I read in the WSJ (via Newsalert) that patients are having a hard time finding primary care doctors. Here is what the WSJ piece had to say:
Are you having trouble finding a doctor who will see you? If not, give it another year and a half. A doctor shortage is on its way.
Most provisions of the Obama health law kick in on Jan. 1, 2014. Within the decade after that, an additional 30 million people are expected to acquire health plans—and if the economic studies are correct, they will try to double their use of the health-care system….
Their wait will only become longer as more and more Americans turn to concierge medicine for their care. Although the model differs from region to region and doctor to doctor, concierge medicine basically means that patients pay doctors to be their agents, rather than the agents of third-party-payers such as insurance companies or government bureaucracies.For a fee of roughly $1,500 to $2,000, for example, a Medicare patient can form a new relationship with a doctor. This usually includes same day or next-day appointments.
It seems that ObamaCare will cause increased inequality in healthcare, not less as those who can afford it will flee the regular practices where doctors are no longer available and flock to concierge services. My only fear is that Obama and his ilk would outlaw these practices. However, if it works, count me in. For the price of a latte a day, I would much rather have a doctor who is paid well and who can give me a same day appointment than sit and wait in some government-run clinic for care that may never materialize.
What is your opinion on concierge medicine? Pro or con?
The law of unintended consequences at work again. In socialism, everything is “free” but the only problem is the shelves are always empty (but there’s always a black market for those with a few extra rubles.)
Yeah, Obama could try and outlaw this practice but something else will crop in in its place. It always does. That is why progressive “solutions” eventually all lead to totalitarianism and gulags – the only way to control all the “profiteering” (i.e. the capitalist impulse) is to eliminate the “evildoers.” “You can’t make omelets without breaking eggs” as Lenin said. Thus far, the score is millions of eggs broken, no omelets yet made.
You’re right. We already have a two-tiered system (private vs public) and the gap will only widen when more are added to the public rolls. The good news is Obamacare is unpopular and ripe for repeal.
I don’t have a concierge practice–yet–but it seems like a good solution. I too fear that private–non-governmental–medical practice may be made illegal.
Morally I don’t have a problem with a two-tier system, as long as the bottom tier has solid, basic care. So many things that are done today are not medically necessary and could easily by done without. Good basic care could be rendered economically if we could avoid the nonsense foisted on us by government, insurers, and the hospital industry.
Another problem is that new doctors entering the system today really don’t know how to practice economically and most won’t be bold enough to try, products as they are of our modern educational system.
You forfot the third tier. The ones politicians worked out behind closed doors when they were working out the details of this hellt-keh-ah bill. Do you think for one second they’re going to have to live otu this misery that they imposed on us?
To continue with Jose Garcia ‘s thought, there will actually be 4 tiers:
Tier 1 – for the politicians and politically connected
Tier 2 – for the average citizen who pays the bills
Tier 3 – for those who will be denied care but can’t afford Tier 4
Tier 4 – for the rich who can escape the system
OK. I like your formulation even better!
Three tier, NOT just two-tier. Here’s why:
There will be a top layer for the powerful and the well-connected rich (crony capitalists). It will be largely kept under wraps, and will provide a level of care that will no longer be available to ordinary citizens, including the concierge ones, because of the reduced levels of medical research. High-end medical advances will be a classified program like DARPA, and will be reserved for those in power.
With all its inequities and faults, health care in the US was far superior to what will be the results of Obamacare.
Dave Barry on Hillarycare (the actual predecesor and model for Obamacare, rather than Romneycare) in 1993:
“We have the best healthcare system in the world. LET’S FIX IT!”
– those who work harder to get ahead or even just stay in the same place will be held back and punished because it’s unfair to the lazy and envious.
Pity the poor, ignorant, delusional doctors, like Dr. Key, who think that in a worker’s paradise of equality they will get away with something as unequal as concierge medical practice (unless they are serving the masters of the state directly). And more’s the pity for those doctors who think they will be allowed to leave the profession because they will still have choices. While in the past there might have been a lot of underground, black market activities that people got away with, today’s technology means that the state will be able to watch and listen, to ensure that you have your cell phone, iPad, etc., on at all times, and expect a visit from a “helpful” government enforcer if you turn it off or if it stops functioning. The only time you will be allowed to turn off the surveillance is when the death panel relieves you of your misery. Will the death panels deem uncooperative doctors as beyond help? Think about it, doc.