[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by Villageswimmer

I agree with you about the speculation and I’m sorry to see his practice suffer. But are you sure Dr. Casper hasn’t disclosed the reason by virtue of his offering to give a copy of UHCs letter upon request? Has anyone on this forum seen it?

Surely the reason for dropping him is in that letter. I still think it would have been cleaner and perhaps stifle rumors had it been posted on his site with the other document.

In his defense, I believe this is all very new. He probably never experienced a crisis like this and didn’t know how best to handle it.

Many seasonal residents are not able to go to his office and view the letter from UHC. As one of those people, I am disappointed that Dr Casper seems to be a bit evasive in this regard. UHC has 41 local Dermatologists on their web site with just two of those in Casper’s office so it would be very interesting to know what the 39 other Dermatologists are doing that ingratiates them with UHC while Alliant is being dropped. In this case Silence is not golden.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by JoMar

I have friends and relatives in Canada, have talked to several Villagers from England...they have stated that the socialized medical they live under works well if they are healthy and young but as they get older it becomes less wonderful. Plus, the tax burden is onerous.

I'm from Canada, and socialized medicine works equally well for the young and for seniors.
I just had two knee replacements. I also had cataract surgery on both eyes.
The price can't be beat.
I have the doctor of my choice and I can see her anytime.
I am referred to a specialist if I need it or at my request.
Yes, we pay high taxes and we don't mind.
It's a fair way to ensure health care is available for all.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

I'm from Canada, and socialized medicine works equally well for the young and for seniors.
I just had two knee replacements. I also had cataract surgery on both eyes.
The price can't be beat.
I have the doctor of my choice and I can see her anytime.
I am referred to a specialist if I need it or at my request.
Yes, we pay high taxes and we don't mind.
It's a fair way to ensure health care is available for all.

Sadly, that's the real issue.

Your country (and every other developed one on this rock), have determined that its citizens deserve health care.

A large part of our nation have the attitude of..."I got mine, too bad for you."

And driving this is the need to produce a profit...which has just so aptly been demonstrated by UHC.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

Sadly, that's the real issue.

Your country (and every other developed one on this rock), have determined that its citizens deserve health care.

A large part of our nation have the attitude of..."I got mine, too bad for you."

And driving this is the need to produce a profit...which has just so aptly been demonstrated by UHC.

That is one way to describe it. One way to look at it.

I would think that three out of four reading this forum wouldn't agree.

In Salzburg they pay fifty percent income tax. They only allow top of the class to attend college. Lot of food for thought and debate. Friend had to wait four months for mastectomy in Austria.

Income taxes abroad - Austria

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

Sadly, that's the real issue.

Your country (and every other developed one on this rock), have determined that its citizens deserve health care.

A large part of our nation have the attitude of..."I got mine, too bad for you."

And driving this is the need to produce a profit...which has just so aptly been demonstrated by UHC.

I would be very interested to know how you came to that conclusion since no one seems to know why Casper was dropped and 39 other Dermatologists in our area were not dropped? How do you know it had anything to do with profit of UHC? This thread is about Alliant/UHC and NOT Universal Healthcare. Moderator has already warned twice. Let’s keep this topic going until everyone knows why UHC dropped Casper and anyone who is signing a petition, calling their Congressman etc etc without knowing the answer to that question is doing a disservice to the rest of the Community.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Villageswimmer

But are you sure Dr. Casper hasn’t disclosed the reason by virtue of his offering to give a copy of UHCs letter upon request? Has anyone on this forum seen it?

After 65 posts, surely someone will soon post a copy of the UHC letter
with the reason Dr. Casper has been dropped.

[Carla B]

I am a patient of Dr. Casper's, but am not in the UHC Advantage plan. I wonder if I went to his office if I'd be allowed to read the letter. Probably not.

At any rate, there always seems to be confusion about how an Advantage plan works vs. a Medigap or supplemental plan. My understanding is that Medicare takes the Part B premium paid by certain taxpayers on Medicare and "gives" it to an insurer (UHC). UHC then sets up an Advantage plan and recruits doctors who will accept a certain $ amount for their services. Any monies not paid out constitute profit for UHC. If all the money plus co-pays goes to provide care there is no profit, the insurance plan goes insolvent, and the stockholders get upset.

On the other hand, many or most of those eligible for Medicare have Supplemental (Medigap) plans. Supplemental subscribers pay a monthly premium to an insurer. The provider submits a claim to Medicare who pays 80% of the claim and the insurer pays the remaining 20%. Medicare takes the "hit" to its budget in case of a deficit, not the insurer.

Logically, it would seem that UHC/Dr. Casper pulled the plug, unless UHC drafted a contract with Medicare that shifted the deficits to Medicare?

[Dan9871]

Originally Posted by Carla B

I am a patient of Dr. Casper's, but am not in the UHC Advantage plan. I wonder if I went to his office if I'd be allowed to read the letter. Probably not.

The Alliant website says that you can stop by any of their offices and pick up a copy of the letter they received from UHC.

From the Alliant web site:

" If you would like a copy of the letter we received from UHC, please stop by one of our offices to receive one. Thank you."

[villagerjack]

“Logically, it would seem that UHC/Dr. Casper pulled the plug, unless UHC drafted a contract with Medicare that shifted the deficits to Medicare?”

I have no idea what the above comment means. Can you explain?

Casper was dropped by UHC. Casper could clear all this up if he simply explained why UHC is retaining 39 other Dermatologists in our area and dropping him.

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by Dan9871

The Alliant website says that you can stop by any of their offices and pick up a copy of the letter they received from UHC.

From the Alliant web site:

" If you would like a copy of the letter we received from UHC, please stop by one of our offices to receive one. Thank you."

Would you pay my airfare? Seasonal residents cannot just stop by the office. Why doesn’t he simply post the letter on his web site with the other information?

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by villagerjack

Would you pay my airfare? Seasonal residents cannot just stop by the office. Why doesn’t he simply post the letter on his web site with the other information?

We really like Dr. David Casper a LOT but I think you are right.

[Dan9871]

Originally Posted by villagerjack

Would you pay my airfare? Seasonal residents cannot just stop by the office. Why doesn’t he simply post the letter on his web site with the other information?

My guess is that Alliant didn't think of the snowbird case... it was probably a shock when the received the UHC letter and they just wanted to get something up on their web site as quickly as they could.

I doubt their office maintains their web site directly, they are probably working through a third party to make changes to it which makes responding quickly to things like this even harder to do.

You might give them a call and ask them to send you the letter.

[Carla B]

Originally Posted by villagerjack

“Logically, it would seem that UHC/Dr. Casper pulled the plug, unless UHC drafted a contract with Medicare that shifted the deficits to Medicare?”

I have no idea what the above comment means. Can you explain?

Casper was dropped by UHC. Casper could clear all this up if he simply explained why UHC is retaining 39 other Dermatologists in our area and dropping him.

Well, does Medicare ever put pressure on an insurance company to delete a provider? I don't know.

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by Dan9871

My guess is that Alliant didn't think of the snowbird case... it was probably a shock when the received the UHC letter and they just wanted to get something up on their web site as quickly as they could.

I doubt their office maintains their web site directly, they are probably working through a third party to make changes to it which makes responding quickly to things like this even harder to do.

You might give them a call and ask them to send you the letter.

Dan: I have had this happen before with other providers who were renegotiating the contract with United healthcare. My doctor sent letters out to everyone in the plan that was affected. In my opinion Casper has miscalculated or he just does not want to have all of the information released.

[CFrance]

I would like to say "Somebody go get the #$%^&* letter, already!" but that would be rude, so I won't. (And I don't go to Colony Publix, if I may cross-thread...)

But hopefully someone who is in town will go get the letter and tell us what it says.