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Before we have this conversation, let's first agree on one thing. Let's all agree on the fact that health care is not actually exorbitantly expensive. That "hea
by jewayne 4y ago
Before we have this conversation, let's first agree on one thing. Let's all agree on the fact that health care is not actually exorbitantly expensive. That "health care costs" are not what's out of control in the US, what are out of control are health care PRICES. And that those prices lost virtually all relationship to the cost of providing services DECADES ago.
Americans already use fewer health services than most other industrialized countries, but we still spend way more than anybody else. Will using fewer health services at end of life make a serious dent in health expenditures? Maybe temporarily, but rest assured the hospitals, big pharma, insurance companies and others will raise prices until all those savings are eaten away, and more.
Make no mistake, I am totally for end of life planning, but I believe it is a completely separate question entirely.
- jmugan 4y agoThat's a useful distinction. I've never been able to understand where the prices come from, and my sister is an ER doctor. I'm surprised that these basic facts are so hard to come by. I read articles that say, well, healthcare prices aren't high because of X, where X is just about anything I can think of.
- jewayne 4y agoThis article is a good place to start: https://time.com/198/bitter-pill-why-medical-bills-are-killing-us/ https://time.com/198/bitter-pill-why-medical-bills-are-killi... When it came out 10 years ago, it answered questions that I'd had for the previous 15 years.
- HDThoreaun 4y agoDon't agree. Americans recieve an absurd amount of end of life care. In many, many case outcomes would be improved by putting people in hospice instead of invasive surgery that increase their lifespan by maybe a year. Our medical system discourages preventative care which is much more cost effective, but in the end we need to say no to many more end of life procedures.
- jewayne 4y agoImproving preventative care will no doubt improve outcomes. Improving end of life planning will no doubt improve quality of life for those nearing the end. However, believing that either of these things will lower health care prices is purely magical thinking.