Monday, April 7, 2008

Massachusetts Doctors Stretched Thin

Another unintended consequence of RomneyCare

While the Massachusetts health care plan has not produced its promised universal coverage, there are more people signed up for health insurance than before the law took effect. Unfortunately for some of them, they are finding that health insurance does not necessarily equal the ability to see a doctor.

The article reporting this claims that many of these newly-insured people are seeking deferred care. It also talks about the assumptions that there would be cost savings when the newly-insured seek preventative care. What is not discussed is the tendency of people to overuse something if the cost to them is very small. Also not discussed is the fact that preventative care does not seem to save money in the long run. If more people are utilizing health care without this utilization producing promised cost savings, this would seem to provide yet another reason why the Massachusetts health plan is going to be much more expensive than anticipated.