AMARILLO, TEXAS -- With President Obama's reform to health care, insurance companies are feeling the burden of recent changes. Doctors and patients aren't the only components in health care reform. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are also taking financial setbacks for Medicare and Medicaid programs.
On February 16th, the federally-run Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan suspended acceptance of new enrollment. PCIP was created as a transitional insurance program to cover pre-existing conditions for patients prior to the 2014 implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Under the act, insurance companies are now required to cover certain preventative care services without cost sharing.
For some physicians, the role of insurance companies has become an inhibiting factor in providing adequate health care for patients. "The other thing that I think is getting frustrating for physicians and patients is having the 3rd party in the room with us, and that's their payers. Whether it's the government, through Medicare or Medicaid, or a private insurance company," says Dr. Carmen Purl, physician at Sunray Medical Clinic.
While over 32 million uninsured Americans will gain access to Affordable Health Care by 2014, many face the threat of higher insurance premiums to cover funding losses.
