Bob's written several posts on the idea of "concierge medicine;" that is, one pays a (flat) fee for unfettered, priority access to one's primary care physician, bypassing the normal appointment issues and, perhaps, first dollar insurance coverage for doc office visits (these plans don't help you with big ticket items like hospitalizations, surgeries, etc). Whether or not they're viable alternatives is, of course, open to debate, but they at least offer one a choice.
Unfortunately, the New York Department of Insurance thinks they run contrary to the Empire State's insurance laws:
It seems that Dr Muney's plan, which "includes unlimited office visits, some tests and in-office surgeries," looks a bit too much like a pre-paid medical insurance plan, but lacks the requisite capitalization and legal paperwork of an actual carrier. He's currently in talks with the DOI, looking to find some way to keep the plan running without breaking any laws.
I'm actually on Dr Muney's side in this; as an insurance agent, it might seem counterintuitive to be rooting for his success, since it may be perceived as "competition." But I've always felt that competition was a good thing, and I also appreciate that he's looking for ways to help his patients gain quicker access. We'll have to wait and see if he's able to navigate the regulators' waters.
[Hat Tip: FoIB Brad Ford]
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