Consumers losing doctors with new insurance plans

yahoo ^ | 5/13/14 | Kelli Kennedy, Associated Press

[mdittmar]

MIAMI (AP) -- The first thing Michelle Pool did before picking a plan under President Barack Obama's health insurance law was check whether her longtime primary care doctor was covered. Pool, a 60-year-old diabetic who has had back surgery and a hip replacement, purchased the plan only to find that the insurer was mistaken.

Pool's $352 a month gold plan through Covered California's exchange was cheaper than what she'd paid under her husband's insurance and seemed like a good deal because of her numerous pre-existing conditions. But after her insurance card came in the mail, the Vista, California resident learned her doctor wasn't taking her new insurance.

"It's not fun when you've had a doctor for years and years that you can confide in and he knows you," Pool said. "I'm extremely discouraged. I'm stuck."

Stories like Pool's are emerging as more consumers realize they bought plans with limited doctor and hospital networks, some after websites that mistakenly said their doctors were included.

Before the law took effect, experts warned that narrow networks could impact patient's access to care, especially in cheaper plans. But with insurance cards now in hand, consumers are finding their access limited across all price ranges.

The dilemma undercuts President Obama's 2009 pledge that: "If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period." Consumer frustration over losing doctors comes as the Obama administration is still celebrating a victory with more than 8 million enrollees in its first year.

[mdittmar]

Didn't see that coming.

[BlueStateRightist]

Kelli Kennedy of the AP might want to go into witness protection after writing this article.

[dontreadthis]

the solution is right around the corner: all doctors must see all patients all the time

[mdittmar]

The 2014 midterm elections may be looking real bad for the dems,maybe the ap just want’s to get in front of it.

[Organic Panic]

“Shut up and eat your peas.” B Hussein Soetero

[ArmstedFragg]

Even if she’d be able to keep him, the policy won’t pay anything until the deductible’s satisfied anyway.

[Deo volente]

[randita]

“She’s lying”...Sen. Reid

[Nachum]

[Intolerant in NJ]

Consumers losing doctors with new insurance plans...the longer this goes, the more Obamacare reminds me of that great bit in Steve Martin's movie "The Jerk", where Martin is running some sort of a game-of-chance stand in a carnival, and gives the customers the rundown on what they can win (approximately) - "You can win anything on the stand, anything except on the top shelf and the bottom two shelves, anything on this third shelf from the bottom, anything on this side of the shelf, anything from between the pencil sharpeners to the pack of gum, you can win this rubber band"....