Augen said:
Kasz216 said:
Augen said:
Here is my question. Why does it all cost so much? I had a small injury that required 8 stitches. The total cost for 15 minutes to put them in and 10 minutes a week later to take them out came to...$3000! My insurance covered $1700 leaving me to pay $1300 for a random act despite last time went to the doctor was 6 years past.
I see people at the top of hospitals and people providing equipment making great money, often some of the wealthiest people in small towns. The margins on many aspects of visits (even things you do not use) are staggering. Health care has managed to avoid market pressure factors where every other industry took a hit in 2008/2009 health care prices steadily climbed. We are being held hostage because if you don't do business with establishments (that don't compete in any way) you can die.
We pay twice in the US to what comparable other industrialized nations do. Yet the care provided is roughly the same to them. Yet, it seems that the question over and over is "how to pay for this" rather than "why does this cost so much"?
If anyone had insight I'd be genuinely curious. |
One issue is... while some hopstials make money. (Mostly the Universary attached Hospitals)
Most actually lose money. Healthcare costs are a really complicated pain in the ass to sort out, and i could go through everything again, but honestly... noone cares. It never leads to any discussion.
Short answer though? Insurance, Doctors and Hospitals aren't the probelm... and hardly make any money in regards to the overll price... Really it's more the high cost and length of Medical School, medicine patents (Pharmesuticals espeically) and a rush for everything to be cutting edge forcing hospitals to get the best equipment everywhere because patients won't go "discount" when their lives or health are at stake and government isn't forcing all hosptials to NOT upgrade like most countries do. (Waiting until a few changse down the line, when the cost to benefit ratio makes more sense for the government balance sheet.)
The best thing we could do for medical costs? Dial back IP laws a bit.
Something NOONE in Washington wants to do.
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Thank you for your response, I would be one of those "no ones" interested as I think to solve a problem you have to identify the nature and causes of the problem.
I feel similarily about the cost of tuitions at Universities. Both of these aspects of our culture have witnessed massive increases in cost over past 30 years and seem like have to hit a breaking point over next 30 years if they continue on.
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College University prices going up are pretty easy to identify... and just as hard to fix.
1) Just about anyone can get a college loan, to go to college. Which generally as a society we deem important because we think everyone should have an equal access to education, and we don't want the poor not being able to get into school because they can't pay.
2) The value of a college education has grown in the general public's eye from
A) College Education. For smart people.
B) College education, for a lot of good jobs, but there are plenty of union and trade jobs for other people.
C) College Education... mostly needed for a good job, but lots of good trade jobs out there... also service industry middle management.
D) College Edcuation... at this point you practically need one to be hired at an arbys!
So basically EVERYONE feels like they have to go to college, even if they did shitty in school. So everyone is willing to take out a huge loan to go to college, and the government is willing to provide loans to everyone... because they all want people to have equal access to education.
Limited supply+over demand = ridiculious prices... and the fact that the demand says super high because the government will give anybody a loan means prices will keep skyrocketing until they hit a point of where it's near impossible to pay it back even if your a success story.
There is little that can be done to really address this.
