tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715177301783698149.post5764416667225923754..comments2023-03-25T03:25:13.026-07:00Comments on BACK IN THE USSR: HEALTH CARE: WHY DOES IT HURT (OUR BUDGET)?DiscConnectedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07013919800637508392noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715177301783698149.post-109440726213400112013-11-12T10:31:25.409-08:002013-11-12T10:31:25.409-08:00Robin-
Stop bullying insurance companies! (bad M...Robin-<br /><br />Stop bullying insurance companies! (bad Miami Dolphins allusion)<br /><br />I've spent most of my adult working life in and around insurance, and I think catastrophic health insurance is a good thing to cover one's self against severe medical costs (similar to auto insurance-one does not typically insure the fender bender).<br /><br />I think I would counter that HMO's were the worst thing, since America got used to zero out of pocket for health care. Employer sponsored health plans were also bad because America got used to thier health care being paid for by someone else and did not care anymore what it cost.<br /><br />Enter the employer-insurer partnership to control costs (not a malicious thing) and you have exactly what you describe.<br /><br />Insurance companies do make a profit, as do all for-profit entities. Mutual insurance companies, while their mission is not necessarily to make a profit, also do. Any not-for-profit entity that runs a loss will not survive for long. I do not want to sing the blues for insurance copanies, but I will tell you that their margins on each dollar of premium is a lot closer to a supermarket margin (pennies) than a jewelry store. They make their money on a lot of volume and on investing the premium dollars.<br /><br />That said, utilities are regulated by their states, as are insurance companies. Why don't the states get more involved in setting prices?<br /><br />Oh well, Obama has apologized and promised to fix everything so we have nothing to worry about, right?DiscConnectedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07013919800637508392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715177301783698149.post-26041837661726070172013-11-12T10:22:28.643-08:002013-11-12T10:22:28.643-08:00CW....but you can keep your plan if you like it......CW....but you can keep your plan if you like it....or maybe not.<br /><br />There is no question our system needs adjusting, but ObamaCare was a whole lot of legislation that didn't really adjust anything.<br /><br />LarryDiscConnectedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07013919800637508392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715177301783698149.post-79413030914428664402013-11-11T14:11:14.383-08:002013-11-11T14:11:14.383-08:00When I first head of Ron Paul, I read everything I...When I first head of Ron Paul, I read everything I could find about him on the internet. I am sure that you know everything I am about to say... but he was a medical doctor before he was a politician. And he adamantly states that health insurance was the worst thing that ever happened to health care. Before health insurance, everyone got treated. Even the poor were taken care of in every community. It was an agreement between the doctor and the patient and the insurance company was not privy to the discussion. With the advent of health insurance, that dialogue between doctor and patient is non-existent. Instead, medical decisions and the costs of those decisions are all made by an entity that knows NOTHING about health care. It is purely a financial moneymaker. Our deteriorating health and the advent of health insurance = not a coincidence.<br /><br />Changing the dialogue will be tough. I don't see insurance companies going anywhere. Why would they when they are making a killing???? And fixed pricing... well, if the doctor cannot find out the price ahead of time.... how will the patient?Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14932408372240147454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715177301783698149.post-6830002430806377562013-11-11T13:58:19.588-08:002013-11-11T13:58:19.588-08:00Your two headed main point was the basis of a disc...Your two headed main point was the basis of a discussion with my son yesterday afternoon... I put it this way-" The thing that got everyone stirred up about health reform was twofold- treble damages and high prices from the pharmaceutical companies, and Obamacare did nothing for either one. Try to tell his voters that."<br /><br />On the Willy Wonka meme- don't dare me.CWMartinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06798867734074134647noreply@blogger.com