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Sharing this idea in order to gather critique. The cost of healthcare in the USA is insane. Could we look for insight into the US Military? Example: This
by knob 7y ago
Sharing this idea in order to gather critique.
The cost of healthcare in the USA is insane.
Could we look for insight into the US Military?
Example: This morning, a coworker told me she's going to have an operation on her back. The "cost of the tray" (I have no idea what this is) is $14,000. She has to pay $8,000 up-front two days before the operation, and the remainder will be financed over two years.
To me, it's insane to think the US Military pays $14,000 for this same operation in US Veterans' hospitals.
Why don't we look into the military to see how they're doing it?
Or am I completely off-base here? Thoughts?
- notTyler 7y agoThe insurance companies are for profit corporations who pay politicians so they can keep taking your money when you're healthy and cutting you when you're not. The army is not, as far as I know, a for profit enterprise.
- geggam 7y agoInsurance is socialism for profit
- chooseaname 7y agoThis is the one and true answer with regards to insurance companies.
- kemiller2002 7y agoOh I'm sure the military doesn't pay that much. They get to leverage staff doctors, and negotiated rates. You know like other countries with single payer systems, etc. get. People in the U.S. get screwed, because hospitals are businesses, and they know how much they can charge to make a profit. When a hospital has an entire legal arm just for suing people in court, because they aren't making their payments, you know something is wrong.
- baq 7y agoisn't the problem actually that there is no limit on what they can charge? if i have an accident they won't ask me if i agree on the price, they just charge me while i'm unconscious. i don't get to negotiate prices and the ambulance will take me to the closest hospital, not the cheapest for me.
- geggam 7y agonot only that... your healthcare provider has contracts with the insurance company and the insurance company can actually block you from simply paying cash for services. Let that sink in a bit
- kaybe 7y agoHow does that legally work? If you're unconscious you should be unable to enter into any transactional agreements, no?
- docbrown 7y ago>When a hospital has an entire legal arm just for suing people in court, because they aren't making their payments, you know something is wrong. A good example of this is the Ford Pinto and it’s exploding gas tanks after impact due to them being exposed. This resulted in multiple accidents and deaths. Ford later learned they could retrofit every Pinto sold for a total cost of $11 (in that years value) per Pinto. They decided not too because court costs per death would be less than the profit loss. Without boring you with unnecessary details, it can be summed up as this: Does B < PL? B = Burden of adequate precautions P = probability that the defendants actions will result in an accident L = Loss/Cost of accident if it occurred When looking at hospitals, they understand the costs of hospitalizing someone for 3 days, 3 hours, or 3 years. They also know the costs of providing care to all of their patients without the thought of insurance companies reemburssing them. For them, the idea of shrinking profits in order to maximize care is not ideal. So, in this case, they will often charge insurance companies the maximum allowed, charged uninsuranced patients the maximum, etc. Why do they do this? Because for them, B<PL. The total cost of employing 10 lawyers to fight 100+ cases of defaulted medical bills or lobby for a new policy, that will still be less than the amount of profit they would lose if the hospital paid for all that care to begin with.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- shartshooter 7y agoActive duty military members do not get healthcare at the VA. The VA is reserved for veterans. That said, as a recipient of VA healthcare I don’t pay a dime. Some vets do but I have a service-connected disability rating above the threshold for free healthcare for life. Prescriptions, ER visits, physical therapy, etc are all covered. I have a friend who was a nurse at the VA who told me they loved working there because there’s never a hesitation to order a test due to insurance coverage. If my doctor feels that something is important, they order it. Whether it’s migraine medication, PT due to some jaw issues or a vasectomy, they’re all covered for me. There have been some complaints about VA service in the past but in the 10+ years I’ve been using them it’s been a breeze.
- geggam 7y agoMilitary healthcare sucks. You dont get a say you get told what to do.