Several readers here suggest refusing to take insurance if physicians are unhappy with reimbursement.

You can see how unrealistic that is, as this OB/GYN learns a difficult lesson when he plays hardball with the insurance companies:

While O’Flynn didn’t work for Premier-owned Miami Valley Hospital, his offices were located there. When Premier couldn’t strike a deal with the insurance company early this year, many of his patients likely assumed their insurance was no good at his office. His patient volume declined 18 percent this year.

O’Flynn took home about $24,000 for the first six months of this year and he joked about finding a better job at Trader Joe’s. But he’s decided not to turn to stocking free-range chicken to make rent just yet. In a couple of weeks, he will start a residency at a local hospital, training to become a general practitioner.