There are some HMOs like that, but I've never belonged to one. I've belonged to 3 different PPOs and EPOs during the past 6 years and in my current one, I can see any doctor or specialist I like without requiring a referral. I pay 20 dollars per visit for the doctor and 25 for a specialist. If it is out of network, then I pay the difference betweent he negotiated cost and the charged cost, BUT there is a maximum out of pocket amount for the entire year as well. My costs will NEVER exceed that amount. Usually it is around 1500.00 for a single person and 2500.00 for a family. I don't know where you are getting your information except maybe from self-employed people purchasing their own insurance and bearing the full cost?




>SNIP>
>>Quality of all care. You're talking about coverage, I'm speaking of care. There is a difference. I can get any treatment, test, specialist exam etc at anytime I choose. That is not true in other countries where single-payer systems are in place.
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>Jake,
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>I didn't read beyond here. But you're mixing apples and oranges (yet) again...
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>Let's first agree that your statement is perfectly correct and accurate if you have the money to do what you want.
>But then let's look at it from the point-of-view of someone who is enrolled in a HMO or PPO, which I understand to be the majority of people who are insured.
>Suddenly you CANNOT go "get any treatment, test, specialist exam etc at anytime I choose" and if you do then it's on your own dime. All this at a cost of thousands of dollars per year for insurance per family.
>So while the "American system" does support your statement, it is actually applicable to a very small minority of the folks in America.
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>Our single-payor system is getting BETTER as regards wait times. More and more provincial system are being changed to be either provide the critical care pronto or ship the people to where they can get the required treatment. I wonder how many of your HMOs would do it that way?
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>You and many other Americans have been sold a bill of goods as regards how lousy a single-payor system is. It ain't perfect, but bankruptcy court is not going to be seeing me because my hospital bill cannot be paid.
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>SNIP