22nd December 2007, 09:36 am
That of every health insurance premium paid: 24% goes to doctors; 30% goes to hospitals and free-standing clinics; 16% goes for prescription drugs; and 11% goes for administrative costs. That of every health insurance premium paid, 3% represents the insurance company profits. In 2004, 2005, and 2006 the increase in employers’ health care costs was greater (by a margin of about 12% to 7%) than the increase for employees. 2007 was the first year that the increase for employees was greater (about 12%) than it was for employers (about 7%). (Source: Business Week – December 10, 2007)
doc:
A PATIENT MUST PAY A HIGHER COST FOR THEIR COVERAGE, THEIR DEDUCTABLES HAVE DOUBLED, THEIR OUT OF POCKET COST ARE 3 x WHAT THEY WERE IN 2007. THEIR COST OF PRESCRIPTIONS HAVE INCREASED. AND MORE AND MORE TESTS, ETC ARE CALLED ELECTIVES BECAUSE THE INSURANCE COMPANIES REFUSE TO PAY FOR THEM. AND NOW SOME DOCTORS WANT AN UPFRONT FEE OF $1500 EACH YEAR. WHY DID SOMEONE BECAME A DOCTOR……TO MAKE AS MUCH MONEY FOR LESS TIME. GIVE ME A BREAK “GREAT” DOCTORS ARE NOT IN IT FOR JUST THE MONEY. AS FAR AS A DOCTOR SAYING THEY WANT TO GIVE MORE TIME TO THEIR PATIENTS, GIVE ME A BREAK. WHAT THEY “REALLY WANT” IS THEIR MONEY AND THEIR FREE TIME. NO WONDER WE MAY NEED THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NO DESIRE FOR MORE GOVERNMENT.
10 February 2008, 12:09 pmThomas W. LaGrelius MD:
My responce to doc: above is a bit lengthy, but can be found at:
http://www.skyparkpfc.com/Form/sermon_version_6%20_3_.pdf
The short answer is that doctors go to school and train 100 hours a week getting straight As in the toughest curriculum immaginable for 11-15 years past high school accumulating an average of $250,000 in debt, forgoing 401K plans and a normal social life to enter practice in their mid thirties sincerely committed to the care of patients. Making large amounts of money was never our goal. We then discover they we have been forced to work for the wrong employer, that is government and health plans whose goal is to pay us as little as possible while expecting us to continue to work 100 hour weeks to keep the doors open. Physician and medical group bankrubcy has become common and many many doctors leave practice to do something else that is actually profitable. The talent and intelligence of a typical doctor can be put to many profitable uses beleive me. Both patients and doctors have been hurt baddly by the current “system” that extracts 40% of your premioum or tax money and returns you an unrecognizable product you cannot effectively and easily use. I invite you to read the link above for details.
Thomas W. LaGrelius, MD, FAAFP
10 February 2008, 3:42 pmPresident, SIMPD (formerly the Concierge Doctors Association)
Owner, Skypark Preferred Family Care http://www.skyparkpfc.com