Primary Care Docs Go Direct With Pre-Paid Plans

He was closed down temporarily, but then re-opened after getting the Governor's attention...insurance companies attempting to emulate something along the same line..or cooperating in allowing the fee to apply toward a deductible...BD 

For 125 bucks a month, Vic Wood will take care of you and your family. Youll get unlimited primary and urgent care, including office visits, lab work, X-rays and certain generic drugs. Wood  is one of several hundred doctors across the country now offering pre-paid primary care plans, the WSJ reports. Its not supposed to replace insurance the deal doesn't include any specialist or hospital care, and it doesn't cover branded drugs or serious procedures. But for those without insurance, the pre-paid approach could represent an affordable stopgap. Though still experimental, proponents argue that the pre-paid approach tackles two problems in U.S. health care: a decline in the number of primary care doctors and the growing number of Americans who are either uninsured or underinsured.

Now some insurers in the state are looking for ways to combine more comprehensive coverage with pre-paid plans like Wood’s. The local Blue Cross Blue Shield plan is considering a hybrid that would allow patients to apply Wood’s monthly fee toward deductibles in their regular insurance.

Health Blog : Primary Care Docs Go Direct With Pre-Paid Plans