Do Doctors Make Too Much Money?

[Dr. Shane]

Have doctors always made as much money as they do today? Or has health insurance allowed their salaries to increase dramatically over the past 50 years?

How does the average medical doctor's salary compare to the average veterinarian's salary? The job descriptions and educational requirements are strikingly similar.

Has health insurance driven medial costs up high and thus created the health-care crisis the US now faces?

[Jeannieb43]

With all due respect, you are making assumptions without any basis in fact. Doctors today are making about 2/3 less than ever before. (In other words, about 1/3 of what they should be making.) The insurance companies are second-guessing the doctors, trying to say the procedures they're ordering are not medically necessary. Cutting them back in their fees.

Many doctors (those who can afford to do so) are now refusing to be a part of any insurance plan, and are collecting their fees directly from the patients. But most doctors can't afford it; their patients can't afford to pay full fees without help of insurance. So they're stuck.

Some insurance plans pay only $5 per office visit. This does not even cover the lights, heat and rent on the office space. But the doctors continue on, just trying to make up by volume what they're losing per patient. --THAT's why your doctor seems rushed when you go to see him.

[Woody]

I don't see much trouble. My wife took me to the doctor today. He spent at least a half hour with me . Sometimes ... it is up to 45 min.

[Joe_in_RP]

Do Doctors Make Too Much Money?

Not my doctor.

Now if you want to talk about bankers and insurance companies well thats a great topic.

[phkrause]

I would ask do athletes not doctors make to much? I personally think that the medical profession, if compared to the sports world, don't make enough. The medical world has life and death to deal with everyday. I think the cost of medical care is out of control, but that is due to all this suing of doctors and nurses. Now having said that, there are some doctors and nurses that are bad at what they do. But should the rest be punished for the fun? In the sports world it doesn't seem to work that way. Why don't we sue the player that doesn't seem to be able to do his or her job well????

pk

[there buster]

Who should decide such things?

As far as costs, you should see what Doctors pay in malpractice insurance. Thank you, trial lawyers.

[Cosmin M.]

No. In the old days doctors did not make as much money as laborers did. For example, in Romania during communism, my dads friend worked as a painter and he made a lot of money. Now, painters make very little.

[carolaa]

Nowadays doctors have such incredibly humongous student loans to pay off. They have incredibly humongous insurance premiums to protect them from lawsuits. They have to pay staff and overhead. I'm not sure they actually make all that much money.

[phkrause]

Not only that but they work them pretty hard there first few years!

pk

[GreatLakesGramma]

I've read that on average doctors die younger than the general population. And no wonder, the way they have to be available round the clock during residency, called from sleep to deliver babies, restricting their water intake so they can make it through hours of surgery without being able to leave to use the restroom, unhealthy lifestyle because they just don't have time to take care of themselves, and who knows what else.

Then there's the stress of dealing with patients who won't give up their self-destructive lifestyles and expect the doctor to relieve them of the natural consequences, won't tell them everything they need to know in order to make an accurate diagnosis, don't listen to their instructions or follow them, etc.

Plus, they get higher exposure to contagious diseases, radiation, etc.

I wouldn't want to be a doctor. I don't think I'd survive it very long. And whatever more they make than someone else, I think they deserve every bit of it.

[Gerr]

Who should decide such things?

As far as costs, you should see what Doctors pay in malpractice insurance. Thank you, trial lawyers.

Some examples:

In Dade co., FL: Int. Med. $54,450; Gen surg: $207,300; OB-GYN: $238,000

[Pockey]

yes they make too much. more than the 99th percentile of what the world makes. probably a lot of people in the u.s. make too much. ever go to costco? we have a lot of stuff.

[phkrause]

I agree 100% with you GLG.

pk

[Nan]

Originally Posted By: ichabod

Who should decide such things?

As far as costs, you should see what Doctors pay in malpractice insurance. Thank you, trial lawyers.

Some examples:

In Dade co., FL: Int. Med. $54,450; Gen surg: $207,300; OB-GYN: $238,000

A slight aside - is the malpractice insurance related to the doctor's income level? In this country that is the case - logical as those making more money will be seeing more patients and hence at higher risk. There were also some reforms, both to tort law and government support, some years ago that reined in the amount we pay.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I may be wrong, but I don't think income level per se has anything to do with malpractice insurance. From what I know the physician pays according to the *type* of practice he/she has, i.e, OB/GYN, Neurosurgery, Radiology, Internal Medicine, etc.

[Woody]

Yes. When I had malpractice insurance ... they didn't ask me how much money I made. That seems ackward. I would have to submit my tax forms as proof. Not good. The insurance company could use that without my permission.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Come to think of it, I don't need to submit anything about my income for my malpractice insurance either .... but I am not a physician.

[there buster]

Quote:

probably a lot of people in the u.s. make too much.

Because so many make so little?

In that case, King Solomon made way too much, in a time when the majority lived at subsistence levels.

[Woody]

Hey ... Good point Ichabod.

God blessed many with an abundance.

[Gerr]

Originally Posted By: Gerry Cabalo

Some examples:

In Dade co., FL: Int. Med. $54,450; Gen surg: $207,300; OB-GYN: $238,000

[/quote']

A slight aside - is the malpractice insurance related to the doctor's income level? In this country that is the case - logical as those making more money will be seeing more patients and hence at higher risk. There were also some reforms, both to tort law and government support, some years ago that reined in the amount we pay.

Internists will see far more patients in a day than either a surgeon or Ob-Gyn. But as you know, there is far more risk whenever you perform a procedure on a person. From what I see, the biggest risk in the USA for Ob-Gyn is delivering babies. They are held liable to any problem that develops in a child if it has even a remote connection with the delivery until the child is 18 or is it 21 yo?

[GoLions]

My grandfather was a Dr. I had been told that in a city of about 25,000 or maybe more. He and one other fellow were the only Dr's. If they didn't know what was wrong with you they would have to refer you to a bigger city. He would make house calls in those days. Back in those days they really didn't have the specialist either. He was the cradle to the grave Dr. I had heard stories of him giving out sugar pills to make people feel better (when there was really nothing wrong with them). As far as pay is concerned, I have no idea. They did not live in a big house, or a gated community. But all 4 of his kids went to college. They did have a membership at a country club. Just recently his name was added to this towns museum/with his accomplishments listed, as a memorial to his service to the community. At any rate, his son, my uncle became a very successful plastic surgeon, and he has lived the life of luxury. The world is a much different place now.

[Gerr]

For some reason, the cutting/procedure-oriented have always been paid a lot more than primary care docs.

[Pockey]

Quote:

probably a lot of people in the u.s. make too much.

Because so many make so little?

In that case, King Solomon made way too much, in a time when the majority lived at subsistence levels.

Ever go out of the country?