Seattle health clinic takes insurance out of the mix
SEATTLE -- A new medical clinic has opened up in the city, and it may change the face of health care.
A company called Qliance, like dozens of clinics around the country, is cutting insurance companies out of the mix.
$1 out of every $3 patient spend on health care goes to insurance companies to cover paperwork processing costs.
Stanley Stein says he used to pay $700 per hour for medical care. With Qliance, he pays roughly $67 a month.
Qliance's clinics are run by doctors fed up with insurance, and they serve people fed up with insurance.
And many medical experts think the approach could be the solution to a broken health care system Congress may spend $1 trillion to fix.
"Ninety percent of what happens in health care is inexpensive and should be readily available. And we want people to use it," said Dr. Garrison Bliss.
Bliss says for those who need a regular check-up or have a bump or bruise checked out, clinics like Qliance offer more care than hospitals for less money.
By cutting out insurance, Qliance saves money on paperwork and overhead. Waiting rooms are less crowded, and doctors spend more time with their patients.
But there is a catch -- there are only 50 clinics like Qliance nationwide. So you'll likely still need health insurance for trips to the emergency room or anything catastrophic.
"You may need to see the cardiologist to adjust your medicines, but we may be able to monitor you here and listen to your heart and lungs," Bliss said.
Qliance charges $99 to join, and anywhere between $39 and $79 per month. Its patients can receive medical care any time, seven days a week.
There are some downsides, however. For example, non-insurance clinics don't have specialists. Critics also question whether unrestricted access could cause overuse. But Bliss says he doesn't know of anyone who takes pleasure in seeing the doctor.
A Qliance clinic is located in downtown Seattle in the Medical Dental Building at 509 Olive Way. A Kent location is scheduled to open in August 2009.
A company called Qliance, like dozens of clinics around the country, is cutting insurance companies out of the mix.
$1 out of every $3 patient spend on health care goes to insurance companies to cover paperwork processing costs.
Stanley Stein says he used to pay $700 per hour for medical care. With Qliance, he pays roughly $67 a month.
Qliance's clinics are run by doctors fed up with insurance, and they serve people fed up with insurance.
And many medical experts think the approach could be the solution to a broken health care system Congress may spend $1 trillion to fix.
"Ninety percent of what happens in health care is inexpensive and should be readily available. And we want people to use it," said Dr. Garrison Bliss.
Bliss says for those who need a regular check-up or have a bump or bruise checked out, clinics like Qliance offer more care than hospitals for less money.
By cutting out insurance, Qliance saves money on paperwork and overhead. Waiting rooms are less crowded, and doctors spend more time with their patients.
But there is a catch -- there are only 50 clinics like Qliance nationwide. So you'll likely still need health insurance for trips to the emergency room or anything catastrophic.
"You may need to see the cardiologist to adjust your medicines, but we may be able to monitor you here and listen to your heart and lungs," Bliss said.
Qliance charges $99 to join, and anywhere between $39 and $79 per month. Its patients can receive medical care any time, seven days a week.
There are some downsides, however. For example, non-insurance clinics don't have specialists. Critics also question whether unrestricted access could cause overuse. But Bliss says he doesn't know of anyone who takes pleasure in seeing the doctor.
A Qliance clinic is located in downtown Seattle in the Medical Dental Building at 509 Olive Way. A Kent location is scheduled to open in August 2009.