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"the conversation is usually about how to get someone else to pay the bill instead of get costs under control" Unfortunately most of us Americans cannot compre

"the conversation is usually about how to get someone else to pay the bill instead of get costs under control" Unfortunately most of us Americans cannot comprehend this fact or are too helpless to do anything about it. I love the folks who tout their awesome employer based plan without really thinking about the insane costs just because they are not the ones paying most of it. I also love the folks who just think a total Universal Healthcare like Medicare for All is the solution which honestly I am not totally against but only if the costs are first regulated in any way.

lukevp 5y ago
Universal health care in itself is a driver for regulating costs if it’s implemented as single payer. The idea is there is a monopoly on supply of patients, so if you want to practice, you have to accept the billing rate the payer (govt) deems necessary. It’s like price collusion but done in order to depress prices.
- codegeek 5y ago
  I am willing to try anything that what we have right now in healthcare BUT looking at Medicare by itself, I am a bit wary of Govt's involvement completely. I think we should cut out the middleman mafia a.k.a Insurance company from EVERY visit and instead let care providers compete in the market. i am ok for a nephrologist to charge $x more than the next door nephrologist as long as their service and care is better and let the patients decide that. I do agree that Govt. should step in to probably regulate price gouging so that no one can charge me $500 for a toilet paper roll.
  - x86_64Ubuntu 5y ago
    Trying to hold on to the small government ideas and remove the government along with health insurance companies from the equation is a non-starter. As is saying that you want competition, but limited government, but also no gouging.
    - treeman79 5y ago
      Competition is how your stop gauging.
      - x86_64Ubuntu 5y ago
        Competition only works when you understand the service process, and can make a decision to go to another provider with little cost. When they bring in a medical provider or have to perform another procedure while you are unconscious, you can't defend against gouging.
- hotpotamus 5y ago
  There's actually a term for this - monopsony. I've only ever heard it used in the context of universal healthcare.
- renewiltord 5y ago
  The theory: government sets the prices because it controls the supply of patients The practice: you pay for a news article about a grandma unable to get healthcare. The government reacts by ensuring that all healthcare is paid for - with no cap to cost. After all, every life is sacred. COVID-19 response showed us. > My mother is not expendable. Your mother is not expendable. > We will not put a dollar figure on human life. https://mobile.twitter.com/nygovcuomo/status/1242477029083295746?lang=en https://mobile.twitter.com/nygovcuomo/status/124247702908329...

lukevp 5y ago

Universal health care in itself is a driver for regulating costs if it’s implemented as single payer. The idea is there is a monopoly on supply of patients, so if you want to practice, you have to accept the billing rate the payer (govt) deems necessary. It’s like price collusion but done in order to depress prices.

codegeek 5y ago
I am willing to try anything that what we have right now in healthcare BUT looking at Medicare by itself, I am a bit wary of Govt's involvement completely. I think we should cut out the middleman mafia a.k.a Insurance company from EVERY visit and instead let care providers compete in the market. i am ok for a nephrologist to charge $x more than the next door nephrologist as long as their service and care is better and let the patients decide that. I do agree that Govt. should step in to probably regulate price gouging so that no one can charge me $500 for a toilet paper roll.
- x86_64Ubuntu 5y ago
  Trying to hold on to the small government ideas and remove the government along with health insurance companies from the equation is a non-starter. As is saying that you want competition, but limited government, but also no gouging.
  - treeman79 5y ago
    Competition is how your stop gauging.
    - x86_64Ubuntu 5y ago
      Competition only works when you understand the service process, and can make a decision to go to another provider with little cost. When they bring in a medical provider or have to perform another procedure while you are unconscious, you can't defend against gouging.
hotpotamus 5y ago
There's actually a term for this - monopsony. I've only ever heard it used in the context of universal healthcare.
renewiltord 5y ago
The theory: government sets the prices because it controls the supply of patients The practice: you pay for a news article about a grandma unable to get healthcare. The government reacts by ensuring that all healthcare is paid for - with no cap to cost. After all, every life is sacred. COVID-19 response showed us. > My mother is not expendable. Your mother is not expendable. > We will not put a dollar figure on human life. https://mobile.twitter.com/nygovcuomo/status/1242477029083295746?lang=en https://mobile.twitter.com/nygovcuomo/status/124247702908329...