Hey, Who Knew, Obamacare Isn’t Free

Post Hi-lite:
Well, new ailments may not be covered, but patients will be treated to some things they may not have bargained for, like an invasion of their privacy.
On top of all of that, doctors will be obligated — that’s right, obligated — to talk to you about things you may have no interest or need to talk about.
You may just want to have a pap smear or check your cholesterol. However, I am now mandated by the government to talk to you about your weight, exercise, family life, smoking, sexual abuse(!), and even to ask if you wear seat belts. And I am mandated to record your answers.
I am a physician. But I need to tell you to wear a seat belt and then record your answer.

How many people voted for Obama’s second term because they thought Obamacare would kick in and
health care would be free? Sure, after subsidies paid for by their fellow citizens, health insurance may be “free” for some (and for the rest of us it’s already more expensive), but it’s still going to cost them. Things like annual well visits are covered with no co-payment, but suppose someone brings up a new health problem during that “free” well visit? Dr. Peter Weiss explains that those patients will have to schedule a new appointment because new problems aren’t covered in well visits under Obamacare. Some patients are asking him to break the law, but he’s not about to do that.

This happened to me personally, as a patient, when I went for my physical. It is the law. If you are complaining of a new problem, then you have to reschedule, since Obamacare is very clear as to what is covered and what is not. Obamacare — intentionally — makes it as difficult to be seen and taken care of as possible.

Patients can be very tricky. I have had patients make an “annual” exam, only to want to discuss and be treated for another ailment. I can’t do it.

I can hear the complaints from you guys already — I become the bad guy. “Why don’t you just take care of the problem, and not bill out any different code? You’re a rich doctor, and we are entitled to free stuff.”

It doesn’t work that way. First, doctors are not rich and, like most of you, actually work terribly hard for a living. Second, Obamacare is the law — and as I said earlier, we are audited all the time now.

Also — I don’t ask for free gas when I go to the gas station, or ask for free food from the supermarket. Additionally, Obamacare has a 23% cut in Medicare reimbursement to doctors and hospitals.

Well, new ailments may not be covered, but patients will be treated to some things they may not have bargained for, like an invasion of their privacy.

On top of all of that, doctors will be obligated — that’s right, obligated — to talk to you about things you may have no interest or need to talk about.
You may just want to have a pap smear or check your cholesterol. However, I am now mandated by the government to talk to you about your weight, exercise, family life, smoking, sexual abuse(!), and even to ask if you wear seat belts. And I am mandated to record your answers.
I am a physician. But I need to tell you to wear a seat belt and then record your answer. 

Anyone with kids who has taken them to a doctor’s appointment in the last year or so knows this is already happening. Our kids are asked at every visit things like what fruits and vegetables they eat and whether or not there are guns in the house.
On the bright side, maybe the law will be amended to include free or reduced price Skype visits like they’re doing in the UK. What could the doctors possibly miss when doing exams through Skype? I say that should be an optional service for those who don’t feel paying for their own health is their responsibility.
Oh, and if you’re a smoker who thought health care would be free under Obamacare, think again. You could be stuck paying 50% higher premiums than your obese diabetic neighbor unless you enroll in a government approved smoking cessation program.
H/T Instapundit