Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohiogirl
since the ACA (Obamacare) went into effect, premiums can no longer be based on pre-existing conditions, or lack of. Age and community banded only. Even different parts of Florida have different rates, possibly based on fraud or # of claims - and also possibly because yes, I agree that Florida doctors, or at least those around here, order more tests - as a new patient, I think that's partly because they don't know you and don't trust the medical records, or don't read them, and also older people (yes, us) have more stuff wrong with them - after all, we are aging, and everybody eventually gets something.
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Well said, all pretty much true. Fraud is a minor issue in private insurance, they're pretty good at weeding it out, unlike the government which is totally inept at it, but that's another issue. I've found that different states, and even different areas within a state tend to have their own "medical culture". A lot depends on the prevalence of litigation, which is higher in Florida, especially southeast FL. A lot depends on what your colleague down the street is doing. Also, believe it or not, patients LIKE tests. They tend to have more faith in a lab number or a smudge on an MRI than they do in physician's judgment . This is compounded by all the self-diagnosis promulgated by the internet. You're also right to point out aging populations have more health issues, and patient's with multiple problems that overlap as well as the polypharmacy that results are a challenge to even the best of us. Despite all that, the rate differential seemed excessive, especially in light of the plan averages so graciously presented by another poster