Glad the Wash Post is citing that recent Time article on health care costs. Setting aside for a moment the debate about how many Americans are uninsured, the vast majority of Americans probably have some insurance.
It’s insane how this insulates us from really thinking about the costs of care and how this conversation didn’t happen sooner.
It’s troubling when you think that a lot of people have little to no savings and that much of people’s savings has been burned through weathering the recession. When a simple ER visit is more than a months rent, you can see how a major health event can change a person’s economic outlook for life.
“An average ER visit costs more than an average month’s rent.”
How on earth can this be acceptable? Not that this is new to anyone, but everytime I think about the ridiculous medical prices in our country I begin to crumple down in anxiety, no kidding.
An average ER visit costs more than an average month’s rent.
I don’t know what was more shocking. The variations in prices for sprained ankles and headaches, or the comparison in prices between ER visits and an apartment rent. Something to be very concerned about.
Christian: I agree with you in terms of how sad it is that an average ER visit costs more than the average monthly rent. All of this only perpetuates individual debt and drags people into financial collapse when it most often it is due to a condition completely out of their control.
The Queen has entered a private hospital (on Harley Street) rather than an NHS hospital; the same hospital Kate went to. Ah, the joys of socialized medicine.
I frankly wish I made it to the news everytime I got stomach bug. The perks of being royalty.
“Bills sent out for sprained ankles ranged from $4 to $24,110.”
Imagine buying an old Honda Civic. The Kelly Blue Book value is nothing more than a question mark. You want to buy the car, so you look in the newspaper for other comparable cars and their prices. You see a car priced as low as four whole dollars, and you wonder what is wrong with the car. You then find a similar car for 25 thousand, and you what to know which accessories are cast of solid gold. Other than these extremes, you would have no earthly idea what a fair price for the car would be.
This is healthcare. Exacerbating the issue is the fact that you are sickly and desperate to feel better.
The London School of Economics has done exhaustive research on our Veterans’ Health Administration. It’s curious that the brits have such an interest.. Funny that they’re probably learning more from our system than we are.
The ACA favors the establishment of networks, for networks enhance the “affordability” of insurance. This is why networks get favored treatment, such as limits on out-of-pocket spending, which are not avilable for out-of-network care.
It seems to me that networks are costly to set up and maintain.
Since we know that medical procing is a joke, why don’t we treat it as one?
Instead of networks, why not have experienced negotiators who can negotiate reasonable bills before the time of service, if possible.
Seems that the premium savings will offset the fee for service cost of negotiators.
Don Levit
Glad the Wash Post is citing that recent Time article on health care costs. Setting aside for a moment the debate about how many Americans are uninsured, the vast majority of Americans probably have some insurance.
It’s insane how this insulates us from really thinking about the costs of care and how this conversation didn’t happen sooner.
I agree; that Washington Post article is really eye-opening. 40 percent more than rent?!
It’s troubling when you think that a lot of people have little to no savings and that much of people’s savings has been burned through weathering the recession. When a simple ER visit is more than a months rent, you can see how a major health event can change a person’s economic outlook for life.
An average ER visit costs more than an average month’s rent.
Of course the average ER visit costs as much as a month’s rent. It takes nearly a month to get served. They’re charging you by the hour!
“An average ER visit costs more than an average month’s rent.”
How on earth can this be acceptable? Not that this is new to anyone, but everytime I think about the ridiculous medical prices in our country I begin to crumple down in anxiety, no kidding.
An average ER visit costs more than an average month’s rent.
I don’t know what was more shocking. The variations in prices for sprained ankles and headaches, or the comparison in prices between ER visits and an apartment rent. Something to be very concerned about.
Christian: I agree with you in terms of how sad it is that an average ER visit costs more than the average monthly rent. All of this only perpetuates individual debt and drags people into financial collapse when it most often it is due to a condition completely out of their control.
The Queen has entered a private hospital (on Harley Street) rather than an NHS hospital; the same hospital Kate went to. Ah, the joys of socialized medicine.
I frankly wish I made it to the news everytime I got stomach bug. The perks of being royalty.
@ The ER costing more than rents
Just reading that report boils my blood! Why is our health care system so so so broken.
“Bills sent out for sprained ankles ranged from $4 to $24,110.”
Imagine buying an old Honda Civic. The Kelly Blue Book value is nothing more than a question mark. You want to buy the car, so you look in the newspaper for other comparable cars and their prices. You see a car priced as low as four whole dollars, and you wonder what is wrong with the car. You then find a similar car for 25 thousand, and you what to know which accessories are cast of solid gold. Other than these extremes, you would have no earthly idea what a fair price for the car would be.
This is healthcare. Exacerbating the issue is the fact that you are sickly and desperate to feel better.
Congress isn’t being pressed into Obamatude with the rest of us plebs, why is this a surprise?
The London School of Economics has done exhaustive research on our Veterans’ Health Administration. It’s curious that the brits have such an interest.. Funny that they’re probably learning more from our system than we are.
The ACA favors the establishment of networks, for networks enhance the “affordability” of insurance. This is why networks get favored treatment, such as limits on out-of-pocket spending, which are not avilable for out-of-network care.
It seems to me that networks are costly to set up and maintain.
Since we know that medical procing is a joke, why don’t we treat it as one?
Instead of networks, why not have experienced negotiators who can negotiate reasonable bills before the time of service, if possible.
Seems that the premium savings will offset the fee for service cost of negotiators.
Don Levit