---
title: Insured Suffering, Too
description: Insured Suffering, Too
---

# Insured Suffering, Too

May 6, 2008

[insurance](https://chipsblog.pcc.com/tag/insurance), [benchmarks](https://chipsblog.pcc.com/tag/benchmarks)

Ripe from the [NYTimes](http://www.nytimes.com) two days ago, our very own Richard Lander, M.D., quoted:

> Parents "are waiting longer to bring in their children," said Dr. Richard Lander, a pediatrician in Livingston, N.J. "They say, ‘The kid isn't that sick; her temperature is only 102.' "

[The piece](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/business/04insure.html) is about how employee contributions, HDHPs - and a burden shift to those who happen to be sick - is causing even those who are "insured" to feel the pinch, to say the least.

My biggest takeaway from the piece: our share of disposable income spent on healthcare is now larger than food, clothing..and even housing! ([Check out the graphic](http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/05/04/business/20080504_INSURE_190.jpg).)

We (PCC) have seen this for almost two years already. Without formal recall systems in place, some of our clients have seen their visit rates decline. Some slowly, some immediately. It's *crucial* for pediatricians to explain to their patients why those 8yo physicals are so important and why it's vital to get those ear/eye exams. Unfortunately, you are competing with all the other chances families have to spend money - haircuts, Nintendo Wiis (or whatever the plural is), eating out, etc. I can work hard with a client and get them to raise their Revenue/Visit by 20%...but if their visit rates drop by 25%, they lose ground. And it's happened.

Meanwhile, I'd like to think that all these folks we know being quoted in the Times, Medical Economics, etc., is a sign of being a PCC client and/or PedTalk member, but I think the correlation to SOAPM is a big stronger :-) That said, what a treat it is (and testament to their hard work) that so many *pediatricians* are being sought after for an understanding of what is really happening in our business.

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