"Obamacare" and HEMS

[Hoss-Fly]

I would like to know, from those with experience in the HEMS industry, of what effect The Affordable Care Act will have in the U.S. I would like to enter that industry when I retire from the army in 5 years.....assuming I don't get RIF'd sooner or have to stay in longer to recoup the retirement hit I took when Congress passed the budget recently. Have a great day and Merry Christmas, Vince

[Velocity173]

I don't think it'll impact HEMS much. Our call volume is based simply on need. We fly people regardless of their ability to pay or not so having insurance really doesn't matter. The hospital I fly for gets over 3 million a year in county taxes to help pay for people who can't afford treatment.

 

When it comes down to it, we're gonna get our money for the flight. Whether it's from one's insurance carrier or increased taxes. To a certain extent, those who have will always have to pay for those who don't.

Edited December 22, 2013 by Velocity173

[Gomer Pylot]

If anything, it should help the bottom line of HEMS companies. More people with insurance means more reimbursement for flights.

[JDHelicopterPilot]

I agree with Gomer. The flight volume will still be unchanged.

[aeroscout]

If anything, it should help the bottom line of HEMS companies. More people with insurance means more reimbursement for flights.

Current estimates are that when and if obumacare becomes fully implemented there will be the same or more people uninsured.

Of the insured, their costs of insurance will be such that their insurance may not be in force for lack of full payment of premiums.

Let's not kid ourselves. the new health care system will cause much pathos and chaos.

[Hoss-Fly]

It's the possible chaos that causing me some concern. I would really like to do that line of work. I have some civilian EMS experience because my first unit after flight school had a civilian medevac mission. For those of y'all working in this industry, I hope it works out for you. I have 5 years to develop a plan b so I've got it easy I suppose.

 

Happy Holidays,

 

Vince

[Gomer Pylot]

Estimates by whom? Health insurance companies, who obviously have no interest other than taking care of those they take premiums from?

[aeroscout]

Estimates by whom? Health insurance companies, who obviously have no interest other than taking care of those they take premiums from?

OMB, and other federal entities.

Make sure you demonize the evil insurance companies.

[ah64eric]

Oh and for the record this is a GOOD, smart question to ask at an interview. You may already know the answer and/or it may not matter in the grand scheme of things but it shows that you've at least considered the bigger picture and how the economy could affect the job you're seeking.

[Francis Meyrick]

 

Let's not kid ourselves. the new health care system will cause much pathos and chaos.

 

Yo! I'm, with Aeroscuttle...

 

I watched the unfolding of the British healthcare system, (the NHS) some decades ago, (Obama is just following along behind increasingly Socialist Europe) and today's inefficient, wasteful, borderline corrupt health debacle over there makes me think a couple of thunks. (Have you seen the photos of queues and queues of folk, around the block, to get signed up with a new Dentist?)

For what it's worth, probably not-a-lot...

 

1) Since when can Big Government run ANYTHING properly? If you think that.... Are you kidding me? You must be selling Life Insurance as well? Second hand cars? Diet pills? If you truly believe Big Grab-a-Mint can run or fix anything... I'm in awe of you. Can I have your autograph? They couldn't make money when the Post Office had a virtual monopoly. Political Hacks and Porky Boys have shamelessly raided Social Security. The kitty is almost empty. But wait.... all is well! There's an I.O.U. left behind...!

The Affordable Care Act isn't about health care. You believe the razzamatazz? The weepy appeal to Justice and Universal Health Access Fairness? Nonsense. It's about Votes. Power. Even the designers don't expect it to work. They expect it to keep them in Power, because of uninformed, gullible voters.

 

If an Insurance Company pulled one hundredth of what the thieves in Washington have perpetrated, the howls of indignation from our elected elites would furiously compete in televised indignation, demanding heads on platters, prison sentences, and... of course... MORE Government "oversight".

 

2) The National Debt fascinates many of us. How are you going to cope, when your SOARING interest burden is remorselessly squeezing Federal spending on the military budget, Education, Entitlements, Medicare, etc, etc?

 

What do we take away from this?

 

My guess? (I want to be wrong, believe me.) Chaos down the road. HEMS flying seriously impacted. Harder than hell to get paid for anything. When people can't get a Dentist, or have to wait in line for months for surgery, and even VA hospitals are mired in scandal, I suspect helicopters transfers and EMS scene flights will be regarded by some politicians as frivolous, and unnecessary. And if these politicians aren't getting THEIRS, to placate their entitlement demanding voters, then I suspect appeals on behalf of EMS operations will fall on tuned out (deaf) ears.

 

Beware the wild card. It's coming. Just like the events of 9-11 that almost nobody saw coming, and that fundamentally changed the USA, the chances are high that there is an event horizon marching our way, that will forever upset the apple cart. Terrorist attack? WMD? Or a fiscal attack? (rival reserve currency maybe). Stock market collapse? (Hard to imagine those stratospheric P/E ratios lasting). Federal Reserve revelations/scandal? We'll see. But when it comes to the inevitable harsh spending cuts, where will the guillotine drop first? On Loyal Democrat voter pleasing immediate benefits? Or on relatively esoteric (to most voters and their elected tyrants) air ambulance choppies?

 

Hopefully, I'm laughably wrong, and some wise guru will take to the forum to explain how simple and challenged my tiny mind is. Quid erat non-demonstrandum.

 

Anybody?

 

[eagle5]

Don't bother waiting in line around the block for a dentist. Obamacare's dental plan doesn't cover sh*t! Its essentially the same as not having dental insurance at all! Which is what the dentist told me after mentioning that nothing I needed done was covered!

[Goldy]

Several years ago I spoke to several EMS operators at the management level. They were all expanding operations in anticipation of increased revenues from Obamacare. There are still the same number of injured or sick people but a lot of areas at the time that were not covered with an EMS ship. The expectation was the feds would pay, even if it wasn't full boat, they would pay a portion and the county would chip in a portion, resulting in increased revenues, or revenues from new areas served that previously had nothing.

 

Anyone know what has really happened? I see several providers still expanding so money is being made somehow.