General Discussion

Seeking Serenity

(3,322 posts)

12. But what's the answer?

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Thu Oct 30, 2014, 03:34 PM

Oct 2014

And don't say single-payer, because that won't do much re: the COST of health care with respect to the overall system. Because a $3,000 MRI scan is still gonna cost $3,000 no matter if a private insurance company is paying or the government is paying.

So what's the answer? Stop getting expensive radiology scans and so forth that can and do detect issues that can be treated so as to save lives or relieve suffering? People just quit using the health care system? Stop trying to find cures or new, better medications for diseases or maladies that will save lives or relieve suffering? People just need to suffer more, like in the good ol' days? Government price controls (because AFAIK those rarely work, price controls only serves to reduce supply)?

This isn't intended to be snark. I'm truly interested. What is the answer?

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Highlight:

It's time to get mad about the outrageous cost of health care - Consumer Reports [View all] Playinghardball Oct 2014 OP

K&R abelenkpe Oct 2014 #1

i cannot even go for simple stuff anymore, they have jacked up the price so seabeyond Oct 2014 #2

And yet, US life expectancy ranks 32nd amongst all nations. closeupready Oct 2014 #3

Not to mention the profit for the insurance companies. Do any of the other countries mentioned have jwirr Oct 2014 #4

Paying $37 for a $0.25 aspirin can't be fun for the insurance companies. Nuclear Unicorn Oct 2014 #19

we have been compaining about insurance companies for years J_J_ Oct 2014 #38

Some of them do, but it is not for profit. subterranean Oct 2014 #20

Whatever the market will bear. The triumph of capitalism. Tierra_y_Libertad Oct 2014 #5

I can't afford the $140.00 medication that really works well so I get Autumn Oct 2014 #6

Maybe, maybe not. nt kelliekat44 Oct 2014 #11

step one: all medical practitioners must post fees/charges on the internet for public viewing. msongs Oct 2014 #7

It's not the medical practitioners.... physioex Oct 2014 #26

Part of the problem is that there isn't one or two easily correctable sources for the increase. Xithras Oct 2014 #8

It is getting seriously disgusting what the billionaires are doing to this country. Initech Oct 2014 #9

Premiums skyrocketing by 20 percent woo me with science Oct 2014 #10

Try some facts, and not the conservative scare machine ones frazzled Oct 2014 #31

But what's the answer? Seeking Serenity Oct 2014 #12

Look across the borders and the answers are all over the place. The people simply don't let those jtuck004 Oct 2014 #13

Thank you. woo me with science Oct 2014 #15

as the article points out, $$ decisions are out of the consumer's hands, BlancheSplanchnik Oct 2014 #16

There are 400+ million consumers. There are, what, a million (generously) really profiting jtuck004 Oct 2014 #21

we need to organize. that requires someone to lead the 400 million. BlancheSplanchnik Oct 2014 #22

"Leadership", I'm told, and what you seem to lean on, is how we got here. Maybe we need something jtuck004 Oct 2014 #24

so do it, man. BlancheSplanchnik Oct 2014 #27

Read The Healing of America by TR Reid spooky3 Oct 2014 #17

2 answers: dixiegrrrrl Oct 2014 #18

saving this post for future reference. should be an OP BlancheSplanchnik Oct 2014 #23

you are pathetically misinformed Doctor_J Oct 2014 #30

Medicare for all. It lets you bargain for a reasonable rate on that MRI. grahamhgreen Oct 2014 #34

Consumer Reports is a unionized company!!! Omaha Steve Oct 2014 #14

It's all about paperwork, etc. loyalsister Oct 2014 #25

and now we all have to participate in the farce KG Oct 2014 #28

But the ACA is working!!! Doctor_J Oct 2014 #29

Yes, it is frazzled Oct 2014 #32

Healthcare premiums in my company will go down in 2015 bhikkhu Oct 2014 #33

And at mine they went up by 35% Doctor_J Oct 2014 #36

until single payer is a reality hopemountain Oct 2014 #35

Single Player Plus colsohlibgal Oct 2014 #37

It's time now, is it? malthaussen Oct 2014 #39

The insurance companies have no real incentive to cut costs. hunter Oct 2014 #40

K&R&bookmark JEB Oct 2014 #41

See what your doctor is getting from pharmaceutical companies: yellowwoodII Oct 2014 #42

Past time... daleanime Oct 2014 #43

The time period covered by this report ... staggerleem Oct 2014 #44