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Doctor Faces 800% Insurance Hike
12 Dec
Summary
- A Georgia doctor's insurance premium could jump from $100 to $800 monthly.
- Rising costs may leave thousands of Georgia families uninsured.
- Patients might delay care, leading to more emergency room visits.
A palliative care specialist in Atlanta, Dr. Sherika Newman, is facing a shocking 800% increase in her health insurance premiums. Her monthly cost is projected to rise from approximately $100 to $800, a steep personal financial blow that signals a broader crisis for patients nationwide. Dr. Newman expressed deep concern that unaffordable premiums will lead to millions of Americans becoming uninsured.
This alarming trend disproportionately affects Georgians who earn too much for Medicaid but too little to cover rising insurance costs. Michelle Phillips, a Kennesaw resident, already struggles with a $458 monthly premium, a $4,150 deductible, and over $8,000 in out-of-pocket expenses. She fears losing coverage entirely as the new year approaches.
Dr. Newman warns that without accessible insurance, patients will likely postpone necessary care, resulting in more urgent and emergent health needs. This could strain emergency rooms and healthcare systems as individuals delay seeking preventative treatment until their conditions become critical, potentially leading to widespread instability across Georgia's healthcare landscape.
