Second Presidential Debate

AGDee · #1 10-10-2008, 02:41 PM

The physicians in my health care system don't get paid $250K a year. They get around $150K a year. Therefore, they would not be in the group that would get taxed more.

AOII Angel · #2 10-10-2008, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGDee

The physicians in my health care system don't get paid $250K a year. They get around $150K a year. Therefore, they would not be in the group that would get taxed more.

It depends on what field of medicine they are practicing. Primary care MDs can make around that much or less...especially Pediatricians. Of course, their residencies are less rigorous and shorter than mine. (Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine- 3 year residencies; Surgery and Surgical Subspecialties 5-7 years, Radiology 5 years.) There are many physicians who make more than that...some make A LOT more!

AGDee · #3 10-10-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

It depends on what field of medicine they are practicing. Primary care MDs can make around that much or less...especially Pediatricians. Of course, their residencies are less rigorous and shorter than mine. (Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine- 3 year residencies; Surgery and Surgical Subspecialties 5-7 years, Radiology 5 years.) There are many physicians who make more than that...some make A LOT more!

Yeah, in our medical group, it's set up differently than other health systems where I've worked. They all get paid from health system itself, the health system does all the billing and gets the money directly and the health system provides the benefits, including the malpractice insurance. It's a massive medical group practice. They sacrifice some in pay, but they save overhead on office space, billing, insurance, etc.

AOII Angel · #4 10-10-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGDee

Yeah, in our medical group, it's set up differently than other health systems where I've worked. They all get paid from health system itself, the health system does all the billing and gets the money directly and the health system provides the benefits, including the malpractice insurance. It's a massive medical group practice. They sacrifice some in pay, but they save overhead on office space, billing, insurance, etc.

There are lots of ways to go into practice. A lot of hospitals are now buying up medical practices or hiring doctors to basically work as employees...something physicians in the past would NEVER have agreed to! My group is contracted by our hospital to provide radiology services. Radiology is also a field in high demand with a shortage of physicians...always a good mix for the radiologist!

epchick · #5 10-10-2008, 02:59 PM

So I have a question. My mom & her teacher friends were talking about Obama's health care plan yesterday, and one of them made the comment about how Obama's gonna tax people who can't afford health care.

I check on his website and it says that children HAVE to be covered, but it doesn't say anything about what would happen if you can't get the health coverage for your children.

Does anyone know about it?

ajuhdg · #6 10-10-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epchick

So I have a question. My mom & her teacher friends were talking about Obama's health care plan yesterday, and one of them made the comment about how Obama's gonna tax people who can't afford health care.

I check on his website and it says that children HAVE to be covered, but it doesn't say anything about what would happen if you can't get the health coverage for your children.

Does anyone know about it?

Does EVERY state have plans for children? I live in NY and there are plans specifically for children who's parents don't have group insurance.

As someone in the medical field, AOIIAngel (or anyone else) how do you see a government funded health care system affecting your field? Talking with my OB/GYN the other day, that was his biggest reason for NOT supporting Obama. I would hope that nobody chose one or the other based on taxes, I don't think ANYONE wants to pay more! LOL!

epchick · #7 10-10-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajuhdg

Does EVERY state have plans for children? I live in NY and there are plans specifically for children who's parents don't have group insurance.

As someone in the medical field, AOIIAngel (or anyone else) how do you see a government funded health care system affecting your field? Talking with my OB/GYN the other day, that was his biggest reason for NOT supporting Obama. I would hope that nobody chose one or the other based on taxes, I don't think ANYONE wants to pay more! LOL!

I know that there is like Medicaid and CHIP, but from what I understand you have to have a certain income level. If you go above that, then you become ineligible.

ETA: That has happened to my aunt before. My uncle is the sole provider for the family (2 adults and 3 kids, one being disabled), and he works for Denny's. My aunt tried to go back to work---for Walmart, and she was told that they couldn't be on the health care plan anymore because now they made too much money. So she stopped working so that the kids could stay on Medicaid/Medicare (whichever one is for the kids). Disability also is reduced for her youngest (who's legally deaf) when my uncle gets a higher paycheck than he should (like if he works overtime).

nittanyalum · #8 10-10-2008, 04:14 PM

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Originally Posted by ajuhdg

Just got back from the dentist, who have me some hope.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajuhdg

Talking with my OB/GYN the other day

I can't wait to hear what your opthamologist has to say about all this!

*crossing fingers for the jackpot, maybe a podiatrist appointment in the next few weeks*

AOII Angel · #9 10-10-2008, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajuhdg

I would hope that nobody chose one or the other based on taxes, I don't think ANYONE wants to pay more! LOL!

You'd be surprised. That is the main reason why other partner's in my group say they aren't voting for Obama. We're split about 50/50. In some areas, physicians are overwhelmingly Republican because of taxes and threatened socialized medicine. One thing I like to point out, though, is that the Republicans were the ones throwing physicians under the bus this past fall when they refused to pass a Medicare fix that would cut reimbursements to physicians by 10% (Medicare already has pretty crummy reimbursements that insurance companies use as a source to fix the prices they are willing to pay as well.) Finally, the Democrats came to the rescue at the urging of none other than Ted Kennedy!

PeppyGPhiB · #10 10-10-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

There are lots of ways to go into practice. A lot of hospitals are now buying up medical practices or hiring doctors to basically work as employees...something physicians in the past would NEVER have agreed to! My group is contracted by our hospital to provide radiology services. Radiology is also a field in high demand with a shortage of physicians...always a good mix for the radiologist!

My boyfriend's best friend AND his wife are both radiologists. They supposedly make in excess of $1 million per year.

AOII Angel · #11 10-10-2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

My boyfriend's best friend AND his wife are both radiologists. They supposedly make in excess of $1 million per year.

Probably do. Depending on where you work, you can make over $1 Mil a year. My area has much lower salaries due to competition. In South Louisiana, there is a Radiologist that was recruited from NYC who makes in excess of a million every year and has built up a huge practice. He owns his own plane and flies to NYC every weekend. At first, though, he had to work 24/7 because no one else was in the area. You get what you pay for.