Name:   copperline - Subject:   Incoherent rant Date:   6/27/2017 6:13:21 PM

It's not true that MD's can stop accepting new Medicare patients any time they choose, but they can stop accepting ANY new patients.... they can't selectively refuse those with Medicare.    There are a relative few MD's who refuse Medicare patients.    On the other hand, they can decline Medicaid patients and many do because of low reimbursement rates.  

Yes, it takes a staff of people to file insurance claims.   This is because there are so many different policies (Medicare and Commercial policies) and you have to have staff familiar with the complex details of each of them.... the fact tht there is so much variablity in the way claims are processed is one of the largest wastes in the system, IMO.      The administrative costs of filing and paying claims in the insurance industry means that 50% of each premium dollar goes to pay for these administrative costs, not healthcare services.   I think that's where a Single Payer system would start to find it's cost savings.   Uniform coverages, uniform guidelines for processing.

A single payer plan would make claim processes uniform and require fewer people to file claims and refile rejected claims.  

Your mother is free to use 100% commericial medical insurance, or pay cash and not use Medicare.    Why are you forcing her to suffer by using socialized medicine with substandard care?   Forget Medicare, write a check.   The MD & Hospital will appreciate it, she will get her health care and you will feel better.