Posted on 06/15/2013 5:08:55 AM PDT by Hojczyk
Thirty-two-year old family physician Doug Nunamaker of Wichita, Kan., said after five years of dealing with the red tape of health insurance companies and the high overhead for the staff he hired just to deal with paperwork, he switched to a system of charging his patients a monthly fee plus the price of an office visit or test, CNN/Money reported.
For example, under Nunamaker's membership plan -- also known as "concierge" medicine or "direct primary care" practices -- each patient pays a flat monthly fee to have unlimited access to the doctors and any medical service they can provide in the practice, such as stitches or an EKG.
For adults up to age 44, Nunamaker charges $50 a month, pediatric services are $10 a month, and for adults age 44 and older it costs $100 a month. Although Nunamaker calls the practice "cash-only," he accepts credit and debit cards for the fees and services.
Nunamaker and his partner negotiated deals for services outside the office. A cholesterol test costs the patient for $3, versus the $90 or more billed to insurance companies; an MRI can cost $400, compared with $2,000 or more billed to insurance companies.
The practice encourages patients and families to also carry some type of high-deductible health insurance plan in case of an emergency or serious illness requiring hospitalization, Nunamaker said.
Nunamaker said his annual salary is around $200,000, and he gets to spend more time with patients providing better care because he is not watching the clock and he gets to spend more time with this family.
Most of Nunamaker's clients are self-employed, small business owners, or small companies that found the monthly fee and the cost of the high-deductible plan was a cheaper option, CNN/Money reported.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Betcha.
AMEN!! Conservatives or those that Don’t VOTE for Democrats or give them MOney will get LESS HEALTH CARE!!
“Illegal within a year.
Betcha.”
You just know that if the IRS wasn’t currently under a spotlight, the administration would be pushing behind the scenes for audits targeting physicians in these types of practices. You just know.
Looks interesting.
I believe that many doctors are tired of the interference and the paperwork of insurance and Mediscare.
And just how is it you'll be able to buy such a plan after Obamacare eliminates anything that's not full coverage at sky high prices?
Even if this remains legal, the patients will still be on the hook for the hefty poverty-inducing Obamacare insurance or fines. Then on top of that they will have to pay out of pocket for their actual health care [via private doctor].
Isn’t that the way it typically goes in socialized medicine lands?
Obama will likely make this sort of operation a crime, at least for the middle class and their not-politically connected MDs. The politically connected will have their private doctors, though.
Seriously though, under the unAffordable Heath Care Act, if you get a catastrophic illness, then sign up. THEY HAVE TO TAKE YOU.
Aka (dba) 0bamaDontCare.
Yeah they have to give you insurance if you ask for it, it just doesn't have to be cheap.
This is why a bunch of young people, at least for the year 2014, will just take the tax penalty, which is $95.00 (year one only of this boondoggle).
sfl
My doctor went to this several years ago. The up-front cost was more: ~ $1800/yr and you had to maintain your health care plan. You got a comprehensive physical, more one-on-one time (he was cutting his patient load), and a copy of your complete medical records on a diskette. The upfront cost was not covered by your healthcare plan. I believe you could pay for it out of your HSA. The physical included a whole series of tests. After that you used your healthcare plan for normal office visits. It was geared toward seniors.
I switched doctors because I thought the upfront cost was excessive.
There’s a lot to be said about the combination of direct pay for the smaller stuff, and medical tourism for the larger stuff.
...and the Dems win though, as they will have totally torn apart our medical system.
Is this the guy who called into Rush thursday?
Why can’t DRs like this have their insurance ‘system’ qualify as a policy one now MUST have?
And if you buy a 5000.00 deductible catastrophic policy at 500.00/mo for a family of four, plus the 100.00 or so he’s charging concierge, that’s way better coverage.
so about 38 yrs ago....I know, a long time ago...I went in to the drs...got examined....got labs....got some meds....for $8....that was it....
And like saddam hussein, your family gets the bill for the bullet that was used.
This “concierge” is a ripoff. My doctor wants 600 patients to pay $180/month. That’s $1.3 million per year, plus office visit fees pushing it to over $1.5 million. I bet he doesn’t make that now plus he can get rid of 3 of 5 staff.
Basically they are asking for us to pay more for care were supposed to be getting all along.
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