VIDEO Why Health Care costs are to high in America

[Ice Guy]

By the incomparable John Green, who says the following about his sources: "For a much more thorough examination of health care expenses in America, I recommend this series at The Incidental Economist and The Commonwealth Fund's Study of Health Care Prices in the U.S. Some of the stats in this video also come from this New York Times story."

Really enjoy this guys style of video blogging. Thinking about trying it, so any comments....is it too choppy or does it keep the pace interesting?

 

[Foothiller]

Set to rise? They've been going up at a mutlitple of the rate of general inflation for quite some time.

Why?

Government subsidies and monopoly protections. No free market in health care and all involved must PROFIT handsomely, like pharm and insurance cos.

Stop the monopoly practices, end gov handouts and watch medical pricing return to its true value. IE affordable to average people.

Imagine a world where you don't have to pay a significant portion of your earnings to a protection racket, called health insurance, that purports to protect you from the financial meatgrinder called in the US: the healthcare system.

Then when you really need the insurance, they deny claims. The insurance industry refers to claims as "medical losses".

Chew on that while you lament the Obamination called Obamacare. Sure it's a mess, but this healthcare system hasn't been right since the LBJ era when medicare was invented.

2¢

 

[Dobbin]

Sure it's a mess, but this healthcare system hasn't been right since the LBJ era when medicare was invented.

And this by design.

Before LBJ medical care was subject to the vagaries of the marketplace. Certain treatment wasn't available because "there wasn't any money in it." Doctors had to gauge their pricing and develop treatments depending on the ability of the patient to pay. And patients paid through insurance or from their wallets directly. (this one and the same except for the "group insurance" aspect which offers individual protection against being financially medically wiped out.)

After LBJ, the medical marketplace and demand was effectively expanded by government largesse. Suddenly whole legions of ill humans could afford to have care for their illness - and they availed themselves.

They would be stupid not to and you can't blame them.

And the medical community was more than happy to oblige.

And they were not stupid either and you can't blame them - there was now MONEY to be made. Government money!

And this continued until medical costs outstripped the ability of individuals to pay for their care out of pocket - and insurance became essential. And the insurance companies were more than happy to oblige. After all - there was GOVERNMENT MONEY to be made by them as well.

Now today, medical costs have risen yet more until neither individuals nor insurance (one in the same) can pay.

But the government is STILL more than happy to oblige. And this will continue until medical care becomes the overriding force in the economy - and the economic force that will cost your nation's resources without benefit of results. That is - unbridled medical cost not matched by the benefit of increased production through healthier humans.

And this a sure way to national ruin. Cost without benefit.

There has to be a balance - but now and forever more the health/production balance is lost.

And the worst part is - this time through Supreme Court Decision the government has turned it into a tether and a fence and hobbles for all of you.

Just pray they don't compel you with spurs next - or worse.

Although I imagine that is coming - the IRS is more than willing to oblige. That is THEIR moneymaker, of course.

In a way I envy you humans. For you for a while there will be no sympathetic pat and a cold tubular steel placed against your ear and a click then BANG and oblivion. ANY medical care your little body requires will be but a government subsidy away. The downside of this is for well you henceforth there will be prison, or forced labor, or draining of your time through payment of penalty for the benefit of your fellows should you not comply.

Later on for you humans there will be death panels who will decide who the lucky recipients of care will be - but this only after the government starts to fear for the strength of the dollar in general and dollars in their mind FINALLY become more dear than human life. Government will take to themselves the cost-benefit decision.

Which is more or less the decision that pre LBJ humans made in the privacy of their homes and for themselves - back when you were free.

But now and henceforth the Government will make the decision for your care - not you. And this their grand design. To put you in a prison of your own body - or at least the care to maintain it.

Maybe they'll reassure you with a pat on the head before the trigger is pulled. I hope Owner can do it to me himself when my time comes.

But I think I understand why if he does not.

Dobbin

 

[Blastoff]

In 2010, Medicaid covered the costs of roughly 48 percent of all births in the United States, according to a study in Women's Health Issues.

This ^ ...You are paying taxes to provide Medicaid and then higher healthcare prices to pick up the slack for low reimbursement rates, plus training a large percentage of the US population that healthcare is "free," so walk in, get some, and don't pay....

 

[Conrad Nimikos]

...Ice Guy, I watched several of his videos and I like them. He can talk fast but you can still understand what he is saying and he interjects humor.

 

[BigFootsCousin]

Watch more hospitals go under when o-care fully implements. Watch the U.S. go into third-world health care as the masses clamor for 'care' that is no longer there.......

The writing is on the wall. Prepare accordingly.

BFC

 

[blueridge]

.....Watch the U.S. go into third-world health care as the masses clamor for 'care' that is no longer there.......BFC

And watch the docs quit the business or go into Truly Private Practice that you pay cold hard cash for...insurance or govt. BS not accepted.

It's already in full swing.

 

[naturallysweet]

And watch the docs quit the business or go into Truly Private Practice that you pay cold hard cash for...insurance or govt. BS not accepted.

It's already in full swing.

From your typing to the minds of my local doctors. I'd love to be able to pay for medical care in the same way I pay for vet care.

 

[BigFootsCousin]

And watch the docs quit the business or go into Truly Private Practice that you pay cold hard cash for...insurance or govt. BS not accepted.

It's already in full swing.

It's worse than you know. I've been 'listening' to the Docs in my community and the community just south of me. They are NOT happy. Some are just barely making it. Hard times are here......I've NEVER seen, nor heard such talk in my 26 years in the 'biz'. I'm hoping that things will get better with o-care, but I'm very reserved about it right now, as are others that I've talked to. I'm not saying that there's going to be a collapse or anything.......but I've heard those words spoken.

BFC- hoping for the best

 

[Tennessee gal]

And watch the docs quit the business or go into Truly Private Practice that you pay cold hard cash for...insurance or govt. BS not accepted.

It's already in full swing.

Blueridge, the government wants total control of our lives. I wouldn't be surprised if after Obama care is fully in place the government won't allow doctors to practice on a cash basis in order to by pass the system.