http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/09/emergency-care.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/09/emergency-care.html#comment-113183 Robert Berry Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:49:47 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/09/emergency-care.html#comment-113183 If we eliminated the tax exemption for low co-pay, low deductible insurance, fewer Americans would choose to purchase policies that had $100 ER co-pays. More would choose policies where either the co-pay was much higher or where they had to pay the full price of the ER visit unless they were admitted to the hospital in which case the co-pay is waived (as it is already with most commercial policies). If Americans had to pay full price for ER visits for minor problems, they would choose to other less expensive providers of care - such as urgent cares. Those with true emergencies would not be deterred from going to the ER since the fee would be waived. And at cash only practices such as mine, they would pay just $95 for the repair of a simple laceration rather than $500 at the local ER or $250 at the local urgent care. If we eliminated the tax exemption for low co-pay, low deductible insurance, fewer Americans would choose to purchase policies that had $100 ER co-pays. More would choose policies where either the co-pay was much higher or where they had to pay the full price of the ER visit unless they were admitted to the hospital in which case the co-pay is waived (as it is already with most commercial policies). If Americans had to pay full price for ER visits for minor problems, they would choose to other less expensive providers of care – such as urgent cares. Those with true emergencies would not be deterred from going to the ER since the fee would be waived. And at cash only practices such as mine, they would pay just $95 for the repair of a simple laceration rather than $500 at the local ER or $250 at the local urgent care.

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