Attention! 2009 is almost here! You have less than 48 hours left to get in those surgeries, medical procedures, and doctor visits…

Sounds strange, doesn’t it? Actually it’s quite an interesting and common phenomenon in the medical industry known as the “Year-End Mini-Boom.” Every year, doctors’ offices and hospitals experience a huge rush of patients at the end of the year. And it has nothing to do with New Year’s Resolutions of “being healthier.”

Early in the year, patients are more likely to hold off on getting elective medical care because they have to pay out of pocket. However, by the end of the year, many patients have met their insurance deductible. And once the deductible is met, their insurance coverage kicks in, covering most – if not all – of their medical costs. Some patients may have even met their out-of-pocket expense limit for the year. In that case, their health insurance policy will cover 100% of the costs for the rest of the year. But when January 1^st rolls back around, the insurance plans are reset, and patients start back at the beginning.

So the last few months and weeks of every year are when most patients try to cram in their elective procedures – colonoscopies, hysterectomies, knee replacements, and hernia surgeries being some of the most popular during this time. And although I’m sure that hospitals and doctors are grateful for this extra business at the end of the year, it’s actually quite sad that our insurance system forces people to manage their health this way. It’s further proof that our health care and health insurance systems need to be reformed. We need to find some sort of “happy medium” – where patients can get affordable medical care when they need it, not just when they’ve paid their “dues.”