Healthcare is broken

[Shadow01]

I had an MRI done on my shoulder not too long ago and the healthcare provider billed $2500 for it. The insurance company negotiated it down to $300. They didn't pay the other $2200, they just only pay $300 and because the provider is in-network, they have to accept that and I get to pay $300. That original charge was an 800% markup from what they are willing to accept for that service. If I walked in off the street, I would have had to pay that $2500 unless I did some sort of cash negotiation with them. I am just venting but this system is freaking broken.

The fix for treatment and drugs is the same. Allow these hospitals and drug companies to negotiate all they want, but the accepted rate will be the lowest rate negotiated country wide. For the drugs make it global. What ever the cheapest price a drug is supplied in any country, that will be the highest price the US will allow it to be sold at here.

 

[Twangbanger]

You had me up until the single payer aspect.

The market should be more open and decouple it from solely being an employer based benefit. I'm not against it being available as an employer benefit (I myself considered it heavily each time I have moved jobs, and even took a little less $$ at start due to great healthcare benefits), as that can help companies attract employees, but decoupling it and allowing reasonable, competitive options outside of employment as well would be a great thing, and free up labor to move even more freely between jobs.

I'm not interested at all in a single payer system. Lack of competition has seldom if ever produced something better.

I'm not looking forward at all to enrolling in medicare as I believe it will be a significant step down from what I have today.

I will never forget during the Congressional debates to pass Obamacare, when the "Public Option" was still part of it, how many people at my workplace said if it passed, they were retiring immediately and getting on it.

If employers in this country ever band together and drop coverage and just hand people a check, and let them go try their hand at negotiating it themselves...you will get Single Payer in this country faster than you can say furious. People are going to demand somebody go to bat and negotiate for them against the providers and insurance companies.

If you do not believe me...go back and look at the OP.

 

[ancjr]

A lot of these crazy high bills are due to the government involvement in our healthcare.

You all remember, back when we let them pass government healthcare, right?

A lot of smart people said at that time, "Just wait, healthcare will never be more expensive then when it becomes "free healthcare."

There's nothing more expensive than a free government program.

 

[Leo]

I had an MRI done on my shoulder not too long ago and the healthcare provider billed $2500 for it. The insurance company negotiated it down to $300. They didn't pay the other $2200, they just only pay $300 and because the provider is in-network, they have to accept that and I get to pay $300. That original charge was an 800% markup from what they are willing to accept for that service. If I walked in off the street, I would have had to pay that $2500 unless I did some sort of cash negotiation with them. I am just venting but this system is freaking broken.

I agree, it is ALL scam. NOT ONE part of the whole industry is fair and honest, including the drug companies. I never needed for very much healthcare, until the 1st heart attack Jan, 2012. I have been in the thick of it ever since. Even with certified letters with cc: to my attorney, not one honest answer can be had, even on routine testing. The guy selling weed out of the back of his van has more integrity.

There are darn few healers in the industry, most of them are businessmen. Take a look at the salaries of the top 50 salaried people at any hospital, they are the ones that do not work on patients.

 

[indyblue]

And there is no good reason I shouldnt be able to buy insurance from providers in other states. I remembered learning about that when I worked for a tech company that was elbows deep in the healthcare insurance industry.

My last employer was based in Mass. and I had Massachusetts' BCBS. I had great coverage and the company just happend to pay all deductibles. I paid a $50 copay out of $115K of bills. I miss that job/insurance.

 

[nucular]

My last employer was based in Mass. and I had Massachusetts' BCBS. I had great coverage and the company just happend to pay all deductibles. I paid a $50 copay out of $115K of bills. I miss that job/insurance.

Must depend on the company. I have bcbs of MA and it ain't great.

 

[BJHay]

I'm not interested at all in a single payer system. Lack of competition has seldom if ever produced something better.
I'm not looking forward at all to enrolling in Medicare as I believe it will be a significant step down from what I have today.

I think we're close. I don't want a single-payer system, but I retired two years ago and entered the exchange for healthcare, it's a mess. Yes, two years to Medicare, and I'm looking forward to paying a lot less.

 

[wtburnette]

Healthcare / Insurance / Pharma in this country is an absolute show.

 

[Hookeye]

I will never forget during the Congressional debates to pass Obamacare, when the "Public Option" was still part of it, how many people at my workplace said if it passed, they were retiring immediately and getting on it.

If employers in this country ever band together and drop coverage and just hand people a check, and let them go try their hand at negotiating it themselves...you will get Single Payer in this country faster than you can say furious. People are going to demand somebody go to bat and negotiate for them against the providers and insurance companies.

If you do not believe me...go back and look at the OP.

I was surprised when the Gov bailed out the auto companies that going on Obamacare wasn't part of the deal

 

[Leo]

Healthcare / Insurance / Pharma in this country is an absolute show.

That is the most unholy trinity that has ever been seen in this country, all directed by well greased palms of politicians.

 

[wtburnette]

That is the most unholy trinity that has ever been seen in this country, all directed by well greased palms of politicians.

I've called it the Axis of Evil for decades now.

 

[Ingomike]

Restoring Public Trust In Doctors

People no longer trust their doctors. In addition to survey evidence, there is increasing violence against healthcare workers, worsening burnout of doctors and nurses, and accelerating erosion of the caregiving workforce. Restoring trust starts wi...

www.americanthinker.com

 

[wtburnette]

Restoring Public Trust In Doctors

People no longer trust their doctors. In addition to survey evidence, there is increasing violence against healthcare workers, worsening burnout of doctors and nurses, and accelerating erosion of the caregiving workforce. Restoring trust starts wi...

www.americanthinker.com

They did it to themselves, there isn't anyone else to blame.

 

[Ingomike]

They did it to themselves, there isn't anyone else to blame.

The link is about fixing it…

 

[actaeon277]

They did it to themselves, there isn't anyone else to blame.

Not even bureaucrats?

 

[HoughMade]

I had an MRI done on my shoulder not too long ago and the healthcare provider billed $2500 for it. The insurance company negotiated it down to $300. They didn't pay the other $2200, they just only pay $300 and because the provider is in-network, they have to accept that and I get to pay $300. That original charge was an 800% markup from what they are willing to accept for that service. If I walked in off the street, I would have had to pay that $2500 unless I did some sort of cash negotiation with them. I am just venting but this system is freaking broken.

This is the direct result of Medicare, Medicaid and the presence of health insurance (which in turn is largely the result of wage controls), obliterating any notion of market forces controlling healthcare prices.

But, I guess it's too late to go back now.

 

[manifest destiny]

My primary doc stopped accepting any insurance. He offers a club rate, so to speak with unlimited visits, no copays and extremely reduced costs for in-house tests. Between joining that and paying cash for any scripts, my costs have decreased. We're a large family with kids at home so we maintain employer based insurance which kinda sucks 'cause it ain't cheap, but it covers the what ifs or specialists should one of us be referred. My wife has spent the last 30+ years working for a large hospital org that everbody here would recognize. When she retires, I'll have some stories to share.

 

[indyblue]

I still don't get why I can't buy insurance inter-state. That's the dumbest limitation I can think of. Wouldn't it be better for ins. cos. to have bigger pools of members to spread the risk and costs across many more states/members?

I also thought that was one of Trump's agenda items - to open up out of state healthcare. What ever happened to that?

 

[Ingomike]

If I walked in off the street, I would have had to pay that $2500 unless I did some sort of cash negotiation with them.

You could go to the $299 MRI place. I have heard good things about them.

 

[actaeon277]

I still don't get why I can't buy insurance inter-state. That's the dumbest limitation I can think of. Wouldn't it be better for ins. cos. to have bigger pools of members to spread the risk and costs across many more states/members?

I also thought that was one of Trump's agenda items - to open up out of state healthcare. What ever happened to that?

Each state is separate, because of the byzantine laws