Hundreds of new health insurance plans have been created to comply with the Health Care Reform (Obama Care) requirements. Price is, of course, a major consideration but you probably want to make sure you can continue to see your current doctor and use your local hospital.
An article in the Albany Times Union explored the problem.
“For now, it can even get tricky trying to find out if your doctor or nearby hospital participates in one of the new plans. Keeping your doctors and hospitals may be the next vexing challenge for Americans in the new health plans created by the Affordable Care Act.”
“President Barack Obama promised people they could keep their doctors. But in many states the new plans appear to offer a narrow choice of hospitals and doctors. Overall, it’s shaping up as less choice than what people get through Medicare or employer-based coverage. Also, it can get complicated tracking down which medical providers are in what plans.”
“Exchange plans are required to take all applicants, cover broad benefits and provide robust financial protection against catastrophic illness. In return for that, something else has to give. The result: limited choices and significant out-of-pocket costs through deductibles and copayments.”
Lesson Learned: After identifying a policy or policies that meet your medical needs and financial affordability call your doctors office and local hospital to confirm they participate in the plan.
Click here to read the full Times Union article “ Limited Patient Choice Next Issue” by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Holly Rameer, Associated Press.
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Doctor, Did You Wash Your Hands? ™ provides information to consumers on understanding, managing and navigating health care options.
Jonathan M. Metsch, Dr.P.H., is Clinical Professor, Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; and Adjunct Professor, Baruch College ( C.U.N.Y.), Rutgers School of Public Health, and Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration.
This blog shares general information about understanding and navigating the health care system. For specific medical advice about your own problems, issues and options talk to your personal physician.