Rationing of Health Care: Lower Health Insurance Premiums Come With Fewer Choices

It is the rationing of care. If you must select a policy within your State of residence, you're being forced to restrict your choice of physicians, health insurance, and locale of health services. Even within a select State, there is rationing of services, as all areas within a specific State may have different fees for health insurance, different providers of care, and of course different "networks" for that provision of care.

Also your care in the past may have been provided in private by one physician. Today, the trend is toward provision of medical care within a "group". And more...

Bottom line: the more an insurance company might have to pay for, the more they charge to keep up with that service. You could get a policy (health, home, auto) that is really broad in coverage, but you will pay a lot more. Exclusions (in this discussion doctors and hospitals) help control costs. Insurance companies want to make a sale, that I guarantee you that. Also, the new healthcare law does require they offer doctors and hospitals in the service area. Insurance companies make deals with providers to basically funnel customers to them in exchange for a price break. Not every doctor/hospital might agree to their offer and sometimes an insurance company may not even think to approach the place you would like to go for your care. It is okay to call the insurance company to recommend your doctor or for your doctor to ask about being added to their network. There is normally a phone number or e-mail used solely for this purpose; it never hurts to ask.