OT: How badly are doctors/hospitals getting squeezed by insurance co?

[DWCAP]

[quote=ucsf_med]
Physicians aren’t the only ones complicit in the quest to stop death at all costs, the family at the bedside and ever present lawyer-threat are drivers pushing the physician to do just a little more.

The article citing costs spent in the last several months of life is quite telling. However, it is in retrospect as you don’t know it is someone’s last few months of life until they actually die. It’s hard to cut off the last month of spending when you don’t know when the last month of life is.[/quote]

Doc’s are most certainly not the only ones involved here. I would go so far as to say that in my experience they are usually the least responsible for the issue at hand. It is their job to dispense medical care and advice on that care. They (usually) are unsurpassed at this point in history compared to any other when it comes to dispensing medical care. I feel that the breakdown comes when they have to dispense advice about that care. In my ,self admitted little experience( I have 4 friends in med school or docs and a few family members who have died), the problem is that patients are looking for a cure and doctors are prescribing a treatment. We as a society need to realize the difference and learn how to judge the value of a short term treatment versus its cost.

[Rt.66]

Having a loved one with health issues I have spent lots of time in hospitals and dealt with lots of doctors. It has been my experience that our health system is hopelessly broken now and love it or hate it, it’s time we accept the conclusion that every other first world nation has come to and that is National Health Care (NHC).

1) Health insurance has become way, way too expensive for those that pay for it. And it’s rocketing up every year.

2) The rest pay anywhere from little to nothing into the system. People who are not citizens even get free healthcare.

Is that sustainable?

3) If you have no insurance or are under-insured BUT have a job and are getting by….getting ill or in an accident will ruin your life financially forever.

Is that right?

I used to agree with those that said that our healthcare system was the envy of the world. But for a decade now it’s crumbled to the point that it’s horribly unfair. Maybe healthcare has simply failed to change with the economic realities in America? After-all most of us used to work for large companies building things of use. Those companies paid for healthcare and pensions.

Then we switched to service jobs and more small business jobs that did not provide those things and still tried to keep the old healthcare system?

On the billing issue. I recently had to go to the emergency room. I was treated like shit until they learned I had insurance (I wonder if illegals get this treatment?). Once the discovered insurance, multiple tests insued. They must be happy with what they are getting because they sure get eager to do billable stuff when they know they have insurance to work with.

[Rt.66]

Having a loved one with health issues I have spent lots of time in hospitals and dealt with lots of doctors. It has been my experience that our health system is hopelessly broken now and love it or hate it, it’s time we accept the conclusion that every other first world nation has come to and that is National Health Care (NHC).

1) Health insurance has become way, way too expensive for those that pay for it. And it’s rocketing up every year.

2) The rest pay anywhere from little to nothing into the system. People who are not citizens even get free healthcare.

Is that sustainable?

3) If you have no insurance or are under-insured BUT have a job and are getting by….getting ill or in an accident will ruin your life financially forever.

Is that right?

I used to agree with those that said that our healthcare system was the envy of the world. But for a decade now it’s crumbled to the point that it’s horribly unfair. Maybe healthcare has simply failed to change with the economic realities in America? After-all most of us used to work for large companies building things of use. Those companies paid for healthcare and pensions.

Then we switched to service jobs and more small business jobs that did not provide those things and still tried to keep the old healthcare system?

On the billing issue. I recently had to go to the emergency room. I was treated like shit until they learned I had insurance (I wonder if illegals get this treatment?). Once the discovered insurance, multiple tests insued. They must be happy with what they are getting because they sure get eager to do billable stuff when they know they have insurance to work with.

[Rt.66]

Having a loved one with health issues I have spent lots of time in hospitals and dealt with lots of doctors. It has been my experience that our health system is hopelessly broken now and love it or hate it, it’s time we accept the conclusion that every other first world nation has come to and that is National Health Care (NHC).

1) Health insurance has become way, way too expensive for those that pay for it. And it’s rocketing up every year.

2) The rest pay anywhere from little to nothing into the system. People who are not citizens even get free healthcare.

Is that sustainable?

3) If you have no insurance or are under-insured BUT have a job and are getting by….getting ill or in an accident will ruin your life financially forever.

Is that right?

I used to agree with those that said that our healthcare system was the envy of the world. But for a decade now it’s crumbled to the point that it’s horribly unfair. Maybe healthcare has simply failed to change with the economic realities in America? After-all most of us used to work for large companies building things of use. Those companies paid for healthcare and pensions.

Then we switched to service jobs and more small business jobs that did not provide those things and still tried to keep the old healthcare system?

On the billing issue. I recently had to go to the emergency room. I was treated like shit until they learned I had insurance (I wonder if illegals get this treatment?). Once the discovered insurance, multiple tests insued. They must be happy with what they are getting because they sure get eager to do billable stuff when they know they have insurance to work with.

[Rt.66]

Having a loved one with health issues I have spent lots of time in hospitals and dealt with lots of doctors. It has been my experience that our health system is hopelessly broken now and love it or hate it, it’s time we accept the conclusion that every other first world nation has come to and that is National Health Care (NHC).

1) Health insurance has become way, way too expensive for those that pay for it. And it’s rocketing up every year.

2) The rest pay anywhere from little to nothing into the system. People who are not citizens even get free healthcare.

Is that sustainable?

3) If you have no insurance or are under-insured BUT have a job and are getting by….getting ill or in an accident will ruin your life financially forever.

Is that right?

I used to agree with those that said that our healthcare system was the envy of the world. But for a decade now it’s crumbled to the point that it’s horribly unfair. Maybe healthcare has simply failed to change with the economic realities in America? After-all most of us used to work for large companies building things of use. Those companies paid for healthcare and pensions.

Then we switched to service jobs and more small business jobs that did not provide those things and still tried to keep the old healthcare system?

On the billing issue. I recently had to go to the emergency room. I was treated like shit until they learned I had insurance (I wonder if illegals get this treatment?). Once the discovered insurance, multiple tests insued. They must be happy with what they are getting because they sure get eager to do billable stuff when they know they have insurance to work with.

[Rt.66]

Having a loved one with health issues I have spent lots of time in hospitals and dealt with lots of doctors. It has been my experience that our health system is hopelessly broken now and love it or hate it, it’s time we accept the conclusion that every other first world nation has come to and that is National Health Care (NHC).

1) Health insurance has become way, way too expensive for those that pay for it. And it’s rocketing up every year.

2) The rest pay anywhere from little to nothing into the system. People who are not citizens even get free healthcare.

Is that sustainable?

3) If you have no insurance or are under-insured BUT have a job and are getting by….getting ill or in an accident will ruin your life financially forever.

Is that right?

I used to agree with those that said that our healthcare system was the envy of the world. But for a decade now it’s crumbled to the point that it’s horribly unfair. Maybe healthcare has simply failed to change with the economic realities in America? After-all most of us used to work for large companies building things of use. Those companies paid for healthcare and pensions.

Then we switched to service jobs and more small business jobs that did not provide those things and still tried to keep the old healthcare system?

On the billing issue. I recently had to go to the emergency room. I was treated like shit until they learned I had insurance (I wonder if illegals get this treatment?). Once the discovered insurance, multiple tests insued. They must be happy with what they are getting because they sure get eager to do billable stuff when they know they have insurance to work with.

[jpinpb]

I have to say I’ve experienced treatment both w/insurance and w/out. When you don’t have insurance, they don’t treat you very well, limit time, attention and care. The cost is still very high, regardless.

When you have insurance, they are more inclined to perform tests.

In either situation, what I’ve noticed is that they tend to address the symptoms rather than treat. They will readily dispense meds and recommend surgery. They will not cure your problem or even really attempt to get at the root of the problem.

THAT is what I find an issue.

[jpinpb]

I have to say I’ve experienced treatment both w/insurance and w/out. When you don’t have insurance, they don’t treat you very well, limit time, attention and care. The cost is still very high, regardless.

When you have insurance, they are more inclined to perform tests.

In either situation, what I’ve noticed is that they tend to address the symptoms rather than treat. They will readily dispense meds and recommend surgery. They will not cure your problem or even really attempt to get at the root of the problem.

THAT is what I find an issue.

[jpinpb]

I have to say I’ve experienced treatment both w/insurance and w/out. When you don’t have insurance, they don’t treat you very well, limit time, attention and care. The cost is still very high, regardless.

When you have insurance, they are more inclined to perform tests.

In either situation, what I’ve noticed is that they tend to address the symptoms rather than treat. They will readily dispense meds and recommend surgery. They will not cure your problem or even really attempt to get at the root of the problem.

THAT is what I find an issue.

[jpinpb]

I have to say I’ve experienced treatment both w/insurance and w/out. When you don’t have insurance, they don’t treat you very well, limit time, attention and care. The cost is still very high, regardless.

When you have insurance, they are more inclined to perform tests.

In either situation, what I’ve noticed is that they tend to address the symptoms rather than treat. They will readily dispense meds and recommend surgery. They will not cure your problem or even really attempt to get at the root of the problem.

THAT is what I find an issue.

[jpinpb]

I have to say I’ve experienced treatment both w/insurance and w/out. When you don’t have insurance, they don’t treat you very well, limit time, attention and care. The cost is still very high, regardless.

When you have insurance, they are more inclined to perform tests.

In either situation, what I’ve noticed is that they tend to address the symptoms rather than treat. They will readily dispense meds and recommend surgery. They will not cure your problem or even really attempt to get at the root of the problem.

THAT is what I find an issue.

[abell]

My children’s doctor’s office (Scripps Rancho Bernardo clinic) offers a 40% discount if you pay after your visit (we don’t have health insurance right now). So my guess is that the actual cost is somewhere close to 40% off the list price, at least at that office.

[abell]

My children’s doctor’s office (Scripps Rancho Bernardo clinic) offers a 40% discount if you pay after your visit (we don’t have health insurance right now). So my guess is that the actual cost is somewhere close to 40% off the list price, at least at that office.

[abell]

My children’s doctor’s office (Scripps Rancho Bernardo clinic) offers a 40% discount if you pay after your visit (we don’t have health insurance right now). So my guess is that the actual cost is somewhere close to 40% off the list price, at least at that office.

[abell]

My children’s doctor’s office (Scripps Rancho Bernardo clinic) offers a 40% discount if you pay after your visit (we don’t have health insurance right now). So my guess is that the actual cost is somewhere close to 40% off the list price, at least at that office.

[Author]

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