(h/t Good Brownie) Health insurance jumps twice inflation rate:
Since 2000, health insurance premiums have gone up 78 percent; wages 20 percent.
Mr. Brown also spots a New York Times article:
Increasingly, the problem affects middle-class people like Ms. Readling, who said she made about $60,000 last year. As an independent contractor, like many real estate agents, Ms. Readling does not receive health benefits from an employer. She tried to buy a policy in the individual insurance market, but — having had cancer — could not obtain coverage, except at a price exceeding $27,000 a year, which was more than she could pay.
“I don’t know which was worse, being told that I had cancer or finding that I could not get insurance,†Ms. Readling (pronounced RED-ling) said[.]
This is simply unsustainable. Americans pay more and get less for their health care dollar than just about anybody. If money is no object, you can get outstanding health service in the United States. If you have decent insurance paid for by somebody else, things work pretty well too. But if you’re paying for your health insurance premiums or your medical expenses directly out of pocket, things can get pretty hairy, pretty fast.
As always, Doug, link-love is most welcome. As a health care worker, this topic is of special concern to me. I’m hopeful that with a Democratic Congress (and especially if we get a Democratic president in the next election), we can have a more vigorous discussion of health care policies than we’ve had in the recent past.
This is simply unsustainable. Americans pay more and get less for their health care dollar than just about anybody.
I don’t think I can agree with that – I lived in Canada for ten years. While the care is adequate (but certainly not “free” like the government wants you to think) the quality of care is the same as America. The tax burden to pay for it all is enormous. Ms. Readling’s story is all too common, and deplorable, I agree. Allowing pooling for individuals and small business would be a start; having lived through socialized healthcare, I can’t say I think it’s a good system.
Agreed. As a young physician (meaning, I missed the “good old days” of good reimbursements and minimal paperwork), this stuff keeps me awake at night. I know something has to be done–and I also figure the solution will most negatively impact those with the least pull in the congress. Are insurance companies going to have to assume more risk (that’s what they’re supposed to do, right?) and lose profits? Doubtful. Will drug companies, with their powerful lobby, have to give something up? They sure didn’t in the Medicare bill. That probably leaves me working harder for less pay. Looking at this year’s balance sheet, I’ve already been unable to collect over $30k due to fee reductions and “adjustments” by the major insurers, reduced fees for medicare patients, as well as charity/indigent care–in only the first two months of the year. That’s before the annual 10% cut the feds keep threatening each year which gets halted at the last minute. I presume any new plan will hit me again and leave the insurance industry and big pharma alone–simply because that’s how it’s worked the first ten years I’ve been in medicine.
It would be unfortunate if there was a temptation to take this out on the physicians. My understanding is that physician income has stayed more or less the same (as have malpractice awards, incidentally) while insurance premiums and drug prices have skyrocketed. If my understanding is incorrect, I’d probably reconsider; but I think the money is going elsewhere.
I agree with most of what is being said here.The healthcare system in this country is out of control,increases every year are always substantial.Like Doug said I do not believe the blame can be placed on physicians.While some may think physicians make too much and think this is why medical care is so high I am not one of those people.The amount of cost and training that goes into becoming a doctor has to be substantial and they should be awarded monetarily for this.
The high costs I believe are driven by insurance companies and drug companies.Whether Democratic or Republican as far as congress is concerned and the Presidency the politicians will always bow to their corporate masters.They always have and always will.
What’s the line in Christmas Carol about dying for the benefit of the overall population?
I can get life insurance for $10/month. Health insurance, even with a massive deductable, and I don’t have any cancer history would be more than I spend on everything else put together, and that includes student loans.