The Insanity Of Medical Costs

[PILOON]

Quote "Great point! Salesman have THEIR interests at heart, not YOURS."

Sorry, that's not always true.
A rep that's on straight commission perhaps but generally a salaried rep has purer motivations.

As a rep I worked under both systems and hated commission style, in fact quit ASAP as it ended up being dog eat dog.

AND I also was briefly a pharmaceutic rep, salaried, and I think most are.
In the trade they are called 'detail reps' as their job is to communicate the details of whatever drugs they rep and that includes the pros and cons, eg contraindications and side effects.

 

[Travelover]

Good article today written by a physician that finds her husband on the other side of the medical billing fence. It lists many of the outrageous things doctors and hospitals are allowed to do that would be fraud in any other business. Opinion | Where the Frauds Are All Legal - The New York Times

 

[wawajake]

Not meant as a political statement...
But after reading 10 pages of posts ....I am so glad that when my parents emigrated from Holland after the Second World war that they chose Canada to live and raise our family. We have never had the shadow of concern and financial costs over our heads if we got sick or any surgeries etc. I feel sorry for the many Americans here that live with that burden daily. My heart goes out to you.

 

[5030]

All I can say is, I'm sure glad we have high option BC / BS and Medicare. Last fall and this spring I went through colon cancer and while I lost some parts and I'm still dealing with related items, my total out of pocket expense has been 40 bucks on an almost 1 million dollar total bill. 2 things weren't covered, an optical refraction and one test I could have opted out of.

I'm blessed I have the coverage. Not cheap but worth every penny we pay monthly.

Have no issue with out coverage at all. In fact, it's priceless.

 

[otlski]

A friend of mine sent me this article several years back.
https://time.com/198/bitter-pill-why-medical-bills-are-killing-us/
still shaking my head...

 

[5030]

Always been my view that insurance, in general is worthless until you need it. At that point it's worth everything, especially medical insurance. Most any medical procedure can and will bankrupt you unless you have sufficient coverage and not having coverage is a fools way of thinking.

 

[Travelover]

Always been my view that insurance, in general is worthless until you need it. At that point it's worth everything, especially medical insurance. Most any medical procedure can and will bankrupt you unless you have sufficient coverage and not having coverage is a fools way of thinking.

I agree, but that's not really the issue. Why should medical procedures bankrupt you? When other countries do it better for less you have to ask, "why not us?" Sure, other countries have higher taxes, but we pay a hidden tax - if your employer provides $12,000+ a year in "free" insurance, you know that is $12,000+ less in wages that you are earning. Congress runs every two years and they spend 23 months of that grubbing for campaign money. Who has deeper pockets - you or the medical industry? Oh and by the way, you are limited in what you can contribute, but through various PACs, their contributions are bottomless. It doesn't have to be this way.

 

[ruffdog]

I agree, but that's not really the issue. Why should medical procedures bankrupt you? When other countries do it better for less you have to ask, "why not us?" Sure, other countries have higher taxes, but we pay a hidden tax - if your employer provides $12,000+ a year in "free" insurance, you know that is $12,000+ less in wages that you are earning. Congress runs every two years and they spend 23 months of that grubbing for campaign money. Who has deeper pockets - you or the medical industry? Oh and by the way, you are limited in what you can contribute, but through various PACs, their contributions are bottomless. It doesn't have to be this way.

^^agree. People wonder why healthcare is expensive....why is insurance expensive....why? Why...because they can! Because the public is not questioning the industry's business model.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^agree. People wonder why healthcare is expensive....why is insurance expensive....why? Why...because they can! Because the public is not questioning the industry's business model.

Actually some do. About 10 years ago the system was "overhauled"... another layer of bureaucracy was added. We have seen the results.

 

[Ken]

Actually some do. About 10 years ago the system was "overhauled"... another layer of bureaucracy was added. We have seen the results.

year 1959 having work insurance and then added my wife to the policy.( The one Paul Harvey pushed for so many years) and reading the policy after the baby was denied it stated my wife having Polio in right side. Was not covered only left side of her body and the baby was on right side.
Hosp. gave me a discount . And the administrater said it had been years since seen this type of comment on health policy.

Polio at age 4 and minor problems health wise. still no real other issues than old age. health policys are good investment todays market.
ken