[Tfug] Down Memory Lane II

[Angus Scott-Fleming]

On 23 Jan 2011 at 23:26, keith smith  wrote:

> Inflation? I recently went to the ER and it was almost $4000 retail. I 
> negotiated it down under $1000. That is much more than inflation.
> 
> Reform = free market. take all constraints away and remove the HMO's 
> and we would rop a bunch.

Well said.

In the past year I saw a very interesting graph comparing the cost of elective 
medical care (e.g. cosmetic surgery) to the cost of non-elective medical care 
(e.g. appendectomies) over the past 20 years or so.  Inflation of costs in the 
Elective Medical Care is just about the same as the economy.  Inflation of 
costs in the other part of medical care is 10-20 times as high.

If it's something the patient is paying for, cost IS an object.

IMHO the best option would be to go to MSPs -- medical savings plans -- for 
everyone, combined with catastrophic medical insurance to cover the mega 
expenses like cancer.  You don't expect your car insurance to pay for oil 
changes or for every scratch in your point, you shouldn't expect your medical 
insurance to pay for routine medical expenses like annual exams or minor items 
like a few stitches or a broken leg from sliding badly into second base.  If 
people had to pay for the minor things, they'd stop, take a couple of aspirin, 
and maybe call the doctor in the morning.


--
Angus Scott-Fleming
GeoApps, Tucson, Arizona
1-520-290-5038
Security Blog: http://geoapps.com/