On July 22,2013, I received a letter from my primary care provider announcing the closing of his practice as an internist. It said in part – “The changing face of primary care being mandated by our nation’s insurance industry has created a practice environment that I cannot accept in good conscious as a model by which to care for you as an Internist.” So now I am out here looking for a new primary care physician, and it’s getting harder and harder. This physician also said in his letter, “many of the changes in the healthcare industry have created anxiety for those seeking primary care provider,” and this is certainly true.
In addition to my search for a new primary care physician, I am dealing with changes being mandated by my employer’s health insurance benefits plan. As of this year, my employer is mandated that all employees and their covered spouse participate in biometric screening and an intrusive health risk assessment survey in order to be eligible to be covered by health insurance. Health insurance premiums are then based on the employees biometric screen results. I don’t object to paying more in insurance premiums either based on those results or for not participating in the screening and survey, however, the second option (higher premiums for non-participation in the screening) was not provided. Turning over personal health information to the employer is mandated if you want insurance. The government is clearly becoming too intrusive into our personal lives because of Obamacare! Final premium rates have not been published yet, but early indications are that my rate may go up as much as 209% over the current 2013 rate. It is all so very depressing.
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