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It's a mistake to think that market forces work in healthcare. When your doctor says you need a test or a certain prescription, and here's where to get it, you

It's a mistake to think that market forces work in healthcare. When your doctor says you need a test or a certain prescription, and here's where to get it, you listen to your doctor. You don't haggle with him about where and how much. Dealing with our medical system is difficult enough without having to shop around while you're sick. This wan't your point, precisely, but I just wanted to point it out.

prewett 15y ago
The times when I have had a high-deductible health insurance I definitely want to know about the prices, but it's hard to get that option, because the doctors assume that you aren't paying for it. Do I really want to pay $100 for an X-ray of my teeth? Not necessarily: last time the dentist said my teeth were great and they are feeling fine to me, so maybe I don't need an X-ray every year, but they don't ask if I want a $100 X-ray, they just tell me to do this and that and then charge $100. I went to one doctor for an eye exam and they charged me $350 because they assumed I had insurance. The same exam at another place cost $50. You could make your same argument about car repair (when you're car isn't working you just want it fixed), but there the standard practice is the give an estimate. In fact, places that do work without asking you and then charge you for it are looked at as shady. When the patient doesn't personally pay for the service, the cost of the service has every incentive to go up. Is the service better? Generally, yes. Is the "better-ness" necessary? In the case of my teeth, probably not.
- feb 15y ago
  Doing an X-ray every year even when it is not needed, does cost more and does not improve your health. Actually, your body gets more doses of radiations increasing the risks. Thus one can say that at the more expensive place your health gets worse.
- DannoHung 15y ago
  Yeah, but you're talking about the most bland of the bland sort of health concerns. Emergency medicine, life threatening medicine, you don't shop around for the lowest cost, cause you won't be able to be happy about how much money you saved when you're dead.
jeffdavis 15y ago
Not all healthcare is a surprise emergency. Auto insurance covers collisions, but it doesn't cover oil changes or gasoline.

prewett 15y ago

The times when I have had a high-deductible health insurance I definitely want to know about the prices, but it's hard to get that option, because the doctors assume that you aren't paying for it. Do I really want to pay $100 for an X-ray of my teeth? Not necessarily: last time the dentist said my teeth were great and they are feeling fine to me, so maybe I don't need an X-ray every year, but they don't ask if I want a $100 X-ray, they just tell me to do this and that and then charge $100. I went to one doctor for an eye exam and they charged me $350 because they assumed I had insurance. The same exam at another place cost $50. You could make your same argument about car repair (when you're car isn't working you just want it fixed), but there the standard practice is the give an estimate. In fact, places that do work without asking you and then charge you for it are looked at as shady. When the patient doesn't personally pay for the service, the cost of the service has every incentive to go up. Is the service better? Generally, yes. Is the "better-ness" necessary? In the case of my teeth, probably not.

feb 15y ago
Doing an X-ray every year even when it is not needed, does cost more and does not improve your health. Actually, your body gets more doses of radiations increasing the risks. Thus one can say that at the more expensive place your health gets worse.
DannoHung 15y ago
Yeah, but you're talking about the most bland of the bland sort of health concerns. Emergency medicine, life threatening medicine, you don't shop around for the lowest cost, cause you won't be able to be happy about how much money you saved when you're dead.

jeffdavis 15y ago

Not all healthcare is a surprise emergency. Auto insurance covers collisions, but it doesn't cover oil changes or gasoline.