Some people get offended when they find out that I don’t take Medicare. But before anyone jumps to conclusions, let me be clear—I also don’t take Medicaid or Tricare. And while we’re at it, I don’t take United Healthcare, Aetna, Humana, Cigna, or Blue Cross Blue Shield either. In fact, I treat them all equally—by not interacting with them at all.
Why would I take such a hard stance against all health insurance companies, big or small, government or private? The answer is simple: I don’t want them telling me what to do or how to run my practice. I became a doctor to take care of patients, not to spend my life on hold with insurance adjusters or to ask permission to do what I already know is best. Every doctor knows that once you let insurance into the exam room, they start calling the shots. I’ve chosen to step completely out of that system so I can practice medicine on my terms.
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Now, some people assume that by not taking insurance I must only be treating the healthy and wealthy, as if my practice is some kind of exclusive country club. That couldn’t be further from the truth. A large portion of my patients don’t even carry insurance, and for them I’m often the most economical option. They’d rather pay directly and know exactly what they’re getting, instead of being nickel-and-dimed by surprise bills or denied coverage. Others come to me after a car accident, when their insurance won’t cover certain aspects of care. Some have employers who value their health enough to pay directly for their visits. In other words, it’s a hodgepodge of people from all walks of life—just like any other medical practice.
The difference is that here, patients are free to get care without the layers of bureaucracy slowing everything down. I’m free to spend time with patients instead of with paperwork. And most importantly, the decisions made in my office are between me and the patient, not me and an insurance company.
The truth is, the system wants to keep you in the system. It thrives on dependence, on keeping both doctors and patients tangled up in rules, codes, and authorizations. Breaking away feels uncomfortable at first, like stepping out of a cage you’ve been sitting in for years. But once you let your wings grow, you start to realize you can fly. That’s what direct care really is—freedom for both doctor and patient to pursue what’s best without asking permission from a faceless bureaucracy.
Why would I take such a hard stance against all health insurance companies, big or small, government or private? The answer is simple: I don’t want them telling me what to do or how to run my practice.
