Trend: Doctor's not accepting any insurance

[samrhett2]

I have three family members who visit doctors on an irritatingly regular basis.  They all are having health problems and I am the taxi.  It is sol maddening dealing with doctor's offices and hospitals.  I could literally write a book.  However, I have recently noticed an alarming trend of many of these doctors now stating that they are fee for service only and the patients must pay upfront.  They are not filing any insurance claims for the patients or participating in any insurance plans.  Has anyone else noticed this?

[bowrunner]

It hasn't happened to me yet but I expect my doctor to drop medicare patients.  People don't realize how disastrous Obamacare is going to be when it all kicks in Jan. 1, 2014.  About 40% of the doctors plan to retire in the next 2 to 3 years and many of those that don't retire are going to be fee for service doctors only.  Most doctors are planning on refusing Medicare and Medicaid patients I have heard even if they don't go to fee for service.

[BlackSheepNY]

I have three family members who visit doctors on an irritatingly regular basis.  They all are having health problems and I am the taxi.  It is sol maddening dealing with doctor's offices and hospitals.  I could literally write a book.  However, I have recently noticed an alarming trend of many of these doctors now stating that they are fee for service only and the patients must pay upfront.  They are not filing any insurance claims for the patients or participating in any insurance plans.  Has anyone else noticed this?

I have heard of this, and mostly from my relatives on the East Coast.  Thanks to Obamacare (the red tape, the baby sitting for the government, the phenomenal costs) many physicians are doing just that (in order to stay in business) - CASH OR NOTHING.  What I wonder is, do they NEGOTIATE the PRICE of their services with what their patient can afford?  If so, then I'd say you could be getting a deal.

[Delphyne]

Yes, I have heard of this, as well.  Thank  goodness I self-treat with medicinal herbs or I would be screwed.

[home2013]

We don't use the doctors much but if that was happening at mine I would be finding a new doctor.

[vickysue]

Obamma care is going to hurt all of us. And he does not care. It is his pet project and that is the way it is, To heck with him. I hope we get enoug Republicans in to the senate to shut his cronies down and can get this country back on the right track.

[inertia4]

Well it is safe to say that the medical industry in this country is all about greed and money. They are corrupt. Always have been and always will be. It has nothing to do with Obama's health care reform. It is the right wing that does not want us to have anything. They want it all at any cost. It is a shame. Right now my doctors are still accepting my insurance. But I believe what you're saying. it is only a matter of time before they all do it. And we are left out in the cold to fend for ourselves. Who in this world has the money to pay a doctor for a visit and or a hospital visit.

[jowbow]

In  past doctor's got paid at the time of service with the currency of that time or by bartering for what they needed.  And please don't call it "Obamacare".  Yes he signed it in to law, but it was done  for Ted Kennedy.  And you should read the "Affordable Care Act" which I have done several time because I am a nurse and I want to know how it is going to effect my family.

[marciaenglish]

I never really thought about it since I have no insurance anyway.... I always pay.

[jnjmolly]

I did not notice anything about them not assisting you or helping you find a way to help you make payments but nothing surprises me.

[davidh121]

I have not heard anything about this, but the idea is a scary thought as expenses are already frustrating. My primary physician is getting up in age and might be retiring soon. I will most likely shop around and ask for referrals from friends, but now I have an extra thing to possibly worry about.

[shelly927]

thats crazy because of the insurance terms, i really think its not fair.  question what happen to caring for people.

[raven1114]

I haven"t had any problems like this so far. I do have problems at times getting my insurance to pay for some meds. Like arthritis meds, I have chronic joint pain and have for years yet they wont pay for the meds that would help.

[samrhett2]

I have an appointment for my son on Thursday.  He has an anxiety disorder that has not been controlled by therapy.  After trying 3 different medications the psychiatrist that takes no insurance and has charged me $300 so far told me to either involuntarily commit my 13 year old to a psych hospital or he would not treat him anymore.  I spent the last two weeks trying to find another pediatric psychiatrist to help us.  Most of them were not taking new patients.  None of them take insurance and the initial appointment is $250.  Believe it or not I just felt lucky to get an appointment.

When people commit suicide or go crazy and commit violence everyone always says, "Oh, gee, if they just reached out and got some help."  Well I have been begging and pleading for help.  Spent hours online and on the phone and I am here to tell you that even if you have cash to pay for your own treatment it is almost impossible to get within a reasonable time frame.  If you are in crisis you better just say you are going to kill yourself cause that is they only way that anyone will take you seriously.

I just saw a news report about a psych hospital in Las Vegas that they think purchased over 1500 bus tickets to ship their released patients out of Las Vegas so that they didn't have to see them for repeat treatment.

[kaitsilva]

Never once heard of this happening here in New England. If it did, I would promptly find another doctor because that one there can't be all that caring or responsible! It doesn't matter if their payday comes via cash or insurance check, they're getting it either way, right? Any "professional" running a cash / personal check only business is really sketchy, in my book!

Some doctors don't accept some forms of insurance, but that's been the case everywhere throughout the years.

Also, the "Obamacare" jargon is conservative political mudslinging, seeing as the President did not propose the bill. Let's all rise above that.