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Thursday, January 10, 2013

Individual Health Insurance Coverage Versus Medi-Cal In California

By Daniel Abrams


Many California residents are concerned not only about the looming changes with medical care insurance exchanges, but also with the lack of local doctors - in particular those who accept Medi-Cal. Repayment rates are so low, and under the continued threat of being cut even farther, many suppliers are no longer accepting of new patients for fear of not being able to cover their overhead.

Individual health care insurance coverage already deductions the cash rates doctors routinely charge for services, from office visits to extensive lab tests. Having to deal with and maintain an office on decreased fees already has deterred many new doctors from entering into general practice as their area of expertise, and those still in the field are seeing more patients for less money.

Individual health insurance coverage provides confidence for those able to purchase non-public health plans. In contrast to Medi-Cal patients, they have better access to suppliers and (studies show) a better possibility of fast referrals and consultant care. Nonetheless with numerous lower revenue people attempting to keep medical insurance cover for themselves and their families, Medi-Cal is the only choice. Add to this the dissolution of Healthy Families, the individual medical care insurance coverage provided thru the state to youngsters under the age of eighteen, the amount of people in the Medi-Cal system is growing faster than the suppliers can treat. This leaves folks facing extremely long delays in getting vital medical care.

Individual health insurance policies offer a bit more hope for people that can get through non-public health insurers. Nonetheless more doctors still have to close their doors to new patients regardless, and fewer new doctors are entering into the family practice realm. Agricultural and isolated areas are being hit the hardest, and as our ageing population grows many are facing terrible implications. It can take days or weeks to get in to see a supplier, and sending them on for specialist visits or more extensive lab works can take even longer. Many cite the ?negotiated? Compensation fees for their decisions to choose money patients over those with individual health insurance plans, or become a non-participating supplier so that they can collect increased rates from patients. Medi-Cal patients face even worse eventualities, due to the even lower repayment rates. This will also impede the quality of care each patient receives as the doctor must move more patients thru their office each day solely to keep the doors open.

Many feel the base of the issue is with Medi-Cal, and that's where we should start vis healing the system. Keeping the rates stabilized, and perhaps working out higher compensation rates for more specialized care can keep doctors in the Medi-Cal system and providing good care to patients. Working on controlling fraudulent billing which drains the state of millions is another methodology to keep funds going to the right folks. Another is providing incentives to new doctors for entering into family and general practice fields and accepting individual health insurance plans. Keeping enough providers in the field, and ensuring they are able to keep their offices open and running efficiently might be the simplest answer.




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