Reader comments
Push to fix health care starts

Bob G | 6:28 a.m. Jan. 30, 2008

I wish government would get it out of their heads that tax funded insurance payments, whether for children or adults is a lost cause and too much of a burden to put on tax payers. Adults need health care as well as children and for them to put the health of children a sounding board to feed insurance companies is rediculouse. In the end, taxpayers as well as children will lose in the battle for health care with a socialized insurance plan. The only ones who will benefit is the insurance companies, which many of our legislators have financial interest invested in these companies. Investigate the costs of health care, don't feed the insurance companies and it won't cost the taxpayers a cent. Giving money to insuracne companies are not the answer to child health care, what happened to the days when a family could afford health care insurance and why has it skyrocketed beyond the means of a family to afford it? That's the billion dollar question or legislators should be asking. Fix the profiteering by insurance and health care facilities and it will fix the cost of health care insurance so a family can afford it.

Hang On | 6:35 a.m. Jan. 30, 2008

If the legislatures past is any indicator the poor health care workers better hang on for their lives. Once the legislature gets involved things are bound to get pretty interesting.

Joe | 8:39 a.m. Jan. 30, 2008

Please remove the requirement for an insurance policy to be tied to the HSA, so I can use it to get a tax break on my medical expenses, same as the big employers do for their employees who pay for it with pre-tax dollars. Or sponsor a state equivalent to the HSA that doesn't requre an insurance policy.

Remember that for most people, when they say that they want health insurance, what they are thinking is that they want free health care. The employed generally have no idea how much they are actually paying, just what their small contribution is. They must produce what the employer pays or he couldn't pay it for them, it's really all the employees money. If they did know what it cost, most would opt out if allowed to, just like they would opt out of social security if they could. And the poor are just lining up for another free card.

The only way to control costs is to enable the consumer to be responsible for the cost, with an HSA (health savings account) type program.

Comments continue below

Spencer McGee | 8:59 a.m. Jan. 30, 2008

Bob G is right. Look at the cost of health care first. It disturbs me that there is such a HUGE profit motivation in the health care industry. It scares me to think that a doctor is in the healthcare business just for the money. And if that's not the case, there should be no reason we can't limit costs.

Why does one aspirin cost me $6 at a hospital when I can get an entire bottle for less at Walgreens? Answer: Because politicians let them get away with it.

The Healthcare industry isn't your typical business that operates within the laws of supply and demand - we all need healthcare and we can't stop going to the hospital because they charge too much. Why can't the gov't regulate what a hospital and a doctor charges?

The Truth | 9:20 a.m. Jan. 30, 2008

Actually the answer to the aspirin question is because consumers let them get away with it. I agree with Clark that some of this has to do with patient responsibility. If we were paying out of our pocket for that aspirin we would refuse to pay 6 dollars for one aspirin. If enough people began refusing to pay those type of ridiculous amounts for service then we would see providers start to make changes.

Scott Wakefield | 10:15 a.m. Jan. 30, 2008

We recently had my son in the hospital for three days, and because my wife is a nurse, we were able to go home using home health care. There were resiritory problems, so the hospital ordered a pulse-oxymeter so we could keep tabs on his oxygen saturations. We had the machine for 5 days then we didn't need it anymore. They came and picked it up and gave me the bill. It cost me over $750 (I could have BOUGHT three of them)for the machine. I was so angry I called the company for some answers. The first person I spoke with made me even madder because he was a complete idiot. I asked for a manger and found out that they charged me for 30 days. I told them that was unacceptable and I wouldn't pay it. The manager, after several conversations with her, told me they would charge me only for one week. Had I not called and created a fuss (squeeky wheel) they would have made alot of money taking advantage of me and the insurance company. That type of criminal activity must stop, and insurance companies held accountable!

Government Involvement | 10:19 a.m. Jan. 30, 2008

Actually, the cost of the aspirin is due to overhead. Next time you go to the hospital check out how many people actually work there. Youï¿½ve got housekeepers, maintenance crews, analysts, nurses, etc. The cost of the services provided by these people is not free. Not to mention the cost of the building, and the equipment. All these things have to be paid for. If all you need is aspirin, go to Wal-Mart and stay in bed. If you need youï¿½re spleen removed, best come in and understand there are a lot of people who are contributing to your care.

There is nothing wrong with making money while providing a service. It amazes me that weï¿½re okay with every business we buy goods from to make a profit, but a hospital canï¿½t. That makes no sense.

The answer is simple, the government needs to get out of the way. Anytime government gets involved, the cost goes up, the quality goes down. Please name for me one area where government got involved and things got better. Look at government involved healthcare in Canada and Europe, what a joke.

Spencer McGee | 12:02 p.m. Jan. 30, 2008

How can you compare healthcare to any other good or service? If the price for a Lexus is too much, I can buy a Buick. If the price for gas is too much, I can take Trax. If the price for Meadow gold milk is too much, I'll buy Winder Dairy. If I can't afford the price for health care, my alternative could be to die. There IS something wrong with making excessive money while providing a service that consumers have no choice but to use. It's extortion.

Government involvement doesn't necessarily mean government run as in Canada and Europe. You're equating the two. The government is already involved in regulating insurance premiums and has been for decades. Do you see insurance companies starving to death? Why can't the government regulate health care costs the same way?

BTW - An overwhelming percentage of Canadians and Europeans would not give up their gov't run health care for the American system, even if their taxes were significantly lower.

Get real - Do you honestly think anyone goes to a hospital ONLY to get an Aspirin?

uninsured | 12:18 p.m. Jan. 30, 2008

Spencer, you are right, The Canadians and Europians won't give up their way of medical coverage because it has been working for them. I worked all my life and paid my insurance bill. But now that I am no longer ablr to work,and I am not old enough for medicare, I am without any insurance, and have no accsess to medical help. When an illegel can come and the state gives them help, something is very wrong with the whole system.

Spencer McGee | 12:29 p.m. Jan. 30, 2008

Uninsured, According to Government Involvement, if you get sick you should be glad you don't live in Canada. You're better off paying for it here in the U.S., even if it means losing your home and everything else you've worked hard for all of your life. At least you'll have your ailment fixed by a doctor whose main motivation is making a profit, not making you better.

BTW Governement Involvement, if you think this country doesn't already have socialuzed medicaine, you're mistaken. It's called Medicaid. And they get more treatment options than those who have insurance. WOW! Socialized medicine in the U.S. that is actually working?!?!?

My Two Cents | 3:42 p.m. Jan. 30, 2008

I agree that the biggest crisis is the rising cost of care. The current system of managed care isn't working, and I fear the government "fix" will be even more of the same.

What we have is:
*Patients unaware of costs until months after service.
*Undecipherable charges when the bills do come.
*Confusing allocation of charges ie $6/aspirin (and housekeeping)
*Low patient incentive to keep costs down
*Low patient incentive to get preventative care.

What we need is (Most of this could be done on the private level):
*Up front pricing. When you are checking in with the receptionist. ("Here is a list of what we are planning on doing today. Here is the total cost, and how much you owe in co-pay/co-ins/deductible") If an auto mechanic can give you an estimate, why not the doctor?
*Sensible billing. How about a room rate at a hospital that includes "housekeepers, maintenance crews, analysts, nurses" and maybe even aspirin.
*Incentives for keeping costs down:
**scaled-subsides:
***Preventative: highly subsidized
***Necessary: mostly subsidized
***Quality of life: partly subsidized
***Elective: you are on your own.
**Discounts for maintaining your health:
***Lower rates on surgery for colon cancer if you've had regular colonoscopies. etc.
**Discounts-for-agreeing-to-use mediation

Anonymous | 3:44 p.m. Jan. 30, 2008

To: Spencer McGee | 12:29 p.m. Jan. 30, 2008
I have been on Medicaid. You are wrong! I couldn't see my Dr. of choice. I wasn't allowed to have certain types of proceedures done. HMO was bad enough, having the government BE the HMO would be much worse.

In the Health field | 5:44 p.m. Jan. 30, 2008

One way to help, but not usually addressed is to limit lawsuits. In Canada lawsuits are very limited to how much a jury can award. No such limit in the United States. I have to charge more to make mal practice insurance payments that keep going up and up, yet I have never had a claim against me in 30 years (knock on wood).

Spencer McGee | 7:35 p.m. Jan. 30, 2008

My Two Cents and In the Health Field, I think you are both on to something. Great suggestions and insight!!!!

Anonymous - Trust me! You DO get more treatment options than most private insurance plans. That may not necessarily mean you get to choose your doctor, but you get more drugs covered, more procedures covered (including dental and optometry), and it's FREE! (Actually, it's free to you. I ended up paying for it. You're welcome)

Anonymous | 9:28 p.m. Jan. 30, 2008

To: Spencer McGee | 7:35 p.m. Jan. 30, 2008
Thank you.
FYI I have since repaid the system as a tax payer. I was a victim of domestic violence; I needed a hand up not a hand out. The dental coverage was willing to pull my teeth not repair them. I was denied a "medically necessary" treatment while I was on Medicaid. The Dr. ended up doing it at a reduced amount with years of very low payments and no interest.
Trust me! I have lived in Canada; YOU don't want the universal health care system.

A health care provider | 11:03 p.m. Jan. 30, 2008

If you think physician salaries are the main problem in health care, please consider this:

Doctors require a minimum of 11 years of training beyond high school to practice medicine. That much training is not cheap. Loans must be repaid.

Malpractice insurance costs tens of thousands of dollars per year.

60% of collections go to practice overhead - facilities, staff, utilities, supplies, etc. Not to doctors!

Health insurance premiums rise 7-12% per year. Reimbursements for services rises <1% per year - slower than the pace of inflation.

Regarding insurance: Many top ten drugs have gone generic over the past five years including drugs for diabetes, cholesterol, depression, acid reflux and heart disease, to name a few. Insurers force patients to accept cheaper alternatives.

Care is getting restricted with insurers refusing to cover many procedures that were covered in the past.

Where is the money going, since premiums always rise, and doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies are getting less?

The problems with health care costs is due at least in part to insurers charging more, paying less and keeping huge profits to finance CEO salaries, bonuses, stock options, etc. CEO's today make more than Tiger Woods.

Don't blame the physicians!

MD | 11:20 p.m. Jan. 30, 2008

disclaimer: I am a Primary care MD,trying to make a living. My business is high through-put: lots comes in , lots go out, I take home very little. considering the many costs: supplies, mortgage/heating/cooling/ staff, malpractice, my overhead is huge.Despite continually rising costs of just being in business, I get paid whatever the ins. co. wants to pay me. I made more when I was in the Air Force 10 yrs ago. Medicare is slated to drop payments 10% later this year. Medicaid pays me the equiv. of $6.00/hr, when they pay at all. It is nearly impossible for Medicaid patients to see a specialist. I may well drop medicaid and medicare because it costs me more to stay in business than they pay, I have to at least break even, so Gov't healthcare does not look promising. The ins. cos. keep 1/3 of your premium just to review EVERY claim to see if they can get out of paying. We spend 2 trillion $/yr on healthcare but you need to look at who gets what part of the pie. Govt regulations/ malpractice, etc, as well as big Pharma and ins. co. take the majority of the pie. NEEDS revision

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