posted
I'm really upset with the latest news of my physician joining a VIP MD Network. Which basically means that he is dismissing any and all patients that can not afford the new administrative fees of $1900/yrly just to reserve your status with this Dr. These fees do not cover copays, deductibles or anything else. I've been seen by this Dr. for over 12 years now and he has help me get to a final diagnosis of Lyme just last year and seen me through . Arkansas does not have an LLMD and I could not afford to commute and attend a Dr. who does not accept insurance either. I've been very fortunate to have my Dr. but am very upset that I'm being turned away now. He above all should know how it is to have Lyme disease and not many places to turn as him and his whole family now have be diagnosed with Lyme. What am I going to do ???? Anyone else in this same situation ?
Posts: 36 | From Arkansas | Registered: Feb 2012
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posted
[QUOTE]Originally posted by baboosh44: [QB] I'm really upset with the latest news of my physician joining a VIP MD Network.
Which basically means that he is dismissing any and all patients that can not afford the new administrative fees of $1900/yrly just to reserve your status with this Dr.
These fees do not cover copays, deductibles or anything else.
I've been seen by this Dr. for over 12 years now and he has help me get to a final diagnosis of Lyme just last year and seen me through .
Arkansas does not have an LLMD and I could not afford to commute and attend a Dr. who does not accept insurance either.
I've been very fortunate to have my Dr. but am very upset that I'm being turned away now.
He above all should know how it is to have Lyme disease and not many places to turn as him and his whole family now have be diagnosed with Lyme.
What am I going to do ???? Anyone else in this same situation ?
.................................................
Breaking this up for easier reading for many here.
This seems very sad and unfair. What is anyone getting for $1900/year? Have you talked with him at all about it?
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Remember, insurance companies are in charge of your treatment now and tie the hands of the docs that treat.
If a doc doesn't deal with insurance companies.....he actually gets to do the doctoring.
My PCP about a year ago had a company do telephone interviews with his patients and asked their views on this. I don't know the results and I've not asked him if he is going to do it.
The latest healthcare crisis about to happen will help these doctors make a decision to opt out. I would go with him and pay the up front cost. Of course I have Medicare secondary, so I'm not sure how they are going to approach this.
It is scary what is happening to the medical system.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 16556
posted
Happenning here in Philly also. My neighbor just told me his doctor is forming the same type of VIP group with a large fee for the year. Quite disturbing for the average Joe who cannot afford this.
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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lax mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38743
posted
Like poppy posted, sounds like he's becoming a concierge Dr.
desertwind
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25256
posted
Yup, that happened with my PCP a few years back.
He called it "Premier Care Plan" - for a hefty $1900 per year per person he would be at your service 24/7..yeah right....Service was a rip off and a train wreck. Still had to pay co-insurances, co-pays ect..ontop of the $1900 just to be in his "service". I dropppe him like a hot potato.
Posts: 1671 | From Tick Infested New Jersey | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
Scary. who can afford a huge yearly fee on top of copays and everything else? :'(
Posts: 287 | From somewhere | Registered: Oct 2011
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So who here really understands what's going on with this "VIP" package and can explain it? I don't like the sound of it so far...
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Robin123: So who here really understands what's going on with this "VIP" package and can explain it? I don't like the sound of it so far...
I can tell you exactly what's going on. Doctors spend a fortune in time and money going to school. After they graduate, they have an expectation of getting a good return on their investment.
Medicine in the USA is becoming socialized (as in socialism). If you look at the EOBs for medical services, you'll see that there is a HUGE difference between services billed and the amount paid by insurance/medicare/especially medicaid, etc. In addition, the treatment that doctors can give the patient is increasingly being dictated by the government and insurance.
So, instead of accepting unreasonably low income and heavy handed control by the government/insurance companies, doctors are increasingly giving government and insurance companies the proverbial finger!!! They are refusing to accept insurance and becoming entrepreneurs. This can include these VIP plans in which doctors still accept insurance but get their VIP fees upfront or it can be doctors who simply refuse to take anything but cold, hard cash - like my LLMD.
Personally, I find this refreshing. Instead of being given 5 or 10 minutes by a doctor who is rushing to see a million patients during the day in order to make enough money to stay in business, I get to see my LLMD for ONE ENTIRE HOUR EVERY VISIT and actually receive quality treatment!!! It's a win/win for both of us. I get quality treatment. My LLMD is free of dealing with the insurance companies and the heavy hand of the government and she receives CASH at the end of the visit.
Posts: 177 | From Ohio | Registered: Aug 2012
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
my doc has a huge sign that says "no medicare/medicade, no tricare, no worker's comp, if you don't have insurance, payment is due in full before treatment".
thank the heavens, i have two insurance companies. but the new obgyn also does not take medicare, tricare, or other stuff.
i've lost several doctors who just flat out retired.
it's going to get worse too.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
Physicians are getting squeezed. Many primary care docs start practice with over $150K or more in school debt and make $70-80K a year and work very long hours.
Many in private practice are not making ends meet and are closing their practices and become employees of big hospital groups.
With all the increased costs in medical care, it isn't physicians that make the money.
Often doctors don't spend much time with patient but send them to do tests. How much of our health care is for physician to cover themselves to avoid lawsuits.
When medicare rates are cut which happens often, most physicians contracts with commercial insurance companies change as well as reimbursements are tied to medicare reimbursement.
Right now there is a shortage of 100K primary docs and it is getting worse.
To original poster, can you make an appointment and see him before the change and ask for a referral? Or get his advice.
It drives me crazy how mainstream medicine is big part of the Lyme issue by not diagnosing and treating correctly.
I don't think a doctor can charge to a concierge fee and also bill insurance as it would be violation of their insurance contract. Perhaps this varies by State law.
Posts: 120 | From MA | Registered: May 2010
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posted
Thanks for explaining, but I still don't understand what the $1900 fee is for. Why are they not just charging by the visit?
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Robin, right! who here has that much money in their account? We don't!
Posts: 287 | From somewhere | Registered: Oct 2011
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Kudzuslipper
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31915
posted
I lost th best doctor in the world to a concierge practice. Basically that $1900 (which is low from others) fro each patient theoretically allows the doctor to take fewer patients, so they can spend more time with each. Theoretically, they will have the time to research more for you, consult with other doctors, and basically work for you on your behalf. You are paying for a special level of care that you used to get with every good doctor.
That's the pitch anyway. I suspect, they will still be squeezed and thn start growing their practices and then it will only be slightly better than a normal PCP.
Posts: 1728 | From USA | Registered: May 2011
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