Here's a good article on lifetime insurance caps.As medical costs have risen these cap limits have remained stagnant and they need to change.
But just as important we, as consumers of medical care, need to demand transparency in medical costs. Everything; doctors visits, procedures, tests, examination gloves, alcohol swabs, everything. There are countless instances of a provider having two prices; one charged to an insurance company, and one to the guy paying out of pocket. This cycle of provider charging insurer, charging employer, charging employee with higher premiums and higher deductibles has got to stop. It's a rigged system where costs are hidden and choices are narrowed. Like the three gas stations down the street at the corner that compete for my fuel money it's time for the medical industry to join the rest of the market system and compete my health care dollars. Let the consumer be the judge of what's best for them considering services, prices, location and everything else.
I know, I know. Universal health care. I don't buy it. Costs will continue to rise, choices will diminish as will the number of docs and other health care professionals leading to a reduction in quality of care.
1 comment:
There's a third "price" for medical services as well...the price that the government reimburses for those on Medicaid/Medicare.
That third price is what drives costs more than any other. If the government reimburses at a rate below "cost", the difference has to be made up somewhere. This is especially true at non-profit hospitals where those without insurance aren't turned away and where patient dumping occurs when other area hospitals refuse to treat those without insurance.
Since the government is already driving health care costs, maybe we should all be able to avail ourselves of their pricing structures?
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