Action News Finds Hidden Costs Of New "Free" Health Care Plan

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By Peter Bukowski

Story Published: Jul 28, 2010 at 5:50 PM PDT

YAKIMA -- A new law will likely lower your cost of a routine doctor visit. Part of President Obama's new health care package means insurance will now cover the full costs of all sorts of tests, screenings, and scans, all to push preventive medicine.

"Not too many people can afford to have their prostate checked, or even see a physician," says Duane Guerin, in for a physical.

And that's the point, but at what cost? To cover more people for more things, insurance companies say the rates they charge you will have to go up.

"I'm already paying an arm and a leg for insurance," Guerin explained.

"I just had an MRI done, you know $2600. After paying through the insurance. I'm left with a bill of $626."

Insurance rates are estimated to rise 1.5% to start, which may not seem like much but could go up as more and more people use the system. Dr. Raul Garcia-Rodriquez says since more people will have access to free tests, that MRI may mean you have to be put on a waiting list.

"It's like well I've read about this on the internet for three weeks and now I come here and want an MRI. I want a CAT scan and I want to see three specialists in the emergency department," he warns.

"There's always that downfall that yes an MRI machine that used to have five patients a day will now have 15. It'll take a week to get your MRI. It's something that we have to deal with when we get there."

And the increased demand won't change hospital costs. So even tests that are supposedly free may actually wind up costing you time and money.

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