Posted by Victoria on May 3, 1999, at 19:57:37
In reply to why good docs don't take insurance, posted by mila on May 2, 1999, at 22:48:02
It probably depends on the type of insurance. My doc, like lots, won't participate in HMOs because he doesn't want some insurance clerk telling him what kind of treatment is "approved" or "not approved" by the HMO. If you have fee-for-service insurance with a psychiatric benefit, many doc still don't want to do the billing and wait for the insurance company to pay (and sometimes be limited to the minimal amounts the ins. cos. will pay), but they should be willing to give you a bill with sufficient information for you get reimbursed by your insurance. Also, if you are employed, you may be able to set up a health care reimbursement account with your employer, which takes money out of your paycheck pre-tax and reimburses you for medical expenses. It's your money, but it goes further because it isn't taxed.
> I have recently been looking for a good Doctor after years of inferior treatment. I have found that the better doctors are not only more expensive (that is to be expected) but they are also unwilling to take insurance. I'm wondering why this is so. Is it just that they don't want to deal with the extra paper work?Or is there some more compelling reason? It seems a shame that decent psychiatric treatment should be accessible only to those who have the money.
poster:Victoria
thread:5521
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990501/msgs/5541.html