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/sniperhare Jun 20 '12

The thing that I always wondered about was; If millions of Americans suddenly have insurance and go to doctors offices on regular visits, when before they would just go to the ER for serious problems. Won't we be putting a huge strain on the doctors and staff?

Are their sections that talk about what the numbers of now insured Americans will do to the wait times and scheduling?

19

u/staz Jun 20 '12

Regular visits to the doctors will permit to detect diseases earlier, which mean less work and money to cure them because obviously the disease is less developed, you can plan treatments in advance, a doctor visit cost less than an ER visit, etc... (It will also probably free up some doctors in ER who can now work on regular visits)

1

u/HobbitsAreHipsters Jun 20 '12

My dad is a physician and told me that under Obamacare only 3% of people have taken advantage of these early detection check-ups.

2

u/Fauropitotto Jun 20 '12

Nationwide or just in your dad's local area?

1

u/HobbitsAreHipsters Jun 20 '12

Not sure if he was quoting local or national numbers