Americans cut back on doctor visits

[SocialistLez]

Is this really surprising?

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/insurance/article/110187/americans-cut-back-on-doctor-visits?mod=insurance-health

"Insured Americans are using fewer medical services, raising questions about whether patients are consuming less health care as they pick up a greater share of the costs.

The drop in usage is showing up as health-care companies report financial results. Insurers, lab-testing companies, hospitals, and doctor-billing concerns say that patient visits, drug prescriptions, and procedures were down in the second quarter from year-ago levels.

"People just aren't using health care like they have," said Wayne DeVeydt, WellPoint Inc.'s chief financial officer, in an interview Wednesday. "Utilization is lower than we expected, and it's unusual."

Others say that consumers are beginning to forgo elective procedures like knee replacements. "We have a very weak economy and it's just a different environment for the elective parts of health care," said Paul Ginsburg, a health economist who runs the Center for Studying Health System Change and has been analyzing health-company earnings. But "this could go beyond the recession. Being a less aggressive consumer of health care is here to stay."

Continued weak demand could eventually put downward pressure on spiralling health-care costs, a long-sought goal of policy makers. It could also force insurers to lower premiums.

The new trend comes amid a broader drop in health-care use as more Americans lose their jobs and their health insurance. Such cutbacks have happened before in recessions, but the drop seems to be more pronounced this time, industry analysts say."

[Oregone]

1. Should people really be "consumers" of health care

The language in this article gets under my skin. The longer people think in these terms, the longer itll be before America sees real health care reform

[Newest Reality]

2. I agree

The article smacks with Newspeak.

And what is with this: "Utilization is lower than we expected, and it's unusual."

It may be "unusual" to them, but what kind of bubble/lie are they living in? If they don't know the how and why the people in this industry are naive and incompetent, if they, as I suspect, are fully aware, then their perspective is propaganda designed to influence perception.

[asdjrocky]

3. I've cut back to zero.

Nil. None.

[Winterblues]

4. If the government's main purpose is to "Maintain the health and Welfare of the Nation"

It isn't doing the job..

[femmocrat]

5. Don't know if this is just coincidental, but...

I have spent a lot of time at the doctor's office recently due to an injury. The waiting room is always empty or nearly so.

I used to sit and wait in a packed room for 45 minutes to an hour to see my doctor, then another 15-20 minutes wait in the examining room. Not this year. I have noticed this "phenomenon" for about a year now. Anyone else?

[upi402]

6. My Dr told me that yesterday

She said it's everywhere and that it's a new development.

I understand. She tried to get me on an inhaler. But I go to the gym 4 days a week and can run for miles. WTF, I'm not going to lay out a co-pay for that crap! I have no problem breathing even while running.

My wife is from a developing country and has zero confidence in Dr's here. My whole family has used medical care in that developing country and we all feel it's superior in every way. And VERY cheap, even when we pay the foreigner rates.

But my Dr thinks America has lost the plot completely and thinks we need a National Recovery Act II -which Obama is against.

[closeupready]

7. They'll just raise prices, you watch.

n/t

[HockeyMom]

8. with a $3,500 deductible from job's

health insurance, I am going to have to be on death's doorstep before I go to a doctor.

[raccoon]

10. Jeez louise, I thought only individual policies had deductibles like that! nt

[SocialistLez]

13. Nope. Our family plan deductible is $3,000. ::sigh::

[bemildred]

9. Good. nt

[Historic NY]

11. I just canceled a 2nd appointment.........why because its not necessary.

[SocialistLez]

14. I stopped seeing my dermatologist years ago because the appointsments were unncessary

I only paid the co-pay when I went but I felt it was a waste of time.
I can call in and tell you if the meds are working. If they are, extend the prescription.
9 times out of ten the meds were working. He just wanted me to come in so he could charge my insurance company $200+ for a 15 minute appointment.

My insurance company would be better off giving me $220 and letting me buy products at the store for my acne or paying for my acne meds for MONTHS.

[area51]

12. No, it's not surprising.

This country's health care system is a little like the book "To Serve Man"; it's not designed to protect our most precious resource -- people.

Each day, 273 people die due to lack of health care in the U.S.

We need single-payer health care, not a welfare bailout for the serial-killer insurance agencies.