Rush Limbaugh HEARTS status quo healthcare

[USRufnex]

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/Morning-Vid-Limbaugh-Says-American-Health-Care-Just-Dandy-2070

"Based on what happened to me here, I don't think there's one thing wrong with the American health care system. It is working just fine, just dandy."

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So the arrogant pr*** thinks he got treated just like anybody else.



.... and he says people should go to the hospital the first time they have chest pains.  Well, duh.

That's the problem.  Tens of millions of Americans can't do that.... or don't do that..... because they're in fear of how much their doctor bills will run.

[guido911]

I too "heart" our status quo healthcare.

[Conan71]

.... and he says people should go to the hospital the first time they have chest pains.  Well, duh.

That's the problem.  Tens of millions of Americans can't do that.... or don't do that..... because they're in fear of how much their doctor bills will run.

Tens of millions don't go to the hospital because they have chest pains, reeeeeaaaaally?

Do hyperbole much?  Exaggerate lately?

You think I'm going to be thinking about deductible and co-pays if it feels like an anvil landed on my chest? F*ck no.

You are aware there are people quite capable of paying for their medical care who simply choose not to, yes?  Spend a few years in credit and collections and you'll get a better insight into situations other than the ones you are personally familiar with, and those paraded out as "typical" in the liberal blogosphere.

[Conan71]

Separate thought here after throwing some gasoline on Ruf.

I got my insurance statement for my recent shoulder MRI.  The original charge was $1600.  The agreement with my insurer brought that down by $910, of that they paid $550.  My personal responsibility? $137.  I suspect my neck MRI will cost the same. (Pain/nerve/numbness issues).

How do pre-negotiated rates by insurers raise the cost of healthcare?  I really don't get that.  If you pay cash for a procedure without insurance, they will give you a better rate on the procedure because they anticipate at the full procedure cost, the cost of collecting on the medical bill. 

FWIW, I'd already burned through a $1000 deductible earlier in the year for a dislocation of the other shoulder.  Out of that I negotiated personally a lower amount with St. Johns for offering to pay up immediately when they finally figured out what my insurance benefit was going to cover and what they could still charge me.  IIRC- that saved me another 20%.

Someone explain how insurance companies negotiating down rates raises the cost or does anything vastly different than Medicare attempts to do with HC providers?

[sgrizzle]

Only time I went to the ER I sat for hours and tons of uninsured people complaining of chest pains, numbness, etc and got seen. My complaint (injured eye) was ranked in priority below chest pains so after waiting about 4 hours and being told it would at least be another 2 or 3, I went over to an urgent care that was getting ready to open.

ER's do not deny service to anyone regardless of ability to pay and chest pains is one of the complaints that gets you the most attention. This is the wrong one to harp on.

[rwarn17588]

I got my insurance statement for my recent shoulder MRI.  The original charge was $1600.  The agreement with my insurer brought that down by $910, of that they paid $550.  My personal responsibility? $137.  I suspect my neck MRI will cost the same. (Pain/nerve/numbness issues).

So what's wrong with your neck? I don't like the sound of that.

[swake]

I too "heart" our status quo healthcare.

Makin you money every day, I bet you love it.

[TheArtist]

Separate thought here after throwing some gasoline on Ruf.

I got my insurance statement for my recent shoulder MRI.  The original charge was $1600.  The agreement with my insurer brought that down by $910, of that they paid $550.  My personal responsibility? $137.  I suspect my neck MRI will cost the same. (Pain/nerve/numbness issues).

How do pre-negotiated rates by insurers raise the cost of healthcare?  I really don't get that.  If you pay cash for a procedure without insurance, they will give you a better rate on the procedure because they anticipate at the full procedure cost, the cost of collecting on the medical bill. 

FWIW, I'd already burned through a $1000 deductible earlier in the year for a dislocation of the other shoulder.  Out of that I negotiated personally a lower amount with St. Johns for offering to pay up immediately when they finally figured out what my insurance benefit was going to cover and what they could still charge me.  IIRC- that saved me another 20%.

Someone explain how insurance companies negotiating down rates raises the cost or does anything vastly different than Medicare attempts to do with HC providers?

  I believe in Japan the average MRI cost about 12 dollars.  No waiting, no deductible.

[Conan71]

ER's do not deny service to anyone regardless of ability to pay and chest pains is one of the complaints that gets you the most attention. This is the wrong one to harp on.

Pretty much the only industry left that offers instant, unconditional credit. 

[Conan71]

  I believe in Japan the average MRI cost about 12 dollars.  No waiting, no deductible.

I would imagine that $12 MRI is also heavily subsidized by taxes. 

http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/publications/Japan_Future_Health_Care.asp

You wind up paying for it one way or another, the only difference is how your subsidy is pre-paid.  Via taxes or premiums to an insurer.

[swake]

I would imagine that $12 MRI is also heavily subsidized by taxes. 

http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/publications/Japan_Future_Health_Care.asp

You wind up paying for it one way or another, the only difference is how your subsidy is pre-paid.  Via taxes or premiums to an insurer.

The actual cost of an MRI in Japan, the cost, not the copay, is $160, vs $1700 in the United States. No subsidies on either side.

Interesting story on the topic:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545569

[we vs us]

Pretty much the only industry left that offers instant, unconditional credit. 

The only industry whose credit offers are directly linked to patient well-being, and possibly mortality.

[guido911]

The actual cost of an MRI in Japan, the cost, not the copay, is $160, vs $1700 in the United States. No subsidies on either side.

Interesting story on the topic:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545569

Here's a story about the Japanese health care system in general.

For generations, Japan has achieved its successes by maintaining a vise-like grip on costs. After hard bargaining with medical providers every two years, the government sets a price for treatment and drugs -- and tolerates no fudging.

As a result, most Japanese doctors make far less money than their U.S. counterparts. Administrative costs are four times lower than they are in the United States, in part because insurance companies do not set rates for treatment or deny claims. By law, they cannot make profits or advertise to attract low-risk, high-profit clients.

To keep costs down, Japan has made tradeoffs in other areas -- sometimes to the detriment of patients. Some are merely irritating, such as routine hour-long waits before doctor appointments. But others involve worrisome questions about quality control and gaps in treatment for urgent care.

Japanese hospitals experience a "crowding out" effect, with space for emergency care and serious medical conditions sometimes overwhelmed by a flood of patients seeking routine treatment, said Naohiro Yashiro, a professor of economics and health-care expert at International Christian University in Tokyo.

"Patients are treated too equally," he said. "Beds are occupied by less-urgent cases, and there are no penalties for those who over-use the system."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/06/AR2009090601630.html

[we vs us]

Someone explain how insurance companies negotiating down rates raises the cost or does anything vastly different than Medicare attempts to do with HC providers?

From what I can gather, the "negotiating down" process is broken.  In some markets a single insurer holds a virtual monopoly on coverage, while in other markets two or more insurers share -- and possibly collude -- on pricing. I know I've been surprised to find out how few players there are in insurance markets are across the country, including in Oklahoma. Lack of competition alone could account for some of it.   

[nathanm]

Only time I went to the ER I sat for hours and tons of uninsured people complaining of chest pains, numbness, etc and got seen. My complaint (injured eye) was ranked in priority below chest pains so after waiting about 4 hours and being told it would at least be another 2 or 3, I went over to an urgent care that was getting ready to open.

ER's do not deny service to anyone regardless of ability to pay and chest pains is one of the complaints that gets you the most attention. This is the wrong one to harp on.

ER access is not a substitute for a primary care physician and regular checkups. Having people wait until their medical issues are life threatening is worse for the indigent and worse for those who end up picking up the tab for the indigent. (Which usually isn't those of you with insurance, it's the self payers)

Our medicine is among the best in the world. Our business of medicine is among the worst in the world. That's what people like Rush (and most people who have insurance) don't get.

Actually, I'm not feeling charitable today, Rush knows better but doesn't care.