the office, then he sends you to a specialist, and then the insurance kicks in. That's supposed to be the point of insurance, to help us get through the unexpected and very expensive. Oh, and here's what I say about the ones who " didn't, don't & never will pay their fucking Bills." Fuck 'em.
@mctiger You make some great points. Sorry, I didn't mean to single you out. Just wanted to voice an opinion.
I prefer Dr. Cannabis. I think #Big Pharma has their massive cock deep in the #Deep States ass. The Military-Industrial complex is on the other end. We're in the peanut gallery atop a mountain of opioids.
