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Showing posts from March, 2015

The Frustrating Thing(s) About the US Health Insurance Marketplace - Part 3

This is part 3 of a 3 part series. Click to read Part 1 and Part 2 for background on the story. In parts 1 and 2, my friend Eva tries and eventually succeeds in getting an appointment so she can get treated for what turns out to be severe laryngitis and walking pneumonia, and how the market-based insurance system foils her attempts. At the end of the last post, I asked the question "What would have happened to Eva if I (or someone else with health system insider knowledge) hadn't been there to help her get connected to people who could see her that day? Scenario 1: She gets frustrated with not being able to find a primary care practice who can see her that day and so decides to go to the local public hospital emergency department (ED) --because they will take her insurance.  She goes to the ED and spends hours waiting to be seen because her case is considered non-urgent.  Eventually she is seen in the overcrowded ED and gets sent home in the middle of the night (or ne

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