The if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor, promise 😷

There is no doubt it was said, many times, by the President and others in the Administration. Here is one example:

June 6, 2009: “If you like the plan you have, you can keep it.  If you like the doctor you have, you can keep your doctor, too.  The only change you’ll see are falling costs as our reforms take hold.” President Obama

Needless to say he was overselling his plan for reform and he didn’t understand how health insurance works or exactly what he was selling. In addition, one of the flaws of Obamacare is forcing all plans to comply with a government dictated set of minimum benefits, especially health insurance offered on the individual market. That was unnecessary and what caused termination of some plans. 

Indirectly that caused some Americans to lose their doctor because he or she did not participate in an alternative plan. However, the frustrating and confusing relationship between your health insurance plan and your doctors of choice has nothing to do with Obamacare. 

When I was administering health benefits we occasionally switched insurance companies. Each time there were some doctors who did not participate in the new plan. Indeed my former employer made such a change this past January as well. Employees and their families were given a transition period, but ultimately were required to change doctors or pay out-of-network fees to use their old doctor. Such disruption of doctor-patient relationships (from a financial perspective) was routine long before Obamacare. 

In addition, doctors generally participate in several different health plans simultaneously, but they may also drop out of a plan or join a new one. Again, routine long before Obamacare. 

Obamacare fails to recognize these dynamics or at least communicate them accurately. Americans whether they have coverage through a government exchange plan, privately or through an employer will find there is no guarantee their doctor will always be available as an in-network provider. Sometimes the changes are doctor initiated and sometimes insurer initiated and, as I said, sometimes the employer causes such disruption. In all cases, the parties involved are attempting to get the best financial deal possible (be paid more or to pay less).  Of course, the patient can always choose to go to their doctor of choice and pay the bill … but no doubt most people don’t see it that way… somebody else should paying those bills while  I spend my money on more enjoyable things. 😇

The promises made during the selling of Obamacare were sadly some of the arrogance that was part of the process. These problems could have been avoided, but to entirely blame the Affordable Care Act for lack of stability in physician health plan participation is a Republican red herring.