Quote:
Originally Posted by Beemnseven
Here's another question -- with a finite supply of doctors, and no more than the usual number of new med students entering the field, what will it mean to instantaneously add 47 million Americans to their workload?
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First, it should be noted that those 47 million you're speaking of (the uninsured) currently do get care in the form of emergency care. If they have a heart attack they don't stay away from the ER.
But on the elective and preventative side, you're right, docs will see a huge influx. With no increase in the supply of capable physicians, but a large increase in demand, you'll see prices for appointments going up significantly. You'll call to request an appointment for this week and will be surprised when they tell you they don't have an open appointment for 3 weeks.
You'll also see physicians move about the country. When those 47 million people become insured, suddenly having a physician practice in the inner city isn't such a bad proposition. Physicians will relocate to fill voids in underserved locations, fleeing from now well-insured but competitive locations.
Short answer: things get a lot better in the poor neighborhoods, but a lot worse in the well-to-do neighborhoods.