Time Magazine: Why Medical Bills are Killing Us
- Thread starter boatBurner
- Start date
I used to work in the medical field, let me tell you, the charges are outrageous for some of the shit the drs bill for, even worse, the Doctor's want even more every year. It will only keep rising.
Dr's have to pay for their whores too.
tehehehe
Dr's have to pay for their whores too.
tehehehe
I think 11 pages is way too fucking many
. TLDR;? I'm sure it's something along the lines of, "More government and regulation is needed."
I think 11 pages is way too fucking many
I considered doing a TL;DR... but I really think this article is worth bookmarking for later, and reading when you have the time.
It's definitely grim, but it's honest.
This guy has the right take on the article. He runs a free market surgery center with transparent pricing. Pricing that's 1/20 to 1/10th of so called not for profit hospitals:
G. Keith Smith, M.D. - Steven Brill: Corporate Shill - Steven Brill: Corporate Shill
G. Keith Smith, M.D. - Steven Brill: Corporate Shill - Steven Brill: Corporate Shill
+rep
This is the first time ever I've seen a doctor/hospital be so candid and transparent about the costs of the services they provide.
In an industry rampant with price gouging and bureaucracy, it's a breath of fresh air to see an entity be so open, honest and up-front about their terms and procedures.
The guy who runs the hospital has convinced other doctors to provide transparent pricing Oklahoma City. He outs not-for-profit hospitals. They have to show losses to maintain their not-for-profit status, so they gouge people without insurance knowing full well that they won't be able to pay their outrageous fees. The hospitals uses these "losses" to get money back from the federal government.
What's interesting is that he says healthcare is actually cheap. It's government that raises the costs. For the most part, they don't take health insurance because it raises costs. They also don't take credit cards but some wankers dispute the charges. Cash or bank check only.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XRM4pPBNF0]Medical Care: Free markets increase access & quality while lowering costs. - YouTube[/ame]
What's interesting is that he says healthcare is actually cheap. It's government that raises the costs. For the most part, they don't take health insurance because it raises costs. They also don't take credit cards but some wankers dispute the charges. Cash or bank check only.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XRM4pPBNF0]Medical Care: Free markets increase access & quality while lowering costs. - YouTube[/ame]
I think 11 pages is way too fucking many
I read (well, skimmed) the article a while back. That's pretty much how the article ends. He points out all these problems and advocates more government intervention as a solution.
Don't you expect to be paid for what you do? Don't you want to earn more doing it? I know I expect to be paid and would like to earn more next year too.
These people go to school for 7+ years, invest heavily in their education, possibly in their practices, and have to deal with some of the nastiest shit that life deals out. I can't imagine having to deal with some of the things they go through. I think it's only fair they are compensated properly for the services they provide.
The most important thing in life: It's just that "Life" itself.
And these people are skimming every last $$$ out of people, holding their lives at stake if they don't comply. The whole health care industry is a fraud, fuck all of this.
It's just incredible things have gotten this out of hand. Welcome to the new American future.
And these people are skimming every last $$$ out of people, holding their lives at stake if they don't comply. The whole health care industry is a fraud, fuck all of this.
It's just incredible things have gotten this out of hand. Welcome to the new American future.
One of my clients who is a chiropractor stopped taking insurance.
He lowered his pricing significantly and his business is booming. Instead of filling out a 3 page form to justify care for a patient to charge 60 dollars a visit, he just charges 25 dollars (what would have been the copay) and everyone wins.
It has allowed him to capture the self employed and under insured markets because he does not need to keep up with the pricing pretenses that his competition does to pay for the insurance and government red tape.
He lowered his pricing significantly and his business is booming. Instead of filling out a 3 page form to justify care for a patient to charge 60 dollars a visit, he just charges 25 dollars (what would have been the copay) and everyone wins.
It has allowed him to capture the self employed and under insured markets because he does not need to keep up with the pricing pretenses that his competition does to pay for the insurance and government red tape.
I had over 20k in medical bills last year and am still searching for the source of the problem(peripheral neuropathy)...with health insurance.
Yes, fuck this country.
An initial bill for my first MRI with and without contrast of the brain was $10,203.00 no shit, the insurance talked them down to 2k.
I had 3 MRIs, angiogram, spinal tap, every blood test possible.
Also, I've been through 2 doctors and 4 specialists. Currently I'm at a neurologist who was a professor at yale and currently a professor at university WA neurology and he's the best "doctor" on a personal level than any of the ones in fancy exotic woodwork laced offices. His office is pretty shitty but he's amazing. I want my money back from all the other doctors and give it to this guy.
I have to get the MRI's pre authorized through insurance or they refuse to cover them. Basically you have to ask them and they drag their feet for 2 weeks then say ok.
Yes, fuck this country.
An initial bill for my first MRI with and without contrast of the brain was $10,203.00 no shit, the insurance talked them down to 2k.
I had 3 MRIs, angiogram, spinal tap, every blood test possible.
Also, I've been through 2 doctors and 4 specialists. Currently I'm at a neurologist who was a professor at yale and currently a professor at university WA neurology and he's the best "doctor" on a personal level than any of the ones in fancy exotic woodwork laced offices. His office is pretty shitty but he's amazing. I want my money back from all the other doctors and give it to this guy.
I have to get the MRI's pre authorized through insurance or they refuse to cover them. Basically you have to ask them and they drag their feet for 2 weeks then say ok.
You think a public option would end corruption in healthcare?
I have a bridge to sell you.
Works great in many countries. You weren't even getting a socialized single-payer system. The government would have just been one competitor in the market. There would have been absolutely no downside to that, except to the existing insurance companies, which is why it was removed from the bill.