Cost Consciousness and Medical Practice

An interesting article in the NYTimes on air travel reminded me of what has become of the experience of seeing a doctor. Basically, the article talked about levels of service on airlines and who gets what type of service and why. In the airline business, the overwhelming majority of travelers chose carriers based solely on cost. I include myself in this category. As a result, we have become loyal to the price of the seat, rather than to the airline itself. The airlines know that our loyalty and our business come only with low fares, and that our business will leave with higher fares, and they have determined that keeping us happy is no longer important. Now, the airlines can cut out perks that once made flying enjoyable, or at least tolerable. The fact that we complain privately and publicly is not important, since they can always get our business back by running a special deal. On the otherhand, people who are willing to pay for business or first class get treated like royalty. Wine, no lines, chateau-braind. Very nice. While both coach and first class passengers arrive at the destination at the same time, the high paying customers have a better experience.



Like the airline industry, people that can afford better care, either on their own or via the best of the best insurance plans, get better treatment. They can be seen without referrals, go to out-of network providers, and get any medication the doctor prescribes. They can even go to a concierge model physician practice. This is like flying business or first class. For the rest of us, we have to fly coach.

The costs associated with running an airline have risen dramatically over the years. So has the cost of administering health care or purchasing health insurance. In the airline industry, at one end of the spectrum low cost carriers exist that cater only to the cost conscious traveler. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the corporate jet industry that caters to the high end, low volume traveler that cares solely about convenience and comfort. In the middle, we have the typical airline company, like United Airlines or American, that have first and business class for the "out-of-network" travel and coach for the rest of us in-network only customers.

Comparing the airline industry to the medical profession is easy. Flying low cost only carriers is like going to a clinic. You'll get to your location, or get your care, but it won't be pleasant. Flying business class or first class is like going to a concierge medical office or a medi-spa. Not only will you get to the location, you'll have a great experience on the way. Flying coach on a major carrier is like going to the typical doctor. It used to be nothing fancy, nothing great, but pleasant enough. Now it is horrible. As the airlines get squeezed, and as the doctors get squeezed, and as we the consumers let everyone know that we care only about cost, the experience is becoming less and less tolerable.

I don't have a solution for any of this. It is just my observation. I suppose that if you want premium medical care, like air travel, you will have to pay for it yourself. Otherwise you can join the rest of us in the coach section of modern medicine.