MD dropping out of all insurance plans

[LindaG4458]

Just received a letter from my GP in FL. She is dropping out of Medicare and all commercial insurance plans. She said she will provide all information necessary for the patient to file with her insurance company herself. She is willing to keep me as a patient, but it will be strictly a fee for service at the time of the service.

The letter was dated 12/1/10, postmarked 12/14/10, and, after forwarding from FL, I received it yesterday. Unfortunately it is too late for me to change plans, and I am in a BCBS PPO. There is no payment AT ALL for services outside the network. So I have to look for another MD. NUTS!

I understand and sympathize with her point of view, and I'm sorry to have to leave her care, but I wish there had been more notice.

Anyone else have a doctor who is dropping out of insurance?

 

[MushyMushy]

Not an MD, but the kids' favorite dentist! She said that the paperwork was becoming too cumbersome and she was done with it. Doesn't appear to have hurt her business any. We had to go elsewhere. No sense dealing with that hassle when there are plenty of other dentists to go to.

 

[Buckalew11]

I know several doctors who are dropping out come January 1. No Medicare patients at all.

 

[GAGirlInVA]

I've heard of a few doctors doing this. When deciding to whether to do this or now, we'd think of:

1. what kind of doctor they were
2. what kind of medical history I had

I have heard of a few doctors in my home town going to concierge care as well.

 

[rie'smom]

Our internist does not accept any insurance. He always tells us what bloodwork tests to request from our primary physician because that practice does accept our insurance.. We then ask that the results are sent to both.

 

[We_Love_Disney]

I can understand the physicians doing this as I sympathize with them, however, there ought to be quite a bit more notice given to the patients. Open enrollment seems to come at the most inopportune time of the year when millions of other things are going on. Figuring out who you will entrust your health with requires more time and energy. Being notified 30 days in advance is certainly not enough time. The physicians know they are planning this, so give as much notice as possible.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

My daughter's neuro did this as well. Fortunately for us, he only opted out of new patients, but grandfathered existing patients. Insurance companies are making it cost prohibitive for drs to keep working with them!

 

[lillygator]

this is going to be happenning a lot more.

 

[C.Ann]

And all of this will cause an even bigger burden on the ER's - because people need to go "somewhere"..

I called my dr.'s office for an appt. 2 weeks ago, I believe.. She accepts all forms of commercial/private insurance - as well as Medicaid and Medicare.. She doesn't rush her patients in and out the door.. Minimum time with the doctor is a half-hour.. If there is something more complicated going on, it will be a 45-minute apppointment.. Needless to say, she was so full, I couldn't get an appointment until Jan.3rd.. It's fairly important that I get in there sooner - if I can catch a cancellation (I call every day) - but one of the reasons for the appt. is a chronic condition - not something I feel comfortable going to the ER for and taking up their time and resources.. So - I'll wait - because she's worth it..

If this becomes a widespread trend, ER's will become a much, much bigger nightmare than they are now..

 

[pilesoflaundry]

My kids' old dentist did that. She went to pay up front only. She said she didn't like being tied to the insurance companies whims, being paid less and dealing with so much paperwork. We still go to the same office, she's the one that left out on her own. She's a fantastic dentist so I doubt it will hurt her too much.

So far our doc hasn't.

 

[lsyorke]

This will be a short lived trend for doctors when their practices plummet. I don't know of anyone who will continue to go out of pocket for a doctor. The other thing to consider is that this doctor will also not be able to admit a person to the hospital if they are not participating in the patients insurance plan. Something to keep in mind if one chooses to pay out of pocket.

Believe me..I know the paperwork is horrendous(I deal with it everyday), but the bottom line is if a doc wants patients and they choose to omit the whole Medicare population, they're going to have to look for a lot of sick millionaires!

 

[lillygator]

And all of this will cause an even bigger burden on the ER's - because people need to go "somewhere"..

I called my dr.'s office for an appt. 2 weeks ago, I believe.. She accepts all forms of commercial/private insurance - as well as Medicaid and Medicare.. She doesn't rush her patients in and out the door.. Minimum time with the doctor is a half-hour.. If there is something more complicated going on, it will be a 45-minute apppointment.. Needless to say, she was so full, I couldn't get an appointment until Jan.3rd.. It's fairly important that I get in there sooner - if I can catch a cancellation (I call every day) - but one of the reasons for the appt. is a chronic condition - not something I feel comfortable going to the ER for and taking up their time and resources.. So - I'll wait - because she's worth it..

If this becomes a widespread trend, ER's will become a much, much bigger nightmare than they are now..

only community er's, private ones refuse you at the door

 

[Hannathy]

Why can't you keep going and submit it yourself? then get the reimbursement instead of the Dr's office? That is how it used to always be. Dr's never did the insurance for you, you paid and them submitted it to your company.

 

[honugirl]

My endocrinologist has a booming business and does not do any insurance at all. I pay OOP to see him. Trust me, this isn't going to kill off a good docs practice. I know it's a huge choice for some that go to him, but he's the best. I don't bother billing my insurance because what they would pay me to see him is peanuts. It's just not worth the time and the effort to deal with the paperwork.

 

[cm8]

only community er's, private ones refuse you at the door

,,

Unless you are Dying or require maternity assistance to save the unborn childs life

 

[4nana]

Sadly, this is only the beginning . DH retired 10yrs ago, unfortunately he and many others are having their health insurance cut from their pension pkg in 2011 and others forced in to huge deductibles. Have been on search for a Medigap policy for a month now, verifing w/drs. and hospitals what new rules apply. We'll survive as we roll with the punches, but it's very disheartening to say the least.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

I agree that this is only the beginning, but I think with the new Healthcare Reform, many physicians will be dropping out of insurance game. I think we will begin to see many more do this, unfortunately.

 

[Nancy]

Why can't you keep going and submit it yourself? then get the reimbursement instead of the Dr's office? That is how it used to always be. Dr's never did the insurance for you, you paid and them submitted it to your company.

Unfortunately there are a lot of plans that only have in network benefits, so if the doctor is no longer taking the insurance the patient will not get reimbursed if they continue to see them/

I am 52, have had my own insurance since I was 18. I have only submitted my own claim twice and that was last year because I had to have blood work done and my in network lab was not open when I could go. I had to go to Quest, they refused to submit claims to my insurance so I had to pay and submit them myself. Took about 2 minutes of my time to fill out the form and fax it in.

 

[Octoberbride03]

This will be a short lived trend for doctors when their practices plummet. I don't know of anyone who will continue to go out of pocket for a doctor. The other thing to consider is that this doctor will also not be able to admit a person to the hospital if they are not participating in the patients insurance plan. Something to keep in mind if one chooses to pay out of pocket.

Believe me..I know the paperwork is horrendous(I deal with it everyday), but the bottom line is if a doc wants patients and they choose to omit the whole Medicare population, they're going to have to look for a lot of sick millionaires!

Don't think so. I think this is going to become much more common in the near future. Honestly, when I look at the explanation of benefits that I receive from my insurance for Dr visits I often wonder how these practices survive to begin with. Often times it is pennies on the dollar.

 

[lillygator]

,,

Unless you are Dying or require maternity assistance to save the unborn childs life

??????????????