4 Responses to “How Will A Universal Health Care System In America Effect Medical Salaries?”

1. 

   PacificR said on Monday, August 10, 2009, 15:08

   First of all a “universal” health care system most likely won’t take on the form of the Canadian health system where everyone pays a part of their salary into a fund that pays for all healthcare. Rather it will be a hybrid system that involves private insurance companies (as they have too much political power), payer expense (co-pays), and a governmental funded system. With this in mind I don’t see salaries of medical professionals droppinng because there are too many associations that will protect medical professionals from having their wages dropped. Historically, there have been presidents (Kennedy for instance) that have tried to implement some form of universal health care but it has always been opposed by health care associations and have never been implemented into the system. The hybrid system is the only form that seems even possible and I don’t foresee salaries dropping. If anything, medical professionals will possibly have to take on a larger number patients (especially in the first few years).
   While I believe that everyone should have access to health care, it seems like a daunting task that will take a while, especially to work out the kinks. I think it could be possible to have everyone covered by insurance, but has had many fall-outs over the years. This is a commonly heated debate about and is always of concern.
   Hope this helps.
2. 

   John de Witt said on Monday, August 10, 2009, 16:26

   It’s incredibly more complicated than people realize, and the idea of the government willingly rationing health care for the majority of the population is something that’s traditionally been avoided by politicians who’d like to be re-elected.
   If the economy were running along strongly, it’s possible we could divert a quarter of our GDP to health care, pay nurses considerably more than they’re generally paid now, and get it done. Doctors aren’t going to make substantially less under any system. They’re smart people and will simply game the system, whatever it turns out to be.
   Doctors certainly can’t be busier or more “efficient” than now (that “efficient” tag is one politicians and insurance people like to use to fool you, as if medical care were the equivalent of manufacturing widgets). Already it’s normal to do in two office visits what could be done in one, and there’s nothing an insurer can do to stop that. The cost-saving measures used by both the government and private insurers always have the predictable result of making care more fragmented and more expensive.
3. 

   Pangolin said on Monday, August 10, 2009, 21:59

   One man, even if he is the president, isn’t going to be able to change things overnight.
   I predict that a private alternative to anything socialized will pop up very quickly, like in the UK, only it will probably be more affordable than their private medical care is.
   As it is now, insurance companies screw their subscribers and physicians in order to please their shareholders, and THAT is where the focus needs to be for change. I’m dealing with both ends of this, as my husband was in a car crash and had surgery as a result. I know I’ll be dealing with the nightmare of getting them to pay what they are contracted to pay for a long time. As a physician, I am constantly fighting on my patients’ behalf to get their insurances to pay what they owe.
   There are other areas, such as the high cost of heroic but futile end-of-life care that should also be dealt with. We need to rein in the system somewhat, but not to extremes.
   That’s my $0.02
4. 

   Homegirl said on Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 2:39

   I think its in the cards. The US is having a serious healthcare crisis. When I lived in Miami, my husband and I paid $350 a month for health insurance, our medications cost $350 a month (we are both diabetic and those prices were just the copayments), our doctor visits were $30 a piece and specialists visits were $50 a piece. We NEVER got our eye exams, foot exams, etc because we just couldn’t afford it. I needed a simple surgery and it was going to cost me out of pocket $750.00. Luckily, after testing, the surgery wasn’t needed after all.
   We moved to New Mexico where we qualified for state coverage insurance . This is similar to a nationalized plan. Due to our income, we don’t have to pay premiums or copayments. Our medications cost us $24 a month total combined. Obviously, due to this we have a MUCH better standard of living.
   To answer your questions- doctors will be busier because more people will be able to see them. However, there will be LESS ER visits from the working poor who can’t pay the bill, so there will be money saved there.
   About doctors salaries. … doctors are reimbursed through a system of services paid at nationally recognized standards. I’m studying medical billing and coding so I understand this system. I don’t believe that doctors will be paid less per physical exam, or other procedures they perform in office. It is possible that the allowable charges for specific procedures could be reduced somewhat, but I doubt that will happen.
   I’ve seen micro-socialized medicine in the military where the govt controls it. People do wait for elective surgeries. It can be difficult to get a doctors appointment. In New Mexico, the way our governor (who I’m quite enamoured w/) set things up, there is program that is a Medicare hybrid plan and it’s AWESOME! You pay for the plan according to income levels. It is basic care but covers quite a bit actually. I make doctors appointments and get in just as easily if I had any commercial plan.
   In my opinion, I think there should be an optional National plan that ANYONE can get. It should be a BASIC plan and extremely affordable based on income. Then, each state should have a plan that ANYONE can join w/ affordable premiums. People could choose from the Natl or State plans or choose private insurance. I feel that it should be MANDATED that every American has to have health coverage or suffer tax consequences due to not being insured. The uninsured costs all of us a lot of money and burden the system. However, coverage MUST be affordable for all. For the poor, it should be free, then depending on income and household size and income discegards, the amount one pays should go up to a cap that is both reasonable and affordable.
   Just my thoughts. I think some form of socialized medicine is needed in the US.