The costs of health-care

[RationalThought110]

What are the costs that cause health-care to keep increasing?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070911/ap_on_bi_ge/insurance_rising_premiums


New equipment isn't purchased for every patient so wouldn't equipment for example, be a fixed cost, regardless of the number of patients; though, new equipment will be purchased every once in a while. 

[jdl4ever]

Because you're paying for those that get really sick like those on dialysis, those termanently ill in hospitals, cancer patients, surgeries, those with chronic diseases etc.  Health care is very expensive especially if you are staying at a hospital for a while or if you are taking expensive drugs or undergoing surgery. 

[RationalThought110]

For what you've mentioned, what determines the costs in addition to the salary of employees and equipment?

[Ari]

Let's not also forget that unscrupulous people often use the healthcare system simply to make a buck, i.e. get rich.  I'm not talking about individuals in the medical profession, though some do as well of course, but of the big corporations that push drugs and care at all costs, whether it is actually needed or not in many instances.

[RationalThought110]

Let's not also forget that unscrupulous people often use the healthcare system simply to make a buck, i.e. get rich.  I'm not talking about individuals in the medical profession, though some do as well of course, but of the big corporations that push drugs and care at all costs, whether it is actually needed or not in many instances.

You mean pharmaceutical companies that lobby for those in the medical profession to prescribe their drug? 

[jdl4ever]

Drug costs are a big part of the problem.  Lawsuits are another huge part of the problem.  Medicare and Medicade is the biggest problem since about 16 percent of our national budget goes to this. The tremendous cost of healthcare due to the staffing, technology and the standard of quality in this country is too high in itself. 

[RationalThought110]

Drug costs are a big part of the problem.  Lawsuits are another huge part of the problem.  Medicare and Medicade is the biggest problem since about 16 percent of our national budget goes to this. The tremendous cost of healthcare due to the staffing, technology and the standard of quality in this country is too high in itself. 

Drug costs don't affect doctors because they're bribed/lobbied to prescribe them?  It's simply that when  patients are prescribed a drug, they have to pay the price of it? 

Could you explain more about Medicare and Medicaid. 

[jdl4ever]

Doctors aren't bribed anymore to prescribe drugs.  The most we get is a meeting in the hospital at lunch where the pharm rep speaks about the new drug and they give out free food and free pens.  Listen, if you were a patient you would probably do research on your condition and want the newest most expensive drug which has less instance of side effects and apparently works better.  Most doctor will give it to you.  I would just put you in your place and give you the cheap stuff and say if you get a bad side effect then only then I'd give you the new stuff.

[Bodhi]

  The US is very messed up when it comes to health care...it has to do with the fact that they spent hundreds of thousands of dolars to get a degree, and then the malpractice insurance, is compelteley unreasonable...the US has one of the worst health care systems in the world, we spend more money on health care and get fewer benefits than almsot anyone...it's a bad deal... you can be  very wealthy and if you have a serious health problem even fully insured you can come away from it with nothing...or it could be your mother or father, same deal..it's not right.

[newman]

The litigation 'industry' needs to have it's wings clipped.

[MassuhDGoodName]

Last week, the National Health of UK announced that service would henceforth be refused to all living "an unhealthy lifestyle".

They defined that for the time being as anyone who was overweight, or anyone who smoked.

Never mind the fact that the "good socialists" were heavily taxed from their incomes to pay for "their fair share" of the system which was to prove itself superior to that of a health system run within a free enterprise system.

This week, UK newspapers wrote the story of a worker in need of reconstructive surgery on his ankle.  The UK National Health refused him service on the grounds of "being a smoker".  Now, he's on morphine and crutches; disabled, wondering why after forty years of having his income stolen from him to pay for the "socialist" system of medicine, they've suddenly decided "who, among the equals, is "more equal" than the others".

You see, now that the socialist system is broken, unable to sustain treatment and payment for all citizens who've paid, they (the Socialist State) decides to choose whom to treat, and whom not to treat.

Result:  Bangladeshi Muslim immigrants, Black African immigrants, only in the UK a short time, are treated like "Kings"...provided every possible social service for nothing.  The good Caucasian UK Brits who've created the system, voted for the Labor Party in order to change the medical system, and who've been robbed of their paychecks in order to be "covered", now can be told such things as "You've had more than 5 colds in the past 5 years...therefore we refuse treatment to you as a bad risk"..."You have had all of your grandparents die from cancer...therefore you're a bad risk for cancer...and we can't waste "the peoples' " money trying to keep you healthy!"...

Eventually socialism will tell the Jews "Now see here, Jew...it's well known to us experts at the National Health that Jews carry Tay-Sachs disease...therefore we will no longer waste "the peoples' " money on obstetrical care for your wives and daughters!"..."YOU PEOPLE" are costing the system too much money!"

Hope you enjoy the taste of "socialized medicine" I've portrayed here.
Better to hire your own doctor, pay whatever it costs, go broke if necessary, but be the one who decides your own care...same as when you shop for a car or a computer.

Does anyone here want "The State" to make your decisions for you?

[Bodhi]

  I'm kind of torn on this one.......with the current government socialized medicine would be dangerous, they'd probably inject everyone with microchips, or give all the kids ritalin, and all the adults prozac or some dumb thing like that......however there is no denying that the USA spends the most of any country for medical care, and does not get the best care by a long shot.........and there are literally millions of people who have no insurance, and literally die from lack of medical care......I don't know the solution, but there's no denying the problem exists...and it seems to opnly get worse all the time.

[Dr. Dan]

Drug costs are a big part of the problem.  Lawsuits are another huge part of the problem.  Medicare and Medicade is the biggest problem since about 16 percent of our national budget goes to this. The tremendous cost of healthcare due to the staffing, technology and the standard of quality in this country is too high in itself. 

one problem though...the time and energy one has to go through to study and memorize medicine deserves the high price for the certain procedures...

the problem, which i wouldn't necessarily call it that, is that people are living longer.

HOwever, a lot of people have poor diets and cancer is rampant because of the increase in technology and pollution in our society.

Likewise, a lot of illegal aliens come into this country and too many poor people have having too many children driving down the quality of medicine compared to yesteryear...too many patients, too few decent doctors, cheap healthcare = poorer quality.

[RationalThought110]

one problem though...the time and energy ne has to go through to study and memorize medicine deserves the high price for the certain procedures...

the problem, which i wouldn't necessarily call it that, is that people are living longer.

HOwever, a lot of people have poor diets and cancer is rampant because of the increase in technology and pollution in our society.

Likewise, a lot of illegal aliens come into this country and too many poor people have having too many children driving down the quality of medicine compared to yesteryear...too many patients, too few decent doctors, cheap healthcare = poorer quality.

Why are hospitals obligated to give any health-care to illegals?  Are they required to pay anything?

[RationalThought110]

What do you think of the SCHIP program?  Bush Jr. is increasing funding in the budget for it but the Democrats want more for it because they want to expand the amount of people on government-run health-care. 

[RationalThought110]

Dick Morris' analysis of Hillary's plan:

http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/?p=158