There is yet another Obamacare problem hitting folks who are being forced to buy policies on the exchanges: doctors and hospitals located in a different state from the one where the policy is sold are not in the network. For the millions of people who live near the state line, that means that doctors on the other side of that line are being put off limits.
Let me give a real example of this problem. I live in Connecticut, just three miles from New York state. Over half of the doctors that may family sees are located in New York rather than Connecticut. None of these doctors are on any of the plans offered on the Obamacare exchange. Further, none of the hospitals in New York City (30 miles away) are on the plans either. What this means is that we will have to find new specialists to see who are both located in Connecticut and who are part of the network for the health plan. It also means that in the event that we need serious medical attention, we cannot go to the first class facilities in New York City, but we must stay in Connecticut. Under my current policy (from United Health), all of our doctors are in network except for one. All of the hospitals are in network as well with only one exception that I could find.
I would like to know what genius decided that it was acceptable for the network doctors and hospitals to be limited just to those that are in state. No one with even half a brain could have missed the problem for the people who live near the state line.
I have not checked other states besides Connecticut. My prediction, though, is if it happens here, it happens everywhere.
Let me give a real example of this problem. I live in Connecticut, just three miles from New York state. Over half of the doctors that may family sees are located in New York rather than Connecticut. None of these doctors are on any of the plans offered on the Obamacare exchange. Further, none of the hospitals in New York City (30 miles away) are on the plans either. What this means is that we will have to find new specialists to see who are both located in Connecticut and who are part of the network for the health plan. It also means that in the event that we need serious medical attention, we cannot go to the first class facilities in New York City, but we must stay in Connecticut. Under my current policy (from United Health), all of our doctors are in network except for one. All of the hospitals are in network as well with only one exception that I could find.
I would like to know what genius decided that it was acceptable for the network doctors and hospitals to be limited just to those that are in state. No one with even half a brain could have missed the problem for the people who live near the state line.
I have not checked other states besides Connecticut. My prediction, though, is if it happens here, it happens everywhere.
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