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The stuff you are describing is what bothers me the most. There is a lot of talk about how we should have a free market system. But there is no real market for
by vjvjvjvjghv 1y ago
The stuff you are describing is what bothers me the most. There is a lot of talk about how we should have a free market system. But there is no real market for patients. Most people can't pick an insurance plan for themselves because the employer picks. Then it's extremely hard to get an estimate for anything. And even if you get an estimate, it's most likely wrong. Then the billing is totally opaque. Insurance and providers constantly make mistakes or lose things.
I went through this with my ex after a surgery. It was totally insane to figure out where the numbers are coming from and basically a full time job.
Even if we don't want to go to single player or similar, I don't understand why it's not at least possible to mandate clear and binding estimates and billing a normal person can understand. And let the market work its magic through competition.
- tonymet 1y agoThat’s true. The ideal case of elective MRI or planned surgery (like a hip surgery) are the exception. In most cases you have to make a decision on the spot. In our case we were basically told to move forward within 3 weeks or mortality would be much more likely. Moving to another provider is like starting over with paperwork, records , diagnostics tests, building relationships . We already did one transfer due to insurance requirements and lost about 90 critical days that we can never get back. Images were lost preventing a proper diagnosis. I’m not against free market medicine in principle but the current billing, records and regulations make it impossible with our setup.