Comments by "BaltimoreAndOhioRR" (@BaltimoreAndOhioRR) on "Ban Health Insurance and Subsidize Care Itself" video.
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+beidoll
The rise in health costs can also be linked with the ever growing belief that it is a right, and must be paid for by someone other than the individual. It all started back with wage controls, when employers were forced to lure/keep workers by offering health insurance, rather than wages. Once most of the big businesses had done this, it became the norm with nearly all businesses. Once the populace got conditioned to the fact that they were not responsible for paying for medical services (or even prescriptions), nor even caring about the price (because who cares? they didnt pay for it!), it just snowballed from there.
Add in a few malpractice lawsuits, and the joke of a scam 'higher learning' is in this country, and medical costs would inevitably skyrocket - to the point we are today.
And no, I have no easy solutions. I am staunchly right-wing mainly, but some days I just give up and want to bite the bullet and say, just go to a single-payer, medi-care-to-all solution. But generally, I believe the best answer would be to go back to a simpler system, where the individual pays directly for all minor visits/prescriptions/procedures - where he can doctor shop, compare prices, etc... and only carry catastrophic insurance to cover major, bankruptcy-inducing calamities.
Sort of like car insurance. You dont use insurance to change your oil, replace tires, brakes, maybe even a paint job or minor dent. You pay those directly, where you choose the vendor, and the price you pay. Save the insurance for the major accidents.
But we've been so brainwashed for so many years, I doubt such a system could ever be implemented again :-(
Also, I think tort reform is needed, and I'd go so far as an overhaul of our college system. It too, has gotten way overpriced, due to many of the same reasons. Tenure. The common belief that it's a right, and everyone deserves whatever amount of college they desire. And the fact that so many do not pay their tuition directly. All of this had made college incredibly bloated and overpriced. Way too many unnecessary classes, unnecessary book requirements, on and on...
Doctors and medical professionals have to go through all this, taking more years than needed, and much more money than needed. Thus they are induced to charge ever-rising rates.
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surely you know, even if we did go single payer, it would not work that easily? the key word is PAYER. single PAYER... not single PROVIDER. there would still be tons of paperwork, just to make sure the GP, the anesthesiologist, the blood lab, the x-ray technician, the medical hardware suppliers, etc.... got paid.
medi-care and medic-aid are single payer - they both have tons of paperwork.
nothing the govt ever does is LESS complicated and more efficient.
sorry, i know it sounds good on paper, but the truth is, it simply doesnt work that way in reality. when its "other people's money", everyone gets their hands in it - including other govt employees and agencies. its a never ending string of rules, regulations, bureaucracy, & red tape.
not to mention the fact that govt employees have proven to be near the bottom of 'efficiency'.
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+Missilanious
Why do you doubt I will? You sound like a little spoiled college boy with ZERO economic experience or knowledge. Only what your socialist professor has brainwashed into you. Your questions are so dumb, I didn't think you really wanted an answer.
The first answer is very obvious to anyone who understands economics. Without insurance paying for EVERYTHING, consumers will be forced to pay attention to how much different things cost, where the good deals are, who charges way too much, etc... just like they do now for almost everything else, because THEY ARE PAYING FOR IT THEMSELVES.
The doctors, clinics, and other entities in the health service industry will have to display their fees, and compete for patients.
When some unknown, untouchable bureaucrat who works under five layers of other govt bureaucrats is the one approving the prices, nobody cares how much they pay, and of course all the providers will try to get as much as possible.
Thats all common sense, and you shouldnt even have to ask that question.
Your second question doesnt even make sense. Did the auto insurance companies 'all get driven to the wealthy states'? Do all businesses like Walmart leave and go only to the wealthy states?
Your arguments are really pathetic. You sound like a troll.
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+Missilanious
Oh, is that Healthcare 101?
So under 101, Medicare & Medicaid IS single payer (US Govt) just like I explained above. And it is wrought with paperwork, inefficiencies, red tape, bureaucracy, fraud, constant budget overruns. Maybe YOU need to go back to Remedial.... obviously you didn't learn much in 101.
Im not even taking sides, not saying single payer is not the answer, but I AM saying one thing it is not is efficient, and void of paperwork.
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+Missilanious
Wow, are you tell ME to keep on topic??? Are you on drugs? I'm not taking anything out of context. You're the one who brought it up.
And you think this country has been pro-corporate too long???? hahahha what a joke! Corporations are what runs this country and what made this country what it is. Without them, we'd be some 3rd world country (actually, probably an annex of some other country that beat us in one of the big wars)
Corporations made those x-ray machines. They made those MRI machines. They even make the scalpels and scrubs. Its not the corporations fault.
The fault lies with this society which seems to think it deserves everything FREE, from the govt.
A citizen shouldnt need insurance, or govt help, to pay for what should be a $20-50 office visit for a cold or sore foot. But because in these modern times, we expect SOMEONE ELSE to pay for EVERYTHING, that doc now charges $150-200 for that same visit. Instead of taking your cash, he has to bill the insurance company, or the government, and wait for payment. Then possibly argue the fee and try to justify it.
Because of the government-controlled court system - his insurance has risen astronomically - obviously, he has to recoup his expenses, so he charges his patients more.
And because patients never have to actually pay for things themselves, they never even ask how much the doc charges. They dont care. They just expect someone else to pay whatever the bill is.
This is always the way it is when someone else pays the bill. Thats why single payer, universal, whatever form it takes - any socialist style of system will always be more expensive and less efficient.
If you choose to go without healthcare, or pick a job that doesnt offer it - save up your money. If you happen to have a catastrophic health event before your senior citizen benefits kick in, expect to receive very minimal care. If you dont like that, get a different job!
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