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Econwatch
July 20, 2009 2:58 PM

Heath Care Promises: Can You Really Keep Your Dr.?

By
Jill Schlesinger
Topics
Financial Decoder
(AP)
In President Obama's weekly radio address, he said: "Under our proposal, if you like your doctor, you keep your doctor. If you like your current insurance, you keep that insurance. Period, end of story."

Really? What happens if your employer decides to change health plans? Isn't this akin to a company switching 401 (k) providers? There are countless instances of firms dumping one retirement plan sponsor for another, often less attractive plan. Sure, you, the retirement plan participant could opt not to use the company's plan, but the more likely scenario is that you would continue contributing to a plan that is not quite as good. My guess is that this is exactly what would happen in health care.

I'm not commenting about whether this is good or bad, rather that Americans deserve to know what the real cost of reforming health care will be–and make no mistake, there will be costs. How could it be otherwise? In order to overhaul the current messy and inefficient system, lots of people who are wealthy or currently have coverage, are going to pay a price. The price may be increased taxes, extra expenses for small business owners (which may affect their employees) or changes in care.

Instead of talking in absolutes, we deserve to hear the truth, something that rarely occurs in politics. I think that it's some version of this: the current system is obviously broken and we need to create a way to provide access to affordable health care for all Americans, but the price of doing so will be real and significant.


This post originally appeared The Financial Decoder blog on CBS MoneyWatch.com. Jill Schlesinger is the Editor-at-Large for CBS MoneyWatch.com. Prior to the launch of MoneyWatch, she was the Chief Investment Officer for an independent investment advisory firm. In her infancy, she was an options trader on the Commodities Exchange of New York.

  • Jill Schlesinger

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    Jill Schlesinger, CFP®, is the Editor-at-Large for CBS MoneyWatch. She covers the economy, markets, investing or anything else with a dollar sign. Prior to the launch of MoneyWatch in 2009, Jill was the chief investment officer for an independent investment advisory firm. In her infancy, she was an options trader on the Commodities Exchange of New York.

Add a Comment See all 18 Comments
by GodWeTrust July 22, 2009 3:24 AM EDT
Nothing to gain omg are you kidding?! The democraps have EVERYTHING to gain here!!!!!!!! MONEY MONEY MONEY!!! For their wallets not ours!!!!!!!!!! And if they would not have Dismissed bills Republicans tried to pass years ago for a common ground solution something better would have been done years ago! No Democraps want CONTROL they could care less what happens to us as a whole nation, as it will NOT affect them or their families!!! They are only seeking out to take over full control of the Goverment, the President and us! Democraps I have to take a ****, is it ok? Ok taking a bit far but not really if you think about it because I'm telling you this is social suicide! Again if this is such a great idea then why isn't it working for Canada?! Why is the Canadian ppl suing their own Goverment? Again I will tell you slow learners why, it's because it's killing them and making them suffer needlessly! Do you really want your child who say broke an arm or leg or worse was very deathly ill be put on a monthly waiting list just to see a General Practitioner? A Gp?! Only to need to have to see a specialist if they are diagnosed with cancer or something else life threatening! In cases as this Time is of the essence here! Waiting on a huge list with billions of others is NOT the answer, it's a suicide mission!
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by GodWeTrust July 22, 2009 2:45 AM EDT
Sky are you retarded? I think the Republicans are right on the money about this issue on health care. Obama and the DemoCRAPS i like to call them, want us to be a communist Nation. They want to tell us when where and who we see for our health issues, next they will want to tell us what we will eat and when....... Get ready to get in line for some soilent green ppl!!!!! Wake up! Do you all realize this bill will cost us Trillions of dollars?! And where will we a Nation that is already so far in the Red now. I'll tell you where they plan to get it, and that's from you and you and you! EVERYONE will not only suffer and be put on an Canadian based "controlled" healthcare plan and this will cause us heading straight to a suicide mission. Canadians, which is on this EXACT system are suffering and dying due to it. READ THE TRUTH!! You know how to google right?! Do you realize Canadians are coming to the US to get cancer treatment that would take them up to 6 months to a yr in thier own contry controlled healthsystem. That's what DemoCRAPS want! Ok we die from not being able to see a dr soon enogh is no joke, and if we die then they wont have to worry about us anymore! Why do you think medicade and medicare are so messed up now? BECAUSE THE GOVERMENT RUNS THIS TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! wake up!!! Do you really want this for say your child that all of a sudden becomes ill and you can't get him or her to a doctor right away and you have to be put on a waiting list?!! And that's just to see a GP And if they need a specialist they will have to wait another 6 months or so to see them, taking a solid year before a sick child gets help. Do you love your childeren? If you do you would not support this bill. I am waiting for our wall to be built that we so proudly helped Russia tear down. That wall is coming wait and see.
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by GodWeTrust July 22, 2009 3:10 AM EDT
Oh and one more thing, If you are going to say well I can't afford health care now and this is a good thing think again. Oh sure you might save a few bucks but only to compromise you or your child's health. But only to lose them so called "saved" dollars you will have to only pay back out to raised taxes and loss in more jobs because private companies and independent companies will have to close their doors and we will all be forced to try to find a new job which will be run by or taken over by the Goverment! Causing even more people to lose their homes and so on. So this is worth killing someone over? Cause that is exactly what is going to happen if we allow the Goverment and the DemoCRAPS to take over!!! Why in the H E double hockey sticks do you think Canada is suing their goverment now due to inadequate health care!!! People are suffering and dying over there do you read the news or even care to look into this new "health" care plan they are trying to force us to use!!!! Obviously not!!! Or you wouldn't be spewing out such idiodic comments you so obviously know NOTHING about! I for one do not want this as it is not a good idea, I happen to enjoy life and good health for me and my family and trying to cover up a problem with another problem is not the answer! First they need to force the GOVERMENT to Drop this crap they call insurance and fix medicare and medicade and make it more available for disabled persons and minorities as well as the ppl that can't otherwise afford health care. And make more doctors and hospitals accept it! Drop the crap with not wanting to pay for **** and actually do something for your fellow American and Pay up!!! God and you really think the very same Goverment who can't even hand out decent health Care now and make it close to impossible for disabled Americans to even get disability and Medicade/medicare now!!! The problem isn't our Heath care people it's the high prices of gas, the loss of jobs, the over taxed items, and high mortgage rates! This issue will not be fixed by this bill. It will only kill us and make matters worse than they already are. Like I said before, and making us pay out trillions of dollars is going to fix our economy how?! Geez louise wake up!!!
by scottgreene July 21, 2009 11:08 AM EDT
The product of health insurance is to provide you with medical coverage when you need it.
Unlike other businesses that need to provide you with their product in order to make any money, health insurance companies actually make more money for themselves when they restrict and do not pay claims.
In other words, they make more money when they do NOT provide the product that you have paid them for.

Read the 50 to 70 pages of your health insurance contract.
Pay particular attention to the section entitled ?limitations and exclusions?.
People?s health is not a product that needs to be left to the whims of money motivated CEO?s and stockholders.
If that is your thinking, you might as well have your police and fire department protection based on insurance premiums you pay.
Then you can go to the police and fire protection insurance page for ?limitations and exclusions? on whether or not the police or fire department would come out to your house in the event of an emergency.

The point is, you would never think of discriminating against another citizen if he was the victim of a fire or crime.
So why would you be ok with health insurance companies discriminating against fellow citizens who have pre-existing medical conditions?
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by rocketjl July 21, 2009 10:22 AM EDT
My only real fear is the government itself. I have been in the government in one form or another for about 50 years and I'm here to tell you that the government does not put people into jobs be cause they are qualified and dedicated. You will have to work with some government slug when you need something or have to file paperwork. People who manage offices and programs take their orders from people who watch budgets and politicians. The idea of a universal medical program is great. Only the government can screw up a good thing.
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by wogerwabbit July 20, 2009 10:35 PM EDT
The current insurance system stinks... something has to change one way or another. Enriching useless pencil pushers by allowing them to take 30% or more of our premiums for denying our claims is stupidity beyond reason. Let the money changers tighten their belts and compete with a government program and see how soon their multi-million dollar salaries and corporate jet vacations disappear. These criminals make more in a day than most of you right wing zombies make in a year and you'll follow them over the cliff like a rodent because Hannity, Beck and Limbaugh have you by the balls with their hysterical rants... millionaires playing your tune for fun and profit. You people are pathetic Americans.
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by jsd330 July 20, 2009 11:03 PM EDT
How can a for profit company compete with a not for profit entity, that every program it runs is in the red ? Think about it, bye bye freedom of choice. Page 16 of congress bill.
by Mapgirl1 July 20, 2009 9:34 PM EDT
I agree with AwwComeOn above. I want to know that I can still keep my docs. First spine surgery I had took almost a year to get it done, because the doc had to have me go through all matter of tests and such, at the end my doc told me he was sorry, but he could not do any surgery because the Insurance I had mandated that I had to do all these tests before I could have the surgery. My surgeon told me he knew with the 1st simple (cheap) x-ray, but his hands were tied.I want capitol hill to read what we would be getting and how much it will cost me. I am curious though, I work for the govt, and we have a lot of young people who don't have medical insurance. Most choose not to get any med insurance, they are healty and don't feel the need. My question is, if U-verse health comes to being, will govt make it madatory for govt employees to get this insurance, if they don't will they fine themselves? Will they still offer employees the 8-10 insurance plans that they now offer us? And will they fine the employees $1000 for not getting insurance? And frankly what is a "Closed Health Plan"? I really don't care what party is involved with this plan, I do want to know what the cost is going to be, I imagine it will be tiered according to wages earned, lowest get it free, then based on salary, the monthly premium will go up. This is so scary at this point, hey, no wonder people are getting laid off and companies are not hiring, no one knows what is going on or how it will affect their lives or business. The capitol hill gang are not giving us much to work with.

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by jsd330 July 20, 2009 10:55 PM EDT
Exactly what I have been saying and posting, I want to see how much it's going to cost me and what it's going to cover. Will it have co-pays? will it cover dental and vision? Face ti if you read page 16 of the 1000+ page bill, once the government plan is put into effect, private insurance will be phased out within a year or two. Then you will have no choice, you'll be stuck with the government plan like it or not. That's why Obamma wants to ram it thru, before the american people get to see what they are really getting.
by thusspokezara July 20, 2009 9:27 PM EDT
Obama needs to get tough with the AMA. He should tell them: Either you back my plan or I am gonna flood the USA with 300,000 foreign medical graduates in the next two years. That should get their attention.
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by thusspokezara July 20, 2009 9:24 PM EDT
Unless all doctors are FORCED to accept patients covered by the government plans, we are gonna end up with good health care for the rich and bad health care for the poor. Why should those greedy Park Avenue internists be allowed to refuse to see Medicaid patients? You want to practice medicine in this country? You have to accept all insurance plans. No ifs ands or buts.
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by ffoulkes-2009 July 21, 2009 2:13 AM EDT
The reason so many doctors and clinics refuse to accept medicaid is because of how the bureaucratic system of medicaid is about actually paying what they owe. They are very slow at paying, and that is IF they deem fit to pay. Why go through the hassle when private insurance companies are so much easier for their offices to deal with?
by vielmann July 20, 2009 7:19 PM EDT
Jill Schlessinker can guess all she wants. That's what righties do.. They guess that causing a needless war, while depriving Americans is their right.
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by lilsmom-2009 July 20, 2009 7:01 PM EDT
you must be kidding, you are arn't you? when I have a slight headache that keeps coming back occ. I am sent to hsopital for 2 tests, when they see something, I am sent back for a highlighted test. Turns out, all they had to do was read my history to see that when I was a child I had two skull fractures and that is what they saw, not bone lisions. What a waste of thousands of dollars. We need doctors that want to help people not make money and the hell with the patient.
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