DILYSI Dave wrote:
MrJoshua wrote:
So legally requiring every citizen with a job to give money to the health insurance companies is the solution? (Not to mention enough money for all of those without jobs to have it as well)
DING DING DING
Health insurance is the problem, not the solution. I'd be a lot less opposed to the idea of universal coverage if it didn't center on keeping / strengthening the insurance companies.
Health insurance is a portion of the problem. Do you know why your costs are going up? It's a vicious cycle.
Medical school is expensive. Equipment is expensive. They're getting MORE expensive. So the actual health care professionals, doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, hospitals, physical therapists, so on and so for charge more. RIDICULOUS prices in fact. The health insurance companies have to negotiate an "allowed amount" "usual and customary fee" whatever you want to call it, with the providers if they want to contract.
That amount has been going up because the providers have been charging more and more, and that makes it harder to arrive at a low amount.
Everything keeps going up. The health insurance companies are more reacting to the situation if anything.
Everyone points their fingers at the insurance companies. Auto insurance, home owners insurance operates the SAME way, and there isn't thread upon thread complaining about it.
This goes for everyone in this thread. The next time you get a bill from a provider for an amount that you feel is outrageous, and you're dissatisfied with your insurance payment, Have your insurance Explanation of Benefits handy for that service. Notice the difference between the "Total Charge" and the "Allowed Amount."
This is assuming you're going in network. If you're going out of network, you're just asking for it, and as mean as it sounds, i have no sympathy for your situation.
That different between the total charge and allowed amount is provider write off. If you have one major service a year, that makes up for your premiums. In one shot. One inpatient claim.
Gotta put this all in perspective. I don't see anyone complaining about the costs of medical school. I don't see anyone complaining about the provider's charges.
I guess it's just easier to point the blame at an insurance company, because all such companies are evil?