Well, what you may not know is that most carriers pay/allow more than what medicare, medicaid and state programs pay...much more. And if you haven't experienced a doc saying "no" to a medicare patient as a new client, consider yourself fortunate. It happens daily UNLESS of course the patient has a very nice med-supplement to pick up the slack. Kathy, member GSDCA, DVGSDC Celebrating generations of Dual Titled TC'd Champions visit _http://www.pinehillgsds.com/_ (http://www.pinehillgsds.com/) In a message dated 12/9/2009 7:13:05 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, ELG440 writes: In a message dated 12/9/09 3:41:55 PM Pacific Standard Time, Pinehillgsds writes: You DO understand that ONE of the reasons private insurance for those of us under 65 is so very high is because of the cost shifting that takes place when doctors and hospitals are paid UNDER cost when they provide care to those on government run plans...right???? (Not the only reason, but a HUGE contributing factor.) I doubt that, since to accept insurance, they have to limit the cost of proceedures. Also, no one has to accept medicare or other carriers, but they seem to want the payments. Evan Ginsburg Asgard German Shepherds http://www.asgardgsd.com/ Where Type Movement and Temperament come together ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2009. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================