Surprise At Doctor's Office

[Papa]

I hope this is being posted in the right area. This is not at a VA medical office, but at a private practice. I have been going to this office for medical care since 1973. My Doctor told me that if my wife and I want to remain with him, we would have to pay him $1500.00 each per year over and above his medical fees. He would limit his patient load to 450, and give us access to him 24/7. Sometimes, a man has to do something that he does not want to do, in my case I did not want to go to a VA medical facility for care, but with the way things are looking in the private medical world, I may not have a choice.

Papa

[Notorious Kelly]

wow- that's wild. sounds like a retainer for an attorney.

[Testvet]

I have read in the past where some doctors have done this, it gives the patients access to a doctor when ever they want it, it ensures the doctor of a steady patient load and they do not take on "new patients" once they fill the 450 slots it gives them a secure financial base and you can bet your sweet bippy they will bill your insurance company for every nickel they can but few of us can afford to pay 1500 annual just for access to a certain doctor above and beyond our insurance policies

I quit using private doctors in 2000 when I lost my Blue Cross and I have been lucky in having excellent docs at the VA, the one time I did have an emergency my wife had the ambulance take me to the nearest emergency room and we told them to get me transferred to the VA as soon as they got me stabilized I was lucky in that the VA did pay those bills but when it comes to ER care when you are having a heart attack you go to the nearest hospital and worry about the bills later living is the primary goal at that point I would rather be alive and arguing about who is going to pay the bill than waste an hour on the road getting to the VAMC in Augusta not knowing if I will live long enough to get there

I don't make enough to pay a doc a 1500 retainer maybe some lawyers and other professionals do but VA comp and SSD is not enough to spend that kind of money unless he can make you look and feel 25 for ever which no one can

[jbasser]

That may be considered a form of medical extortion since these Docs have written agreements with insurance companies and medicare to treat you for their reduced rate scale.

They want you tp anty up and pay 1500 extra per year. Is that for family of just you?

Personally I would tell him thanks for the years of service but take a flying leap.

There are other Doctors out there, one also doesnt have to use the VA,

I bet this wouldnt happen in Harlan County.

John

[Testvet]

I have read about it in Seattle, San Francisco etc places like that it is usually per person I don't know if they have a family rate or not it's a way of having a steady patient load without having to deal with medicare patients etc they usually only want patients with good insurance

[carlie]

If I made a choice to pay the $1500.00 then I would also go into their office

to have them cut a hang nail - you know, professionally, as if I did it myself

I might get an infection.

In other words I'd be damned sure to get my money's worth.

2 am headache - call doctor, 10 pm sore throat - call doctor, etc...

[john999]

I would be getting another doctor. $1500 over and above his actual fees? No way!

[chr49]

I hope this is being posted in the right area. This is not at a VA medical office, but at a private practice. I have been going to this office for medical care since 1973. My Doctor told me that if my wife and I want to remain with him, we would have to pay him $1500.00 each per year over and above his medical fees. He would limit his patient load to 450, and give us access to him 24/7. Sometimes, a man has to do something that he does not want to do, in my case I did not want to go to a VA medical facility for care, but with the way things are looking in the private medical world, I may not have a choice.

Papa

Sorry, I doubt I would ever consider anything like this, regardless of how good he/she is. To me it's simply a good way for doctors to get lazy and get paid for a service they don't intend to give. It's a win, win for him/her and doesn't give the patient any more care or services than he's had in the past. I think it's just another way to rape people that are having trouble surviving this economy already. That's just my opinion.

Money wise, this doctor is assured of making $675000 per year without doing a thing...once he reaches 450 patients. Since he/she is an established physician the only difficulty is reaching that magic number and his current patients will most like do it since they are established with him and will fear finding somebody that will treat them right. Then he gets to bill the insurance company you are also paying for, that should take care of his practice running costs, plus some. He most likely won't need as many employees to handle his smaller work load...more money in his pocket. I realize malpractice insurance isn't cheap these days, but I really think this is an outrageous. Makes me wonder what this world is turning into!

Edited December 8, 2010 by chr49 (see edit history)

[Vync]

Papa,

Would you still have to pay a co-pay when you see the doc, assuming you have a co-pay?

[Testvet]

Vync I would hope not you could go 2 x a month and still not get your moneys worth at 1500 a year 1500/26 would be 57.86 a visit I see my VA doc about twice a year that would be 750.00 a visit I can't see it

[Papa]

There is no way that I will do this. It is $3000.00 for both me and the wife. We would still have to pay co-pays, etc. My wife will need to find another doctor. I hate to go to the VA, and if I can not find a civilian doctor I just may have to. Ironically, one of my best tax clients is a VA Doctor, but I keep it professional. But, I do trust him. I can understand why my current doctor is doing this, 2000+patients, works 7 days a week, 0530 to 10:30 at night, no family life, can not give people the care they need, so much new forms and regs from the feds , will not take medicare patients anymore. Like he said, medical care is changing, and not for the best.

Papa

Edited December 9, 2010 by carlie
edited for political reasons (see edit history)

[LarryJ]

Yes, there is a group of doctors located in the hospital/medical complex where my Wife works that have initiated this type of practice. It's called "Concierge Medical Care". It is their answer to the "round-the-clock" medical practice that they have been living with since med school. I do not blame them, they are all very good doctors. By doing this they were able to include internal medicine, family practice, general surgeons, dermatologist, even an oral surgeon and a couple of dentists. And, when you call them, or the ER calls them at 2am...........SOMEBODY shows up, and you're not left with whomever the nurse could find at that time of the AM.

There are several of these practices popping up around.

[Pete53]

Actually for some it would be a good deal and no more dealing with Insurance. If it includes all the medical tests and stuff I need that is.

I think this would work better for people who are retired but not old enough for Medicare.