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Originally Posted by Trample the Elderly
What about just paying your doctor cash when you really need to see him?
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That's a good way in that it makes people think about whether or not they really need to see the doctor.
That said, this approach should not be used for well-visits (the kind of annual checkup where you get immunizations and such). If poorer people had to pony up for this, they'd never choose to go, which would just end up costing more in the long run.
And of course the cash on delivery method doesn't work for big hospital stays, because it's flat out too costly. You need insurance for the big stuff.
But this is exactly how you go about putting the financial incentive to manage healthcare costs in the hands of the patient.