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"You don't see this kind of innovation in the American health system because it has been engineered with greed in mind right from the start." Actually, it is n

by petilon 13y ago

"You don't see this kind of innovation in the American health system because it has been engineered with greed in mind right from the start." Actually, it is not just the healthcare industry. All industries in capitalist societies are engineered with greed in mind, and that's OK. It works very well. The problem in the healthcare industry is not greed, but insurance. When someone else is paying for the care you don't care how much it costs. You don't shop around. This enables doctors and hospitals to charge more. American healthcare is very cost efficient where the care is not covered by insurance, for example plastic surgery, lasik etc.

skylan_q 13y ago
It's true, but none of this matters. People prefer equally terrible health care for all as opposed to great health care for some and excellent health care for others. Soon enough, plastic surgery will be socialized to combat bullying because kids shouldn't have to suffer for being ugly. Then we'll see that efficiency disappear in the name of egalitarianism.
apalmer 13y ago
I kinda get your point, but your analysis as far as capitalism/greed etc seems more ideological than logically rational. The problem as you state it isn't insurance, its the inelasticity of health insurance. Simply put a significant amount of people will pay as much as they can get their hands on for even a marginally improved outcome if their life is on the line. Conversely very few people will refuse life saving treatment based on price, IF they can somehow get their hands on the necessary money, even if they feel it is a 'rip off'. Your stated areas where american healthcare is efficient are optional, cosmetic surgey, lasik etc... Not to say insurance doesnt play a part, just saying you havent presented a solid logical arguement.
- blktiger 13y ago
  I think that the insurance companies are the real problem in the US. I pay the insurance company, who pays the doctor, who pays the insurance company. The costs go up in the opposite direction. Seems like a vicious cycle.
sien 13y ago
Good point. It's also worth noting that healthcare costs in most of the developed world, while lower than the US system, continue to increase substantially. However, what you are saying raises the question of how on earth a system can be constructed where people shop around for health care. Any ideas?

by petilon 13y ago

skylan_q 13y ago

It's true, but none of this matters. People prefer equally terrible health care for all as opposed to great health care for some and excellent health care for others. Soon enough, plastic surgery will be socialized to combat bullying because kids shouldn't have to suffer for being ugly. Then we'll see that efficiency disappear in the name of egalitarianism.

apalmer 13y ago

I kinda get your point, but your analysis as far as capitalism/greed etc seems more ideological than logically rational. The problem as you state it isn't insurance, its the inelasticity of health insurance. Simply put a significant amount of people will pay as much as they can get their hands on for even a marginally improved outcome if their life is on the line. Conversely very few people will refuse life saving treatment based on price, IF they can somehow get their hands on the necessary money, even if they feel it is a 'rip off'. Your stated areas where american healthcare is efficient are optional, cosmetic surgey, lasik etc... Not to say insurance doesnt play a part, just saying you havent presented a solid logical arguement.

blktiger 13y ago
I think that the insurance companies are the real problem in the US. I pay the insurance company, who pays the doctor, who pays the insurance company. The costs go up in the opposite direction. Seems like a vicious cycle.

sien 13y ago

Good point. It's also worth noting that healthcare costs in most of the developed world, while lower than the US system, continue to increase substantially. However, what you are saying raises the question of how on earth a system can be constructed where people shop around for health care. Any ideas?