kevmicsmi said:
I agree something needs to be done, but I think the problem stems from the enormous cost to become a doctor, along with the abuse of the insurance system by doctors and patients alike. I would like to see more medical savings accounts, or incentives from insurance companies to consumers on the cost of care purchased. I really feel that if people had incentive to find the best value of care from a doctor, the medical field would quickly become more competetive in pricing.
My insurance company's idea of forcing competitiveness is to contract with doctors for an amount so low that I get inadequate healthcare. In addition, the "choices" that are left to me consist of doctors who are at best marginal, since anyone who's any good will get patients on a cash basis and not file insurance. What this means is healthcare even for the insured is often "rationed." I can choose to spend my money on someone who knows his eggs, or I can let the insurance company pay and go to some incompetent who can't tell the difference between a sinus problem and a food allergy.
The other issue that has not come up here in regard to competitiveness is *geography.* You can't get on Amazon.com and order healthcare. You have to consume it whereever you are. It's all fine and well for the insurance company to find someone in rural GA who can work cheaper, but why should they expect me to drive 60 highway miles with my sick kid, in logjam traffic, to see such a doc, when there's one 5 minutes away? People will not do that ...
nor should they be asked to.
But this is exactly what they expect me to do, if God forbid anyone should get sick after normal working hours.
And when the kids and I are away for a month in the summer, then I get lousy coverage because they don't have any contracts with anyone in Michigan. But I still pay the same premiums, natch.
Sorry, kev. There is some abuse by doctors, but imv very little of it. What you call abuse I call, "trying to make a living." There is abuse on the part of some patients who are always running to the doctor every time they get a fart crosswise. And there is abuse by the insurance companies as well. They know darned well that if they stonewall patients long enough, some of them will just give up and eat the cost, and they won't have to pay.
And what exactly is the "best value of care" to an insurance company, kev? I'll tell you what it is: WHAT COSTS THEM LESS.
That isn't about value as you or I would think of it -- but it's exactly how *they* view it. Bottom line thinking. Good ol' free trade and all...whatta wonderful thing, solves all problems.
Yeah...tell me another fairy story...