Leon wrote:
"Nova" wrote in message
Agreed and these guys are probably makin more off of the procedure than
those having to collect from an insurance company. Remember insurance
companines get deep deep discounts and often don't pay.
It sound to me like the insurance companies are keeping the cost down.
Would you use an insurance company to hep you buy electricity, groceries,
clothing? They don't keep costs down, often they perpetuate the problem.
Think of it as a co-op paying wholesale rather than retail.
Basically HMO's and insurance companies are more like agents for many
doctors. I think I would probably have more faith in a doctor that
does not rely on an insurance company to bring in it's patients.
The insurance companies rely on their participating doctors list to bring
in the customers.
I have never heard of any one including myself choosing an insurance company
based on its doctors list. Most employees insurance is provided through
their employeer. The employeer decides which insurance company to go with
and you choose from the list of doctors.
The company I work for last year offered three different plans.
The first plan was their "Basic Medical Plan". The company paid 100% of
the premium. You had to designate a primary physician and the only way
you could see a different doctor was through a referral by the primary.
There was a $25 co-payment per office visit and very few doctors in my
area accepted the plan. None of the doctors we've used for years
accepted the plan.
The second offering was an HMO where I paid a small portion of the
premium and all medical treatment had to be done by the single
designated facility. The office was about 20 miles from my home and I'd
never heard of any of the doctors on the staff.
The third plan required me to pay a much higher portion of the monthly
premium. The out of pocket premium would cost me about $80 per month
for myself and my wife. Any doctor I looked for in the list of
participating doctors accepted the plan. I did not have to designate a
primary physician and could see any doctor of my choice at any time.
Office visits had a $10 co-payment.
I chose the third plan.
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Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA