What do you think about the Simplecare idea?

[DadofDr2B]

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http://simplecare.com/

Please read information and give us your opinion about this method of funding healthcare.

 

[cokoMD]

Im kind of skeptical...How exactly are those at simplecare making money? Are they themselves charging patients premiums aside from those they already pay to health insurance companies??? If so what would be the point of having simplecare if you didnt recieve the other services provided by health insurance such as coverage for hospitalization and patient medical equipment. I also dont understand how simplecare will increase a phyiscian's income if he/she are charging the patient less. Even if it did I wouldnt want to the type of physician who would want to have a larger income at the expense of my patient paying premiums to their health insurance provider, simplecare, and paying me a deductible just so I could recieve a quicker payment. As a doctor I would hope my main goal was to provide quality healthcare first and getting paid second.

 

[Boner]

I just took a quick look at the simplecare plan and I'm not totally clear on the whole thing. Is it similar or pretty much the same billing practice as doctors who charge a flat fee for services? I know some doctors are now switching to a $50 flat fee to see a physician, which cuts doctors' business costs by not having to employ all of the office workers who handle insurance and what not, plus they don't need all of the office equipment to do all of the billing, which cuts costs.

 

[DadofDr2B]

The whole point is that there is no insurance involvement. You pay as you go as a patient and because you pay as you go, the doctor charges the patient less. This would mean the patient and doctor would not only have a relation concerning the care given but also each would have a say in what procedures are allowed and which ones the patient could afford. The insurance company would not be involved in selecting the procedures for the patient. The doctor would not need a back office to collect insurance money because the money would have been paid at the time of service.

Some doctors have as many as six people hired just to collect money from insurance companies.

The business of being a physician should be taught somewhere. Many doctors do not understand how they are to be paid until it is too late.

 

[Blake]

The whole point is that there is no insurance involvement. You pay as you go as a patient and because you pay as you go, the doctor charges the patient less. This would mean the patient and doctor would not only have a relation concerning the care given but also each would have a say in what procedures are allowed and which ones the patient could afford. The insurance company would not be involved in selecting the procedures for the patient. The doctor would not need a back office to collect insurance money because the money would have been paid at the time of service.

Some doctors have as many as six people hired just to collect money from insurance companies.

The business of being a physician should be taught somewhere. Many doctors do not understand how they are to be paid until it is too late.

Please excuse my ignorance on how a physician is paid, but when you say '' business of being a physician'', you're talking about private practice, right ?

 

[Ryo-Ohki]

In other words, cut out the middle man. A Zero payer system.

Insurance is only needed for catastrophic incidents.

 

[Boner]

Simplecare sounds like a step in the right direction. I recently read a newspaper article about private practice family doctors who don't accept insurance anymore and according to them it is incredibly cost effective to eliminate insurance for minor treatment. We should, however, have some insurance to cover major treatment costs, and simplecare allows for that. I'd like to see universal health care that works implemented in the near future, and it sounds like simplecare is a good transition state or supplement to a universal health care plan (weaning people off of private insurance), but that's just my two cents based on ten minutes of reading about simplecare.

 

[cokoMD]

I could see utilizing a flat rate for services...that will definately cut out the middle man and associated cost....but, is simplecare a corporation within itself??? If so exactly how are they being paid;by patients or physicians??? Its obivious you will still need insurance, if simplecare is incorporating its own fees it seems the patient will end up paying the same amount or even higher out of pocket. Not to mention the the jobs that would be lost by those who would do the admistrating and the billing. Personally, I would just rather recieve my money a little bit late than to eliminate jobs that benefit another family.