You may think that when you go to the doctor in Wisconsin that it is your doctor making all your healthcare decisions. You may be surprised to learn that is not always what happens. In many cases, the decisions made about what medications to give you, what procedures to do, what tests to order and other practices are being made or at least heavily influenced by your insurance company. This is something that is very disturbing when you consider these companies are not staffed by doctors and medical staff.
According to US News and World Report, this happens because the insurance companies have so much control in the healthcare industry. They are, after all, paying the bills. They find many ways to influence your healthcare.
They may try to save money by denying certain procedures, tests or medications. They may only approve certain things, so your doctor is limited in what he or she can do. You may have to try an alternative first because it is cheaper. If that does not work, then you may be allowed to do what your doctor originally wanted to do. You may also have to get pre-authorization. Some insurance companies may not even cover some healthcare services or provide them at higher rates so as to deter you from using those services. Such tactics mean that you may have delayed treatment or that you may not get the treatment you need, prolonging your issues or even leading to more serious health issues. This information is for education and is not legal advice.
