There is a guy on that popular series "Gold Rush" who is down and out financially and joined the crew to try to strike it rich. In the off season between the 1st and 2nd expedition he had major back surgery. Surely he didn't have "insurance" but got major care anyway. How so?
There is no health care crisis. The medical industry is making trillions on their products and services. It is a booming time for medicine in the USA. They got the media scaring people into getting evaluations and medications, they got people geting evaluations of all kinds for no reason. And the cost is so high for services, doctors and the medical industry is making huge profits.
Well, they are making millions the same way military industrial complex make billions, by just sucking money out of U.S. Federal budget (taxpayers). The government is on guard making sure that Health Care providers and Big Pharm have no competition so they can charge exorbitant prices for their services.
Y'all misunderstood. The "Healthcare Crisis" I was referring to was the perception that MANY do not have access to healthcare. I believe that simply isn't true.
It isn't about access and the liberals know it. The problem is people don't want to have to pay the true cost of their health care. They want it spread around society and anyone who doesn't mind paying the true cost of their healthcare alone and asks only that they not be forced to pay other people's health care are "mean".
You are (almost) abosolutely right. I remain confused at what "true cost" means. For example I'm on medicare and when I get my Explanation of Benefits from them they show they paid a tiny percentage of the bill which was accepted as full payment so ???????????? What did the care REALLY cost the provider?
My uncle was a doctor from the '40's to the 70's. Before Medicare came along he practiced in the bottom floor of his house. His wife was his nurse and they did ALL of the work medical and administrative. He was an excellent physician and before Medicare was actually lower middle class. After Medicare he became upper middle class after hiring a nurse and a secretary/administrator. Again ????????????
That was my question. If providers routinely accept a small portion of their billings for Medicare/Medicaid and substantially same kind of arrangement for the insured and live in the finest houses and drive the best cars (after paying a fortune for their schooling), what was the "true cost" to them for the services provided.
For example: My wife had day surgery at the hosp the total bill was over $8,000 - Medicare paid less than $1,500 (by law the provider MUST accept the Medicare amount as full payment) I paid a 20% copay of less than $300. and BTW what did the hosp acct dept do with that $6,500 difference ????? Was it a tax write off or what????????????
It's great that you believe that, but your belief doesn't change reality. Millions of people have no insurance and no means to pay. The guy you mentioned? Who knows how he paid for it? A private benefactor, or maybe he's in debt for it, or maybe he's doing better financially than the show portrays, as it is made to be dramatic.
Just because many Americans cannot afford medical care does not mean it is a healthcare crisis. It is a job opportunity crisis. Stop trying to treat the symptoms of the problem, and focus on the root. Wages have gone down into the toilet, and the cost of land has become increasing unaffordable. It is true. Second generation hispanic children of undocumented immigrants do not have access to healthcare. Nor do the blacks who lost their jobs to immigrant workers.
That "saw" is the mantra that has been used for years. In my VERY small city we have three public clinics (four if you include mental health)who treat such people at no charge and arranges hosp care when required at no cost. The millions without "insurance" get health care anyway. Insurance - NO , Access - YES
Get yourself a decent health service like ours, pay national insurance like sensible people, and stop worrying. It is a no-brainer.
Thank you - I appreciate it. (I hope that helps) But, trust me, since you are privately insured your bill would have also been substantially reduced per the agreement between your insurer and the provider. The question remains how is the difference (in both cases) handled from an accounting standpoint. That is; if it is claimed as a loss on the provider's income tax it is a further government subsidy.
That is correct! It's job opportunity crisis, not healthcare crisis. If we have good jobs, it carries with it healthcare benefits. If not, we can afford to pay one.
Well, depends whether you want to live in a civilized society for a year or two before Herr Karmeron destroys it, I suppose. We like it, whereas you all seem unbelievably miserable with your happy lot.