[net.kids] Private doctors vs. HMOs

mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton) (12/29/85)

In article <2082@phri.UUCP> roy@phri.UUCP (Roy Smith) writes:
>> 2. Selecting a doctor vrs getting whoever is on duty.
>> 3. Why would an established doctor in private practice get involved with an
>> 	HMO?? Who is left?? ("New" doctors w/out a reputation or experience
>> 	maybe)

Not all HMO's are like the organizations everyone seems to be talking
about.  Our regular physician (whom we go to with Blue Cross) happens
to be affiliated with a local HMO on a contract basis.  We had the option
to go with this HMO recently - we could choose any private GP who was
affiliated with them.  We didn't because we have certain specialists we
currently go to, and would have had to switch to the GP for those services.
Since he does those services, he can't refer us to the specialists.

Our GP is not a new guy (but he's not old either) and already has an
established practice with lots of patients.  He only takes a limited
number of patients with this HMO, and his quota fills up quickly.

	Mark

cjdb@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (Charles Blair) (12/30/85)

Just a short comment on this discussion, for what it's worth. A couple
of years ago my wife, on the recommendation of a friend, decided to try
a "private" doctor with one of the best reputations in Chicago. He (a
gynaecologist) diagnosed her as having an ovarian cyst after a routine
checkup. She followed this up with a visit to her own gynaecologist at
the HMO, who told her she didn't have a cyst--she was constipated. The
second gynaecologist was right. I was reminded of this story because my
wife and I had been having a similar discussion with some friends about
the comparative worth of "private" physicians and HMO's just before
this incident occurred.

-- 
Charles Blair   			    ..!ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!cjdb
The University of Chicago		    lib.cb%chip@UChicago.Bitnet

nielsen@hplabsc.UUCP (Walter Nielsen) (01/04/86)

The main reason why I chose an HMO is that none of the non-HMO insurance
plans would cover 'well-baby' care.  That means that they will cover the
birth and any problems which may occur but will not cover for immunizations,
circumcision, and periodic checkups.  Those can add up ! 

Walter Nielsen
hplabs!nielsen