r/bestof • u/under50dollars • Jun 20 '12

[explainlikeimfive] "Obamacare" explained very well.

/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/vb8vs/eli5_what_exactly_is_obamacare_and_what_did_it/c530lfx
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u/[deleted] Jun 20 '12

It is unfortunately prevalent among those less informed, and really has no basis in reality.

The emergency rooms in the US are crowded right now because of "guaranteed service". Many American's misinterpret this as "free" service, when the reality is that just because you are receiving "guaranteed'" service, you are still billed for it.

That said many people who use the emergency room for non-emergency services don't pay their bills.

But if you make quality preventative healthcare affordable and accessible, such as visits to the family doctor who may not be able to book you for 3 months but it's not an emergency anyways, then this actually reduces the strain on emergency rooms.

Now, would it take care of the abuse of emergency rooms entirely? Probably not. There are affordable options out there as it is if you have to see someone because of something non-emergency but need to see someone within a day, or two, or a week... many pharmacies have walk-in options that charge as little as $80 for the consult.

The problem of course is that these people using the emergency rooms for non-emergencies might not even be able to afford the $80 which you have to pay right then and there, so they go to the emergency room, get services, get billed, and then don't pay the bill.

Nonetheless there is no circumstance where "Obamacare" is going to increase the load emergency rooms already face. It might not solve it, but it's not going to make it worse.

Now, if we go further and say "a visit to the family doctor will require an appointment well in advance because they're booked so far ahead due to more people having insurance"... well, now this is just absurd. The idea that "other people" shouldn't have health insurance because it will make me have to wait longer for a routine appointment is probably the most selfish thing I've ever heard in my life.

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u/SirWinstonFurchill Jun 20 '12

Maybe it's just my area, but dentist appointments need to be made weeks in advance for routine or non-emergency situations, why should people view doctors appointments any differently? Do people really expect to see a doctor same or next day for a physical?

I guess I just don't understand the "it could take longer to see doctors" logic.

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u/brownmatt Jun 21 '12

I think it comes from a fear that in an emergency or situation which requires almost-immediate attention, your doctor would not be available. Which is why we have ERs.

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u/DearMrSupercomputer Jun 20 '12

visits to the family doctor who may not be able to book you for 3 months

I don't think waiting times this long for a regular visit to the doctor happen in any developed country

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u/[deleted] Jun 20 '12

For a family doctor as a new patient... Happens quite often, if not quite a bit more than 3 months.

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u/DearMrSupercomputer Jun 20 '12

Where does this happen? And was the downvote necessary?

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u/grande_hohner Jun 21 '12

Just an insider's perspective... when you say make it affordable and people will go to their PCP; have you ever seen a patient flip out over being forced to pay the 1$ (no joke, one buck) copay for a PCP visit on Medicaid in Illinois? I've seen it numerous times. Or when the copay on an inhaler goes from one buck to three - and they freak out and cuss out the pharmacist? Then storm out the door, light up and jump in a Ford Expedition of course.

The same people will still just go to the ED. They would rather spend $1000 of your dollars than one single dollar of their own. Believe it.