Are Health Care Costs Helping Bankrupt the Economy?

[MusicMan]

The costs of health care and health insurance in the USA are outrageous. I am self-employed and I pay $800.00 a month for a $2500-deductible health inurance policy for my wife, my two daughters, and myself. It's getting harder and harder to make that payment with the economy in the gutter. That's why I bought my own CPAP machine... I didn't want my rates to go up again. Every time one of us uses the insurance for anything, it seems like our rates go up.

Here's a perfect example of how doctors and health care companies are milking the system: Just about a month ago my wife was having some dizzy spells. Her doctor sent her to a heart specialist. After $7,000.00 in tests they said she needed a $20,000.00 heart cath to rule out any heart problems. They wouldn't even give us a price for the procedure until I called back several times and pressured them... they just kept saying we shouldn't worry about it because our health insurance would cover it. We went to another doctor for a second opinion, and after a $700.00 test he determined that she didn't have any heart problems. The dizzy spells have gone away. Go figure.

Our health care system is completely out of control, with greed going unchecked behind every door. I sure hope the new Presidential administration does something about it. I cannot see how we could afford not to have more tighter regulations on health care providers across the board. They are the ones raping the health insurance system. Putting tighter regulations on the insurance companies may help a little... but I think the providers themselves need to be regulated. There needs to be checks and balances in the system.

How many people go to get second opinions when they are told they need a $20,000.00 test? My guess is not very many of them. Insurance companies would be doing themselves and their customers a favor if they required two or even three opinions when faced with a test or a procedure that costs more than $2,000.00. Otherwise the greed will just go on unchecked forever.

Any thoughts? Have you had any health care providers gouge you or your insurance company? If so, let's hear about them.

[discusdoc]

Here is a little secret, there is no "price of the procedure". $20,000 for a heart cath is simply nothing more than a "list" price and is meaningless. The insurance company will only pay the physician a small percentage of the quoted amount. The insurance companies determine the cost of health care, not the physicians. Yes, there are too many tests ordered in our modern health care system but the motivation is typically to cover yourself for potential lawsuits if you miss something.

edit: I guess I should say there is no "price of the procedure" except for self-pay and deductibles.

[Snoredog]

The costs of health care and health insurance in the USA are outrageous. I am self-employed and I pay $800.00 a month for a $2500-deductible health inurance policy for my wife, my two daughters, and myself. It's getting harder and harder to make that payment with the economy in the gutter. That's why I bought my own CPAP machine... I didn't want my rates to go up again. Every time one of us uses the insurance for anything, it seems like our rates go up.

Here's a perfect example of how doctors and health care companies are milking the system: Just about a month ago my wife was having some dizzy spells. Her doctor sent her to a heart specialist. After $7,000.00 in tests they said she needed a $20,000.00 heart cath to rule out any heart problems. They wouldn't even give us a price for the procedure until I called back several times and pressured them... they just kept saying we shouldn't worry about it because our health insurance would cover it. We went to another doctor for a second opinion, and after a $700.00 test he determined that she didn't have any heart problems. The dizzy spells have gone away. Go figure.

Our health care system is completely out of control, with greed going unchecked behind every door. I sure hope the new Presidential administration does something about it. I cannot see how we could afford not to have more tighter regulations on health care providers across the board. They are the ones raping the health insurance system. Putting tighter regulations on the insurance companies may help a little... but I think the providers themselves need to be regulated. There needs to be checks and balances in the system.

How many people go to get second opinions when they are told they need a $20,000.00 test? My guess is not very many of them. Insurance companies would be doing themselves and their customers a favor if they required two or even three opinions when faced with a test or a procedure that costs more than $2,000.00. Otherwise the greed will just go on unchecked forever.

Any thoughts? Have you had any health care providers gouge you or your insurance company? If so, let's hear about them.

Only $20K?? Mine was $21K and that was 8 years ago, when it was all said and done total bill was over $51K, that was an echo cardiogram, a TEE, a color nuclear with stress test, I think they only stopped because they ran out of tests to give, then I had to tell my GP can you send me for a PSG, bingo. But if she needs the angiography, she needs the angiography.

But you can't help suspect some are just milking the system. IF you have an autopap, slap that on her for a night especially if she snores and we know from studies most women do (hehehehe)

[DreamStalker]

Uh GW started bankrupting the economy with his foreign and domestic government policies and now it looks like the Dems are going to finish bankrupting the economy with all the new bailouts.

BTW - anyone here been able to get a peice of that TARP action? Henry refuses to respond to any of my emails

[Goofproof]

Our Economy has been Bankrupt for many years. It has been every since we had a national debt. Our money is backed by nothing, now we are even trying to remove "In God We Trust" from our money, if it was known, He'd probably even be in favor of the deal. Anytime you can print more money, without having anything in reserve to buy it back, your Bankrupt!

Don't believe it, it's like writing a bad check, it will come back and bite you. Jim

[Snoredog]

Uh GW started bankrupting the economy with his foreign and domestic government policies and now it looks like the Dems are going to finish bankrupting the economy with all the new bailouts.

BTW - anyone here been able to get a peice of that TARP action? Henry refuses to respond to any of my emails

LOL, did you hear Henry today in testimony? The guy can't talk, he can't even get his point across, so I gotta ask how in the hell did this guy every get to be Sec. of the Treasury. The only good news I heard is they are not going to use the rest of the tarp until obama gets in office.

Now the Automakers are in line today, at least we got Sen. Shelby saying no to that stupid idea. They need to let those go into Chap 11. Bridge loan, yeah sure so they can open up a new plant in Russia or China or India. Like we need 10 flavors of the Malibu. While their sales are down, VW, Audi, BMW, Honda and Toyota seem to be doing fine and they are not asking for any bailout money.

[carbonman]

Don't believe it, it's like writing a bad check, it will come back and bite you. Jim

....but, but......I still have checks, I must have money.

[6PtStar]

Here is a little secret, there is no "price of the procedure". $20,000 for a heart cath is simply nothing more than a "list" price and is meaningless. The insurance company will only pay the physician a small percentage of the quoted amount. The insurance companies determine the cost of health care, not the physicians.

Wow; I guess that is why my bill is so high. They did a heart Cath before they did the recent bypass and defibulator implant and so far the bill is $299,885.64 and 3 docs that I know of have not filed bills yet. I don't think I am worth that much!!


Jerry

[DreamStalker]

Here is a little secret, there is no "price of the procedure". $20,000 for a heart cath is simply nothing more than a "list" price and is meaningless. The insurance company will only pay the physician a small percentage of the quoted amount. The insurance companies determine the cost of health care, not the physicians.

Wow; I guess that is why my bill is so high. They did a heart Cath before they did the recent bypass and defibulator implant and so far the bill is $299,885.64 and 3 docs that I know of have not filed bills yet. I don't think I am worth that much!!


Jerry

Sure you are Jerry. You are worth more than anyone of those US auto makers and their bill has 4 extra zeros on the end

[Goofproof]

Here is a little secret, there is no "price of the procedure". $20,000 for a heart cath is simply nothing more than a "list" price and is meaningless. The insurance company will only pay the physician a small percentage of the quoted amount. The insurance companies determine the cost of health care, not the physicians.

Wow; I guess that is why my bill is so high. They did a heart Cath before they did the recent bypass and defibulator implant and so far the bill is $299,885.64 and 3 docs that I know of have not filed bills yet. I don't think I am worth that much!!


Jerry

Been there done that!, Don't have any idea how much for most of it. Although I think my Defibulator and defective leads was well over $120,000, certaintly more than I'm worth, or ever have been worth. If I'd been my own pet, I'd have had myself put down.

Maybe a lot of that money will go to the auto manufactures in the U.S., I guess it won't the people who got the money, drive German cars.

[Slinky]

I'm not sympathetic to the idiots at the top of GM - but - what do you think won WW II for our "grunts on the ground"?? American industry!!! In particular the America auto industry that retooled and produced what our "boys" needed to fight and win. We're selling out our own self-defense w/this free trade BS and if we DON'T bail out the automobile industry. So let's do it right - get rid of the top 1/3 idiots, cut the salary to NO bonuses or perks or stock options UNTIL the government is paid back AND no salary over $1 million.

Keep in mind, despite the energy crisis Europe and the rest of the world don't have to share the highways in their upholstered roller skates w/18 wheelers the size of ours nor w/as many 18 wheelers as ours. IF we're going to go w/these upholstered roller skates for our cars we'd better start moving more goods by rail as they do in Europe and elsewhere. What's the RR commercial on TV?? A train can move 1 ton of goods 423 miles on 1 gallon of fuel? (I have no idea what a gallon of "train fuel" costs).

Also keep in mind our own government ENCOURAGED the automakers to build those gas guzzling SUVs, etc. by giving tax incentives. If you could establish and prove you used the vehicle 50% or more for business reasons it was cheaper to buy one of the gas guzzlers than a regular car. Why do you think those idiotic bureaucrats and politicians in Washington were driving around DC in SUVs and even stretch SUV limos??? Our own government for years has encouraged American industry to diversify and build overseas.

[Wulfman]

As far as the health industry and the auto industry goes.....it amounts to a "transfer of wealth"......from US to THEM.
I wonder how long the medical (insurance) folks will last when they keep weeding out people from the system?
Now that there are getting to be a huge number of people that are being laid off and may drop off of insurance coverage at some point, both medical and insurance providers may suffer from lack of income.

The auto industry has had at LEAST 35 years since the original oil SNAFU when there were waiting lines at the pumps and they were still making gas guzzlers. You know that the auto makers have been getting huge tax incentives/breaks over the years.....and now they have their hands out again......trying to get in our pockets. Let 'em DIE! (and take the stupid politicians with them)

Den

[6PtStar]

If I'd been my own pet, I'd have had myself put down.

I thought about that during the first week and a half!!!!!!

Jerry

[DreamStalker]

I agree with Den ... they had plenty of time and plenty of chances to get their act together. WWII was over last century ... besides, the Navajo Indians also played a big roll in the winning of that war and you don't see anyone giving them billion dollar handouts.