Patients using epi pens average using them once or twice a year if at all; the expiation date is about 3 years. Average cost per year then would be less than $200 to prevent a problem. Cancer Meds vastly exceed that. Vycodin vastly exceeds that. Motrin (OTC) is about the same for OA patients. I fail to see the problem. If we pick an "exception to the rules" to make a point, we should make sure we pick the right one. Better look at the diabetic injectors if you need an example--they certainly are out of control, given the competition. In that field, I smell collusion....
I agree to an extent, but if you're in an acute medical situation there is no way to evaluate which hospital you should go to based on cost, or what treatments are medically necessary, the **** goes down, then sometime after you recover (hopefully) bills by the fistful start arriving at your doorstep. The other issue is that most insurance provider networks are affiliated with one specific hospital. So if my PCP refers me for some medical procedure, then it will happen at Exeter Hospital (in my case), otherwise I'll be out-of-network and would get charged at some crazy price. There are cost issues at every level of the system. There is no one tweak that will fix this, short of a full comprehensive review of the entire medical delivery system. Case in point, several years ago I had a strange medical issue and was referred to a specialist (Endocrinologist). I called to make an appointment, and was told they were taking appointments 8 months out, say what? I told them I'd either be dead or better by then, and hung up. Oh, and the cost to see this specialist was $500 to walk into their office. Which led me to question, why are there so few Endocrinologists? Turns out the number of specialists is controlled by the ACGME which sets the number of residency training positions, so fewer positions, means more cash in the pockets of specialists currently in practice, and the ACGME is run by, specialists.
Good point, and it is exactly that what socialized medicine does in socialized countries. We know first hand as my wife is Canadian, and we have a list of long wait horror stories for family events to include breast cancer, lymphoma (currently occurring), and a cousin with a brain tumor (9 month wait period due to government controlled number of neurosurgeons). This is the point against socialized medicine, not FOR it. The ACGME is run by a social medicine mentality from members of Ivy League Medical Schools. I called on them for 30 years as I worked in pharma They sucked then, and still do.
Agreed. And, worse yet, creates absolutely misery in needy patients, many of whom, are OUR family members. So, that should be enough for ALL of us to care about this. My view is this: Hospitals exist to treat patients appropriately. Doctors do extensive education to help patients appropriately. Pharmaceuticals go through great expense, research time, regulation to make medical solutions for those patients. Insurance companies contribute ZERO, NOTHING, NADA--they are in it solely for the money. Solution: Get Insurance companies OUT of the equation- it is a great start. Let them insure my car, my house, etc.
Yup, it's scary when someone at the insurance company can prevent your loved one from having the treatment they require.
That is a good question, and I regret to say, it would have do be done via national legislation. I can think of no other way presently. Any others have suggestions (I would prefer to avoid having the government get into ANYTHING healthcare wise)??
No, just a legal mandate to keep insurance companies away from earning money in health care. As for single payer, that means government--that has ALWAYS been a disaster. Government is the Insurance Company SUMMA CUM LAUDE--they will let you die to save a penny--the bureaucrats annual raise/bonus depends on you dying!!!
o barry, I don't understand. Why would an insurance company want to be in business if it couldn't earn a profit?
and if for some reason they did, what incentive is there for them to improve their products or customer service other than profit incentive?
They don't have a product. A product is something your produce, you manufacture. They do nothing of the sort. But they have you believing that they do. They suck. They sell false security--all insurance is a fraud. All, no exceptions. It is why they need legislators to pass laws to have you buy insurance. Because 99% knows, when a claim is filed, they get either nothing, or a lot less than contract. They do everything possible to not pay. Everything.
I agree insurance companies are a huge problem in that area but I think the are also needed for certain situations like majory surgery with extreme costs. If you don't have insurance, you will lose everything or possibly have to file bankruptcy.
Sure...if they pay. Keep in mind, insurance agents get promotions and bonuses in accordance with how much money they RETAIN, not how much they pay out. Now, if you want health insurance, then you pay the company, and you do the paper work. Don't have hospitals and doctors involved in process. The insurance companies and the hospital will abuse it. Guaranteed. 100%
The Hospitals do but NOT the Doctors "in network" Let me add my short story to this how shocking and unfair and stacked the insurance Industry is among the players who manage our health care. Its been a few years so getting easier to talk about this now. I had a major operation covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield; I was on the table for 8 hours, Doctor # 1 spent 4 hours doing his specialty and Doctor # 2 spent 4 hours of reconstructive surgery. I spent over a week following the operation in intensive care hooked up to more tubes and consistent parade of nurses. Then 60 days later received the Blue Cross Blue Shield statements; the hospital bill was $100,000 and they were reimbursed 100% of their bill for all services. Doctor # 1 billed BCBS $6000 for his procedure but because he is "In Network" BCBS only paid him $900 for the 4 hour procedure. Upon a follow up appointment with Doctor # 1 asked him why they only paid him $900? He commented this is how it works, I'm "In Network" so BCBS contractual practitioner, they have guidelines what they'll pay for certain medical procedures and we Doctors accept that compensation. I told him not fair, the hospital received 100% of their billing, Doctor stated they always do. So after 8 years of medical training and several years residency the system treatment does NOT compensate Doctors fairly. So those who have said Doctors are also part of the escalating problem and costs of health care my experience does not validate that opinion. I told my Doctor, I can not personally justify the amount he was paid and opened my check book to pay him the difference for saving my life. He refused, he said I still make a good living and its not always about the money. On another note, for many of us who have Blue Cross Blue Shield, each State like Maryland is Care First BCBS and Delaware is High Mark BCBS yet while under the Blue Cross Blue Shield umbrella they both pay so much differently for same medical services and procedures, but Why? I just had an colonoscopy, my out of State BCBS covers the procedure 100% but since I live in Delaware the Doctor has to bill the local BSBC by protocol for the procedure, High Mark BSBC of Delaware only paid 80%. This is so F**K Up, I pay my premiums to the out of State BCBS so they should bill them but they can't so I have to call my out of state BCBS carrier then they instruct the local BCBS to pay the remaining portion of the bill. I have friends on Capital Hill, one is a lobbyist for a BCBS carrier: Why can't you buy BCBS or any other medical insurance across State lines like auto & home owners. He said this was done as far back as prior or after WWII, Medical Insurance Companies were granted protected regions allowed to operate independent of each other granting protection from competition. The lobbying forces behind this created "Rico" and monopolies so intense Congress has never been able to undo the horrible mistake granted them some 70 years ago. We can only hope Congress finally fixes this in justice ...........................
OBAMA RATED 5th BEST PRESIDENT IN OUR HISTORY From a total of 44 US Presidents: Obama is rated as the 5th best. The A&M's Public Relations Office released this statement "After 8 years in office, Americans have rated President Obama the 5th best President ever." These are the details according to Texas A&M: 1. Reagan & Lincoln tied for first, 2. Twenty three presidents tied for second, 3. Seventeen other presidents tied for third, 4. Jimmy Carter came in fourth, and 5. Obama came in fifth.
