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Not sure how knowing I get overcharged by 50X is gonna help me? It is not like I have a choice in the matter anyway (when it comes to healthcare).

by tjoff 4y ago

SQueeeeeL 4y ago
Oh yeah, we don't have a choice in the matter in terms of healthcare. You'd need a much bigger actor without a financial interest in making you terrified to be involved. It's why insurance and pharma really don't want large state actors in the health space, they have a proportional amount of power to restrict prices to a reasonable amount
- lotsofpulp 4y ago
  I think that is backwards. State actors want insurance in order to price segment/discriminate. That is why Medicaid pays less than Medicare, or federal government employee coverage. Or Tricare for military or Medicare for old. The insurance company becomes the fall guy even though the payer is directing them to require more extensive prior auths for certain populations, or reduced reimbursement such that fewer providers are available. Government leaders can then give different populations different levels of healthcare, while simultaneously claiming they are giving everyone healthcare. I bet UK’s leaders are jealous now of the US’s leaders, since they have to answer questions about NHS that they cannot deflect onto third parties.
matkoniecz 4y ago
With ability to compare prices going to hospital 200km away with 100 000 $ lower price may become a good idea for non-emergency medical services.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- s1artibartfast 4y ago
  Yes, people can and do shop around all the time for many medical procedures. For example. if you are going to have laser eye surgery, call 10 doctors and you might see a 3-5x difference in price.
  - tjoff 4y ago
    ... and if you need to see a doctor you'll have to anticipate what he will do so that you can pick the right hospital for it. Easy peasy!
  - MichaelZuo 4y ago
    But how do you compare the quality of different eye surgery doctors and their facilities? Even a small difference in probability of complications makes a huge difference for something as vital as the eyes.

Not sure how knowing I get overcharged by 50X is gonna help me? It is not like I have a choice in the matter anyway (when it comes to healthcare).

by tjoff 4y ago

Not sure how knowing I get overcharged by 50X is gonna help me? It is not like I have a choice in the matter anyway (when it comes to healthcare).

SQueeeeeL 4y ago

Oh yeah, we don't have a choice in the matter in terms of healthcare. You'd need a much bigger actor without a financial interest in making you terrified to be involved. It's why insurance and pharma really don't want large state actors in the health space, they have a proportional amount of power to restrict prices to a reasonable amount

lotsofpulp 4y ago
I think that is backwards. State actors want insurance in order to price segment/discriminate. That is why Medicaid pays less than Medicare, or federal government employee coverage. Or Tricare for military or Medicare for old. The insurance company becomes the fall guy even though the payer is directing them to require more extensive prior auths for certain populations, or reduced reimbursement such that fewer providers are available. Government leaders can then give different populations different levels of healthcare, while simultaneously claiming they are giving everyone healthcare. I bet UK’s leaders are jealous now of the US’s leaders, since they have to answer questions about NHS that they cannot deflect onto third parties.

matkoniecz 4y ago

With ability to compare prices going to hospital 200km away with 100 000 $ lower price may become a good idea for non-emergency medical services.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
s1artibartfast 4y ago
Yes, people can and do shop around all the time for many medical procedures. For example. if you are going to have laser eye surgery, call 10 doctors and you might see a 3-5x difference in price.
- tjoff 4y ago
  ... and if you need to see a doctor you'll have to anticipate what he will do so that you can pick the right hospital for it. Easy peasy!
- MichaelZuo 4y ago
  But how do you compare the quality of different eye surgery doctors and their facilities? Even a small difference in probability of complications makes a huge difference for something as vital as the eyes.