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brooklynite

(96,882 posts)
Sun Jul 7, 2019, 09:35 AM Jul 2019

Here's an MFA/Single-Payer question...

I use a boutique medical practice (One Medical). I pay $200 a year on top of medical fees to ensure I can always get a same day appointment and I won’t be rushed during my visit. Will I still be allowed to under sanders/Warren plan? And if so, is that fair?

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Here's an MFA/Single-Payer question... (Original Post) brooklynite Jul 2019 OP
I would think Turin_C3PO Jul 2019 #1
No one should be rushed during a dr appointment. It's a shame it happens, we have Autumn Jul 2019 #2
Technically under Medicare now, charging such a fee is considered a violation of Medicare rules. Hoyt Jul 2019 #3

Turin_C3PO

(16,224 posts)
1. I would think
Sun Jul 7, 2019, 09:39 AM
Jul 2019

that stuff like that would still be allowed. Is it fair? Well, life’s not fair so...

Autumn

(46,862 posts)
2. No one should be rushed during a dr appointment. It's a shame it happens, we have
Sun Jul 7, 2019, 10:22 AM
Jul 2019

a real healthcare crisis in this country. Your post highlights that.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
3. Technically under Medicare now, charging such a fee is considered a violation of Medicare rules.
Sun Jul 7, 2019, 11:55 AM
Jul 2019

There are ways around it, and it's not enforced that often, particularly for a small fee like $200. Also, now, physicians can totally opt out of Medicare, but the rules are quite specific for doing that.

So, if Medicare is the model for universal healthcare and the new health plan continues to prohibit charging more than the set fee for a given service, your physician is enrolled with the Medicare like plan, and that extra fee is basically a way to get a little extra payment from patients than the set Medicare like plan fee, it might be a violation. Again, it's not enforced that often now, and there are ways around it if structured such that the annual or monthly fee is for services that aren't covered by Medicare.

I'd bet, $200 wouldn't be a problem, even if technically a violation. Nowadays, there are physicians who charge $1,000 - $3,000, or even more, as an annual membership fee. That can be an issue.

I suspect any new single payer plan would still allow physicians to totally opt out. If they have enough patients who can afford the annual fee, some might well do that. Lots of physicians are greedy.

Most physicians will likely have to continue seeing the average Jane/Joe at $80, or so, an office visit, plus more for tests, surgeries, etc., to make their average $250K, or so, annually.

Assuming you are insured by a private health plan now, such a fee might be a violation of the physician's contract with the insurer. But, it's even less likely the private insurer would try to enforce that provision.

In any event, there are lots of unanswered matters that will have to be worked out.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Here's an MFA/Single-Paye...