You mean it’s just me?
Twice for a broken wrist - both when it happened out of town and when I saw an specialist in Houston. Even the new dentist after we moved.
Y’all saying I can refuse to do the mugshot? Even if they don’t already have one of me like LF’s doctor does?
I have been asked to show my license, but nothing beyond that, and only with a new provider or a place where I go infrequently (mammogram comes to mind).
Earlier comments about hospital consolidation… that has been going on for more than 25 years in the suburbs of NYC.
Thanks.
Showing my license is so common I just have it in hand- at the bank, eg. I have to show my U staff ID to get a discount on whatever day it is, at the market. Or ride the bus for free, under the U agreement. And yes, I have to confirm who I am, at the doc office. Never occurred to me it was jail processing, (tho I have been fingerprinted for some work.) What I mind far more is being asked my age.
What exactly is the point of the photos though? I’ve never heard of it. Doesn’t happen where I live.
To prove you are who you say, to avoid another coming in under your name- something that did happen before ACA, for some uninsureds.
edit -Oh, nvm, you meant photos at the doc’s.
Btw, they also photograph my dog at the vet office. And greet her by name.
The only pictures I’ve ever had taken at doctors’ offices were Xrays. Oh, and that retina photo they take. But no ID photos.
The hospital consolidation going on in my area is nothing to do with failing rural hospitals (which is a real problem, especially for hospitals in non-expansion states). In my area it’s non-failing suburban hospitals; they consolidate and then raise prices. I hate Sutter.
Assumed it was for the reason that LF was describing… well, until she drifted off about her dog. That part doesn’t track very well.
No matter the reason, the last one they took was their last.
Can’t say this year’s thread is as upbeat and forward looking as previous years, but still helpful.
I am one more person who has never had my photo taken at a doctor’s office (nor have my dogs been subjected to the procedure either).
The health providers now always ask me to confirm address & date of birth every time I talk to them, but I assumed that was some sort of HIPAA thing.
At the lab and most MD offices, we present our DLicense & insurance card–no photos I can recall.
I now ask for photo ID. In 2015, I saw a LMSW a few times. The insurance company called me that there was a likelihood that someone else was using the ID. We had to go over a lot of info. It would have been much easier to confirm with a picture ID. If anyone doesn’t want their picture in my files, then I just look at it, and make a note.
When I go to my doc’s office I place my hand on a palm-reader type thing that (usually) recognizes me. When I volunteer at a public school I get my picture taken every time I check in, as does every other visitor. (My pic is on the visitor sticker that prints out and I stick it on my shirt).
And today’s the day for sign-up! Whoopeee! 
BCBS of Illinois PPO. Cost of bronze plan premium going up 71% for 2017. The coinsurance payments going up from 30% to 50% in most categories. I think they are trying to push people out of PPOs.
DH and I are in our early 60’s, generally healthy, self-employed and buy on the individual market.
This is absolute insanity. If I wasn’t afraid of a catastrophic illness/injury I would be inclined to skip the insurance and pay the penalty.
We are opting for the least expensive plan, a BCBS of Illinois HMO. We are not happy with the coverage or MDs in the narrow network.
Of course, we are revealing ourselves as “healthy” and likely “low-users” because we are choosing the least expensive plan with the highest out of pocket costs.
It’s painful.
Neither of my kids’ state’s offer a PPO individual plan…and didn’t for 2016 either.
In CA, all the 2016 ACA plans I viewed online were all HMO–no PPO plans. I suspect that hasn’t changed.
There are PPO options in my California area. I have one.
I want to point out something about premiums going up: health care in the US is very expensive, and costs are going up. If you say you are healthy and therefore should pay less, you are saying that people who have pre-existing conditions should pay more, lots more, or should be unable to buy insurance at any price. If you say that people with expensive health needs should get government supported high risk insurance, that saves no money at all-- you will still pay taxes to the government to fund those high risk pools. Historically, no high risk pool in the US was ever adequately funded. Typically, they had long waiting periods (as if someone could put their cancer or their diabetes or their cerebral palsy on hold for a year) or capped enrollment so that many high risk people couldn’t buy in at all. nIn theory, high risk pools might work, but in practice, they never did, and there is no reason to believe that will change.
Shifting costs doesn’t make costs go away. Denying care to some sick people makes costs go away, but most people are unwilling to do that, or at least they are unwilling to admit that they want to do that.
@HImom -I’m in Ca. I have a PPO as does my D. We both have coverage through Anthem BCross
I also have a PPO in California, but there’s an issue as to whether they will renew their contract with provider. If they don’t, I’m switching to Kaiser. The Bronze-level premiums for the PPO are higher than benchmark Silver, so I’m already paying +$50 over my base amount to get that plan.
I guess maybe it was D’s LA zip code? I’m not sure and didn’t pursue it.