Cause and Effect- Bounce right back

 

Everything has a cause and effect. The current standoff between doctors/specialists and the insurers in Singapore  is a case in point . The former questions the later on their criteria to create a panel (of doctors/specialists) whose fees will qualify for insurance claims by insured patients (where the 5% co payment cap of $3000 still applies). The later retorts with examples of excessive fees and over treatment charges by unethical doctors which resulted in huge insurance claims and the need to increase premium.

I remember my one day stay in a private hospital to investigate a fainting episode led to an insurance claim of $6 thousand by the doctor which I didn't have to pay a cent. I also recall sharing a room with another patient who was checked in for some detailed investigation of a medical problem. On the morning of discharge I eavesdropped and heard her specialist saying she was fine . However he pointed out that one of the results from the blood test (in probably a host of items being tested) had shown that it bordered on the lower average range. The doctor asked whether she wanted to consult another specialist for further investigation over that not so ideal result. She of course agreed. Might as well right since the insurers will be paying the bill. 

One insurer cited an insurance claim where a woman stayed in hospital for abdominal hernia repair and ran up a bill of $46 thousand. Only thing was the treatment included a tummy tuck and breast augmentation  which weren't stated in the bill.

Well these unethical doctors had it good and now they bear the consequence of their own actions. Likewise the policy holders who were only too glad to accept offers of  "ultra comprehensive" care and treatment without a flinch of guilt, deserve now to pay higher premium as well as the need now to co-pay the medical cost incurred. That includes me who once failed to correct an error in the medical bill which included adult nappies which weren't even used. Well between the hospital and the insurers, I unwisely leaned on the hospital. 

Now the premium of my Insurance Integrated Plan is sky high and in a teeny weeny fraction was the effect of my past actions too.