4 ms·

Perhaps, but then there is no reason to bring up what other countries are doing except to say that they are doing something. But again we are back to trying to

Perhaps, but then there is no reason to bring up what other countries are doing except to say that they are doing something. But again we are back to trying to figure out how to make healthcare more affordable. I think that both we and everyone in this discussion can agree that what we are doing now is not working and is unsustainable. We are just arguing over the best way to fix it. I personally believe that easy (cheap) money makes things unaffordable where is seems everyone else wants to spend or devote more tax dollars to an already broken system. I would just like to fix the root problem and not the symptoms.

kendallpark 8y ago
> there is no reason to bring up what other countries are doing except to say that they are doing something Are you suggesting that healthcare legislation should be drawn up in a vacuum? It's important to compare and contrast the benefits and pitfalls of other countries' systems. It's really all we have to go off of evidence-wise. It's also good to look at them for inspiration. There are a lot of different ways the public and private sector are being combined to make far more cost-effective healthcare systems than in the US. You are correct that some might not work in the US; that sort of reasoning needs to be weighed into whatever overhaul happens. > I would just like to fix the root problem and not the symptoms What are you suggesting as the root issue?
- eaandkw 8y ago
  I have no problem with looking for good ideas from other countries. I just want to use realistic figures and study what the second and third order effects would be. The main point to my arguments is that cheap money makes things expensive. Meaning is the government or somebody else subsides healthcare it will get more expensive. Because why not. Hospitals are trying to compete with other hospitals so they want the biggest budgets for paying the best doctors and newest equipment and technology. So why not charge just a little more then you need to get that. Then the next year comes around and the hospitals need more money so they charge just a little be more this year and it goes on and on. You could probably start to fix things by making everyone publish their prices and charging the same price for cash as they would to insurance. From there things would start to unwind.

kendallpark 8y ago

> there is no reason to bring up what other countries are doing except to say that they are doing something Are you suggesting that healthcare legislation should be drawn up in a vacuum? It's important to compare and contrast the benefits and pitfalls of other countries' systems. It's really all we have to go off of evidence-wise. It's also good to look at them for inspiration. There are a lot of different ways the public and private sector are being combined to make far more cost-effective healthcare systems than in the US. You are correct that some might not work in the US; that sort of reasoning needs to be weighed into whatever overhaul happens. > I would just like to fix the root problem and not the symptoms What are you suggesting as the root issue?

eaandkw 8y ago
I have no problem with looking for good ideas from other countries. I just want to use realistic figures and study what the second and third order effects would be. The main point to my arguments is that cheap money makes things expensive. Meaning is the government or somebody else subsides healthcare it will get more expensive. Because why not. Hospitals are trying to compete with other hospitals so they want the biggest budgets for paying the best doctors and newest equipment and technology. So why not charge just a little more then you need to get that. Then the next year comes around and the hospitals need more money so they charge just a little be more this year and it goes on and on. You could probably start to fix things by making everyone publish their prices and charging the same price for cash as they would to insurance. From there things would start to unwind.