NH - 2 Hospitals, several medical offices to refuse Medicaid (state funded insurance)

Jennifer - posted on 10/29/2011

If it was the only hospital in the area's that did this, I'd have a problem. I have private insurance and have some restrictions, and here many doctors do not accept state insurance. The hospital does, but it's the only one here! The only problem I have with state insurance not being taken by many doctors is that it is usually the crappy doctors that accept it, and it took me a long time to find a good one.(actually, she is a nurse practioner) Doctors should be able to say they do not want the headaches of dealing with state red tape and, well. many people who are on it are a pain in the rear.(my kids are on it, so don't take that to mean ALL are!)

Katherine - posted on 10/29/2011

That is really scary for me. I'm on medicaid and if I lost it, I'd be screwed. Like everyone said UHC.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 10/29/2011

Jenny, you forgot that Canadian UHC will pay a US doctor to come to you or pay for you to see a US doctor/specialist if a Canadian one isn't available.

When I had insurance back in New York I wasn't completely limited to who I got to see either. It just depends on what doctor accepts your insurance.

Jenny - posted on 10/29/2011

That's insane. I can go to any doctor or hospital in the country and be treated. Yay UHC!

Sherri - posted on 10/29/2011

I pay for my insurance and never am I ever dictated who I can see or not see.

Cathy - posted on 10/29/2011

If people who pay for their insurance are dictated to which doctors they can see, then I fail to see how dictating to someone with medicaid who they can see is unfair.

Kelly - posted on 10/29/2011

Meggy, These hospitals are still required to provide basic emergency treatment regardless of ability to pay, they just no longer accept Medicaid as a form of payment, so those using Medicaid to pay the bill would either be responsible for paying the bill out of pocket, or would need to find another doctor. It is the same thing people with regular insurance or no insurance go through all the time.

I still don't see the reason for the upset.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 10/28/2011

It's illegal in New York State to turn anyone away because of lack of medical insurance. The patients rights are posted prominently in each hospital in spanish and english.

I definately believe someone has to do something fast

Kelly - posted on 10/28/2011

Okay, my little rant didn't propose any solutions, so this is what I would do to fix it.

According to information published by the White House Middle Class Task Force, the average Middle Class family spends 9% of their pre-tax income on healthcare, including insurance premiums and actual care. Those offered employer sponsored insurance spend an average of 8%, while those forced to buy private insurance spend an average of 22% of their income.

To remedy the Medicaid/Uninsured Americans issue, it seems plausible to raise taxes across the board by 10%, open Medicaid to everyone, and simply do away with the private insurance industry all together, or keep it as a program similar to private schools--citizens still pay into the public healthcare program and have access, but are able to purchase additional insurance outside of that, just like citizens pay into the public school system, but are able to pay for private schools as well.

By raising the tax by 10%, Medicaid would be profitable enough to pay doctors a reasonable amount for services, thus allowing them to care for Medicaid patients (which would be everyone) without encountering financial burden of their own.

10% is a reasonable amount to raise the tax because most people are already spending that on healthcare anyway. This way, they are just paying into a single, taxpayer funded, not-for-profit program, whereas now they are paying into a for-profit insurance program. One big agency will reduce redundancies, and thus cut cost, it will also disperse risk more evenly, thus lowering rates for everyone.

Kelly - posted on 10/28/2011

I'm not really surprised at all. There are several hospitals and doctors' offices here that do not accept Medicaid.

Uninsured people have been being turned away from these hospitals and doctors for years and no one cares, so why should there be some uproar about people using Medicaid being turned away? In fact, even if you have insurance, non-state-paid insurance, there are always doctors and hospitals that do not accept that insurance. Everyone is still entitled to the same emergency care, whether they can pay or not, have Medicaid or not, or have insurance or not, they just have to find another doctor for more specialized care--it's nothing new.

Several doctors that do not accept Medicaid live on my street and are close friends. Unfortunately, Medicaid, in it's current state, reimburses doctors so little for their services that they are forced to raise rates for others and see far more patients than they are capable of seeing lowering quality standards to critical levels and resulting in lawsuits. Docs have a right to make a living too, and considering the time, effort, and debt they put in to do what they do, it should be a good living. Most doctors I know put in 60+ hours a week to earn what my husband earns in 35. Give them a break!

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 10/28/2011

That's bloody ridiculous. I have nothing else to add right now. BUt it's sad that people are going to be turned away soon because of budget cuts. Yet another reason why the US needs UHC