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Your assertion is that 30 million people don't go to the doctor or use medical services because they are uninsured (therefore less demand for doctors). I'll remind you that the issue is that these people ARE using medical services without being able to pay for it. I bet even YOU understand the ignorance of your assumption once you stop to think about it.
Correct.
So when these people are forced to carry coverage what should happen to hospital write-offs and the price loading put onto medical costs to cover those write-offs?
Sure, there is some subsidy but the alternative is that they just keep pushing their costs on me via hidden write-off price loading. I'm content to subsidize SOME of their insurance cost because currently I'm paying ALL of it.
The uninsured were still seeing doctors before being insured.
That's kinda where a lot of the equity and savings is in that previously, we were paying for their healthcare in the form of higher costs due to those write-offs. Hopefully we will see declining costs as those write-offs decrease....especially at the emergency room.
THere are a number of insurance papers written on this topic, but everyone is so partisan around here facts don't matter.
It seems like that it would be a lot cheaper to have someone go to see a regular doctor by appointment than to treat all of the uninsured in the emergency room, which has been the case.
Actually its because there are pretty much no other stable jobs left. The US economy is service oriented. We don't do R and D, manufacturing, or cutting edge stuff anymore hence people turn to high end service jobs like doctor, lawyer, pharmDs. Many of those fields are becoming completely oversaturated now. Docs have it a little better though since their numbers are regulated.
Actually its because there are pretty much no other stable jobs left. The US economy is service oriented. We don't do R and D, manufacturing, or cutting edge stuff anymore.
We still do a lot of R & D here, but most of the manufacturing has been outsourced. The fact that it is stable employment just underlines the point that Doctors are not going to be running out the door because of ObamaCare, and even if some do, there are plenty of people waiting in line to take their place.
These two articles give some perspective as to considerations when reading the OP.
To make positive assumptions about enrollment and obamacare as suggested in the OP is a bit of a stretch.
According to one article med schools show a preference that ignores test scores. Make you feel comfortable knowing a lesser qualified 'doc' will be caring for you ?
consider the influx of mid east docs fleeing conflict need to start a life here as an act of desperation not necessarily as a tribute to Obamacare.
It seems like that it would be a lot cheaper to have someone go to see a regular doctor by appointment than to treat all of the uninsured in the emergency room, which has been the case.
Yes, that is another possible benefit.
The irony is that the actuarial literature on this topic is somewhat generic but written from an auto insurance point of view. It applies to any general situation where you have a pool of insureds and uninsureds.
Now imagine that if you crash your car and have no insurance, and the auto repair place HAS to fix your car (aka emergency room) and you don't have to pay the bill. Can you imagine what repair shops would start having to charge those of us that HAVE car insurance?
The irony is that the actuarial literature on this topic is somewhat generic but written from an auto insurance point of view. It applies to any general situation where you have a pool of insureds and uninsureds.
Now imagine that if you crash your car and have no insurance, and the auto repair place HAS to fix your car (aka emergency room) and you don't have to pay the bill. Can you imagine what repair shops would start having to charge those of us that HAVE car insurance?
Hard to argue with that logic. Based on that logic prices should go down; however, I think hospitals will probably just keep more of the profit.
1. medical school applications are up because of the bad economy. Med school applications always increase in poor economic times (job security in medicine).
2. The impact of Obamacare on physician salaries is unknown as of this time, therefore I would not expect marked changes in medical school applications which were influenced by economics.
3. Pre-meds (those applying to med school) are just kids. My daughter is applying next year. Why would any rational adult follow the decisions of 21 year old kids and draw any meaningful conclusions?
I can tell you that if salaries fall, of course there will be fewer applicants. No one will incur $300K educational debt and not have means of paying it off. My daughter will have no debt when she completes training, therefore the economics of medicine are of little relative concern to her. The vast majority of other pre-med/med students are VERY CONCERNED about the future.
Obamacare will increase the number of medicaid patients. Answer- Just don't take medicaid patients. It is pretty simple. As the Supreme Court has ruled that slavery is illegal, the feds cannot force you to treat or see someone you don't want to see.
Obamacare will increase the number of medicaid patients. Answer- Just don't take medicaid patients. It is pretty simple. As the Supreme Court has ruled that slavery is illegal, the feds cannot force you to treat or see someone you don't want to see.
That's a very good point, a lot of providers don't take Medicaid patients right now due to low reimbursement rates and red-tape hassles. Most of those new folks added to Medicaid will not be able to find a doctor to treat them. I guess those unfortunate folks will go right back to the ER for treatment!
That's a very good point, a lot of providers don't take Medicaid patients right now due to low reimbursement rates and red-tape hassles. Most of those new folks added to Medicaid will not be able to find a doctor to treat them. I guess those unfortunate folks will go right back to the ER for treatment!
This is one of the reasons that Obamacare does little, if anything, for the "uninsured". One can have all the "benefits" that one wants, but they are worth little if you can't find anyone to see you.
If a practice took on Obamacare patients, they would be bankrupt in short order, simply compounding access problems for everyone.
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