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Lack of transparency is an even greater fatal flaw in _non_ nationalized healthcare.
by sethev 10y ago
Lack of transparency is an even greater fatal flaw in _non_ nationalized healthcare.
- yummyfajitas 10y agoActually from what I've seen, market forces fix this. In Asian countries with capitalist medicine (e.g. India and Thailand), you can just call up to inquire about the price for things. Consumers won't make a purchase if they don't know the price.
- maxxxxx 10y agoThen why does this not happen in the US? Even in Germany you can call a doctor and get a reasonable estimate upfront. Try doing this in the US.
- yummyfajitas 10y agoMost likely because the US does not have capitalist medicine.
- maxxxxx 10y agoGotta love the libertarians. If the market thing doesn't work they can just say "It's not capitalist enough". Same as the scrum people "Scrum not working for you? You are just doing it wrong."
- yummyfajitas 10y agoI'm not a libertarian. I have no idea how you can possibly characterize the US's highly regulated health system as capitalist - could you explain?
- maxxxxx 10y agoIn the US the quality of service is regulated but there are not many price regulations. Tell me, in what way would the US system have to change for medical providers to give clear pricing information? Be specific, don't use words like "capitalist" or "regulation".
- yummyfajitas 10y agoTo start with, eliminate the massive subsidies for low deductible health insurance, and eliminate the regulations which mandate the provision of specific services. Then the high cost of low deductible health insurance will induce consumers to choose high-deductible plans, making them more price sensitive. As a non-libertarian, regulator friendly way to achieve this, you could also ban first dollar coverage.
- maxxxxx 10y agoWhat you are pretty much saying is that first we need to put a lot more financial pain on patients so the high cost will force them to become more price sensitive. And somehow doctors and hospitals will then quote accurate prices?
- yummyfajitas 10y agoYes, doctors and hospitals will need to quote prices, otherwise consumers will take their business elsewhere. At least, that's what happens here in India. Are Americans somehow unable to do the same?
- maxxxxx 10y agoYou can't take your business elsewhere because there is nobody else who will give you a quote.
- virmundi 10y agoWe can't do that for many basic surgeries or medicines. Not because it's impossible, it's just that many hospitals and doctors don't know how much something costs [1, 2]. At the same time, for traumatic injuries, etc, you get shipped to the nearest hospital. You have no price negotiation power at that point. We should have a book value like shop rates for autos. 1 - http://frugalnurse.com/2016/08/doctors-dont-know-healthcare-costs/ http://frugalnurse.com/2016/08/doctors-dont-know-healthcare-... 2 - http://www.healthcareitnews.com/blog/doctor’s-don’t-know-or-care-about-cost-that’s-half-right http://www.healthcareitnews.com/blog/doctor’s-don’t-know-or-...
- chii 10y agofor elective/ non-essential medical needs, private healthcare is good. but for essential care, what price can someone put on their life? it's a means to extort if life saving procedures are private!
- AnthonyMouse 10y ago> for elective/ non-essential medical needs, private healthcare is good. but for essential care, what price can someone put on their life? it's a means to extort if life saving procedures are private! Only of the provider is a monopoly. One provider can't charge $5000 when the other will do the same thing for $50. Same reason a can of beans doesn't cost a thousand dollars even though you have to eat to live.
- brianwawok 10y agoWhen I'm hungry I don't get taken to a bean factory and force fed beans, then given a bill for my beans in 3 months. I see the price before I eat them.
- AnthonyMouse 10y agoThat only applies to emergency care, which is not a majority of healthcare expenses and should reasonably be handled in the same way we handle the Fire Department.
- brianwawok 10y agoWhich is "I hope you had homeowners insurance or you just lost everything you own?" We suck at taking care of the weak.
- AnthonyMouse 10y agoThe Fire Department is paid for by taxes and puts out the fire. If you don't want to lose everything you own you can either carry fire insurance or manage to not have your house catch fire. Are you suggesting that we should have government fire insurance?