I sure wish someone would open such a practice near me. Sounds great!

http://money.cnn.com/2013/06/11/news....html?iid=Lead

 

I've seen ads on the boob tube for people offering similar services so they are in the area.

 

With a high deductible plan it could work, BUT the state of MA does not allow high deductible plans.

It does sound convenient. Cholesterol test for $3.00? Rick just had annual blood work, I'll report back the charges, not that the insurance pays what is charged.....it is a game for sure!

 

Works for routine stuff that can be handled within the 'practice' Bill, but the wheels come off as soon as you need to see a specialist... and the monthly/annual fee to the doctors doesn't address hospital expenses at all.

We have a few physicians doing this, for $1,200-$1,500 a year. As noted, works well when all you need is what can be provided within the practice, but you still need insurance anytime you are referred to someone outside the practice... and certainly need insurance for hospital expenses (which when incurred, usually outstrip the cost of doctors by a whole bunch).

 

I'd prefer a dr who accepts my insurance plan but think the above is not a really bad thing. We've discovered that more and more hospitals are going with hospitalists and you don't see your personal physician while you're under hospital care at all. After you leave the hospital you are advised to go for followup to your specialist or regular physician for aftercare. I do not know whether this is better or not. As I understand it hospitalists are physicians who specialize in the care of people only while they're in the hospital. All the hospitals in this area and in our former hometown are going with this type of thing. The only thing I don't like about the hospitalists is they prescribe meds, etc., change your meds, etc. and then you have to deal with ongoing treatment elsewhere. It can become confusing, especially for the elderly and if you have questions, etc. after you get home, well . . . good luck on getting answers.

 

I could see where a Dr could make a business model where you pay him cash.
The act of getting reimbursed and resolving the any difference in payment and what they are wiling to pay is between you and your insurance company.

Tie into that transparent pricing instead of the smoke and mirrors crap accounting that goes on.

 

It seems to me that this concept would work well with the HSA plans that were introduced a few years ago. In an HSA you contribute to a medical savings account ( tax free) and carry high deductible catastrophic insurance. You can accumulate money in the HSA until needed, and when used to pay medical bills the withdrawals are tax free. For catastrophic bills the insurance kicks in. In general the cost of coverage and healthcare in general should be less for the consumer.

 

Exactly what I have, Rob. A cash practice would fit perfectly with that.

 

Bill, do you mean an HSA or high deductible insurance? What do you call a high deductible? Here in MA you can't exceed a 2K deductible and meet the MA requirements, not that 2K out of pocket doesn't hurt the wallet a bit. If you add another $1200.00 ($100.00 monthly) to belong to the no insurance doc practice, you're still out at least $1200.00. Maybe the fact that it's a tax free $1200.00 is appealing? What am I missing?

 

Lainey,

I'm not as familiar with Mass. healthcare rules as I should be and I didn't know that the highest your deductible could be is $2,000, but I was talking about a deductible significantly higher, in the order of $5,000 or more. Generally, a $2,000 deductible doesn't have much of an effect on lowering the premium.

With a higher deductible the HSA would fit perfectly with the "cash practice" doctors.