OC, I tend to agree with you alot on this, but, as usual, it isnt as simple as just that. Not all women can take every type of pill. They have varying levels of horomones, depending on the pill. My GF is small, and needs the Ultra low dose pills, anything else is way too much (been there done that!). They dont cover any ultra low dose pill she can take. Too high a dose can lead to all sorts of complications, so just saying “everyone take the same pill, it does the same thing” doesnt work. Generic Ultra low dose would be just fine with her, if they covered it.

Now in an affirmative example, I didnt have insurance for a while just out of college. I got sick, bad, and went into a clinic to help cut costs. Doc wanted a full battery of tests, perscribed 2 name brand meds, and wanted to send a sample of my saliva for analysis. She then read my chart, realized I didnt have insurance, and (at my request) gave me a generic antibiotic perscription and sent me on my way. I was at work the next day. I had a basic bacterial infection of the tonsils and everyone including the skeleton on the wall knew it, cept the insurance company I didnt have.
People want to feel like the doc is doing something, and money gets waisted. That is why they demand antibiotics when they have a cold, not realizing that antibiotics wont help a viral flu. Why they will pay a higher co-pay and wait an hour longer for brand name stuff, when it is no different chemically than a generic.
That is why, really, a day off, some chicken soup, alittly personal hygine and a bunch of sleep will do as much as any doctor can do for alot of otherwise healthy patients. But how do you charge for that? (and how do you know it isnt the deadly smurfola virus from the interiors of Papa New Guinnea? You might turn blue and wear funny pants and get eaten by a big cat and die!)

Besides, if we really want to get some cost savings, how about some sorta system that rewards good behavior. You know, exercise and good diet, loosing excess weight and avoidance of smoking or drinking heavily. Alot of our medical problems are really our own damn fault, and if prevented, could save many billions annually. Plus, we’d be healthier and live longer.

This isnt ment to be a knock against people actually going to see the doc. I just got back from one today, to fix an ingrown toe I can’t do anything about. If you are ill, or have a funny lump that wasnt there last week, or broke something, go see a doc. Just please people, use some common sense.