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Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 5:27:55 PM   
cloudboy


Posts: 7306
Joined: 12/14/2005
Status: offline 		From the NYT today:

Angiogram: US Cost $914 / Canadian Cost $35

Colonoscopy: US Cost $1,185 / Switzerland $655

Hip Replacement: US Cost $40,364 / Spain $7,731

Liptor: US Cost $124 / New Zealand $6

M.R.I. Scan: US Cost $1,121 / Netherlands $319

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Whether directly from their wallets or through insurance policies, Americans pay more for almost every interaction with the medical system. They are typically prescribed more expensive procedures and tests than people in other countries, no matter if those nations operate a private or national health system. A list of drug, scan and procedure prices compiled by the International Federation of Health Plans, a global network of health insurers, found that the United States came out the most costly in all 21 categories — and often by a huge margin.

The United States spends about 18 percent of its gross domestic product on health care, nearly twice as much as most other developed countries. The Congressional Budget Office has said that if medical costs continue to grow unabated, “total spending on health care would eventually account for all of the country’s economic output.” And it identified federal spending on government health programs as a primary cause of long-term budget deficits.

A major factor behind the high costs is that the United States, unique among industrialized nations, does not generally regulate or intervene in medical pricing, aside from setting payment rates for Medicare and Medicaid, the government programs for older people and the poor.

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Republicans have tried to repeal the new health care law 37x without offering a solution to cut heath care costs or to expand some kind of coverage to the uninsured. It does not get more irresponsible than that. Has REP party simply given up on passing helpful legislation to help solve important problems confronting the nation?



< Message edited by cloudboy -- 6/2/2013 5:30:14 PM >
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RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 5:44:21 PM   
defiantbadgirl


Posts: 2988
Joined: 11/14/2005
Status: offline 		Americans get ripped ripped off on everything. Health care and medication are higher, education is higher, salaries are lower, and jobs are fewer. The reason Americans are getting ripped off always comes down to GREED.

_____________________________


Only in the United States is the health of the people secondary to making money. If this is what "capitalism" is about, I'll take socialism any day of the week.


Collared by MartinSpankalot May 13 2008

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RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 6:36:28 PM   
LafayetteLady


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Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Northern New Jersey
Status: offline 		Add to that:

Metformin: US $65, Spain 1 Euro 94 cents (about $2.50)
Lyrica: US $260, Spain 58 Euro (about $75)

I couldn't afford my meds without insurance (about $900 per month) in the US. Obviously, somewhere else, that would not be the case.

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RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 6:47:21 PM   
JeffBC


Posts: 5799
Joined: 2/12/2012
From: Canada
Status: offline 		While I'm sure that you are offended by those durned republicans trying to cancel the affordable care act I'm kind of curious what you think the ACA has to do with health care costs. As I understand the convoluted mess it basically provides coverage for those who didn't previously have it. That has nothing to do with costs which is "controlling profits" which is "not a happening thing" in the US today.

_____________________________

I'm a lover of "what is", not because I'm a spiritual person, but because it hurts when I argue with reality. -- Bryon Katie
"You're humbly arrogant" -- sunshinemiss
officially a member of the K Crowd

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RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 6:57:33 PM   
tazzygirl


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quote:

As I understand the convoluted mess it basically provides coverage for those who didn't previously have it.


Why dont we have it? We cant obtain it (pre-existing conditions) or we cant afford it.... or a combo of both.


For insulin alone, I pay out 300 a month, thankfully I can get all my pills for 10 bucks each from a local pharmacy, my metformin is free. Being diabetic, there is no way I could afford health care. Since I was diagnosed in the 90's, there has been no way I could afford my own since then.

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Dont judge me because I sin differently than you.
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RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 7:08:48 PM   
JeffBC


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Joined: 2/12/2012
From: Canada
Status: offline 		Sure, I get that Tazzy. OK, so fair enough. At the individual level it makes health care more affordable for some. But the OP was referring to the collective level and in case the ACA only shifted health care costs from the sick to the healthy. In point of fact we're not really discussing health care costs at all, are we? It's not the money required to buy your insulin that is the problem. It's the extra yachts that go into that package that are causing a bit of a cock up.

_____________________________

I'm a lover of "what is", not because I'm a spiritual person, but because it hurts when I argue with reality. -- Bryon Katie
"You're humbly arrogant" -- sunshinemiss
officially a member of the K Crowd

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RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 7:09:10 PM   
Lucylastic


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Status: offline 		from the book mentioned in the link... (i didnt use a zip code) my monthly drugs would be 700 a month, and the testing Ive had done in the last month would have come to over 3500$, includes nerve damage testing, xrays, ultrasounds and this week a biopsy.
Yeah I wouldnt have been able to afford that either, Im looking again at a hysterectomy due to tumours, and if I didnt have socialised health care it would need to be an emergency op costing god knows how much.
As it is I dont go to the docs until its "neccessary"


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RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 7:21:21 PM   
cloudboy


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Status: offline 		It's the job of a legislator to find solutions, and opposing the ACA without putting forth an alternative is skullduggery. The health care panel was an idea to cut costs, and the Republicans seized on describing it as a "death panel."

< Message edited by cloudboy -- 6/2/2013 7:22:32 PM >

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RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 7:24:57 PM   
tazzygirl


Posts: 37833
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Status: offline 		The "death panels" changed as often as Palin and Bachmann changed their underware (or at least I hope they did). If you remember that started out with the Medicare reimbursement for the 15 minutes of time Physicians would get for discussing advanced directives. However, I suppose someone already pointed out that AD's had been out for a long time. Someone find that guy!

_____________________________

Telling me to take Midol wont help your butthurt.
RIP, my demon-child 5-16-11
Duchess of Dissent 1
Dont judge me because I sin differently than you.
If you want it sugar coated, dont ask me what i think! It would violate TOS.

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RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 7:27:32 PM   
tazzygirl


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Joined: 10/12/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: JeffBC

While I'm sure that you are offended by those durned republicans trying to cancel the affordable care act I'm kind of curious what you think the ACA has to do with health care costs. As I understand the convoluted mess it basically provides coverage for those who didn't previously have it. That has nothing to do with costs which is "controlling profits" which is "not a happening thing" in the US today.



Health care quality in the U.S. varies and is not notably superior to the far less expensive systems in the other study countries. Of the countries studied, Japan has the lowest health spending, which it achieves primarily through aggressive price regulation.

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Publications/Issue%20Brief/2012/May/1595_Squires_explaining_high_hlt_care_spending_intl_brief.pdf

Congress would never allow that. Im sure you can guess why.

So the only other way is mandatory insurance.

Its not done yet. There is more to come. And I cant wait to hear the squealing.

_____________________________

Telling me to take Midol wont help your butthurt.
RIP, my demon-child 5-16-11
Duchess of Dissent 1
Dont judge me because I sin differently than you.
If you want it sugar coated, dont ask me what i think! It would violate TOS.

(in reply to JeffBC)
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RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 8:25:22 PM   
JeffBC


Posts: 5799
Joined: 2/12/2012
From: Canada
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: cloudboy
It's the job of a legislator to find solutions, and opposing the ACA without putting forth an alternative is skullduggery. The health care panel was an idea to cut costs, and the Republicans seized on describing it as a "death panel."

Sure. But since none of the legislators are even trying to do their job much less succeeding now what? My point remains. NOBODY has tried to control costs at the societal level. At best the democrats have tried to shift some costs from the poor to the rich which isn't a bad thing. But nobody is addressing how many yachts there are in a bottle of aspirin.

_____________________________

I'm a lover of "what is", not because I'm a spiritual person, but because it hurts when I argue with reality. -- Bryon Katie
"You're humbly arrogant" -- sunshinemiss
officially a member of the K Crowd

(in reply to cloudboy)
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RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 8:31:26 PM   
JeffBC


Posts: 5799
Joined: 2/12/2012
From: Canada
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl
Its not done yet. There is more to come. And I cant wait to hear the squealing.

They will need to figure out how to let their corporate masters continue hiding the massive fraud, graft, corruption and greed. So I'm not all that sanguine about more coming and even if it did I'm not sure if that's really a good thing. It minimizes some suffering (as in your case) yet accelerates the trend to a completely enslaved civilization. When we are all paying 25% instead of 20% that's not really going to be a good thing even though it certainly might look good to a particular individual.

_____________________________

I'm a lover of "what is", not because I'm a spiritual person, but because it hurts when I argue with reality. -- Bryon Katie
"You're humbly arrogant" -- sunshinemiss
officially a member of the K Crowd

(in reply to tazzygirl)
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RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 8:36:53 PM   
defiantbadgirl


Posts: 2988
Joined: 11/14/2005
Status: offline 		Members of congress are probably bribed into voting against anything that might control health care costs. I just can't understand why bribes work so well if once a member of congress serves one term, they get paid for life. Why is getting re-elected so important if they're getting paid either way?

_____________________________


Only in the United States is the health of the people secondary to making money. If this is what "capitalism" is about, I'll take socialism any day of the week.


Collared by MartinSpankalot May 13 2008

(in reply to JeffBC)
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RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 8:41:13 PM   
tazzygirl


Posts: 37833
Joined: 10/12/2007
Status: offline 		http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/03/20120305a.html

Not only does it get rid of annual limits, it gets rid of lifestime limits as well. Thats conna cost a few country club dinners at least.

Some preventative services are now free. A reduction in costs for the consumer.

Preventive care and services
Care and services such as periodic physical examinations, immunizations, and selected diagnostic tests that have proven clinical value to identify and/or prevent diseases when performed on a routine basis. They are offered in accordance with a predefined schedule based on age, sex and certain risk factors.

If this system wasnt going to hurt the insurance companies, they wouldnt have spent so much money fighting it.

_____________________________

Telling me to take Midol wont help your butthurt.
RIP, my demon-child 5-16-11
Duchess of Dissent 1
Dont judge me because I sin differently than you.
If you want it sugar coated, dont ask me what i think! It would violate TOS.

(in reply to JeffBC)
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RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 8:42:20 PM   
tazzygirl


Posts: 37833
Joined: 10/12/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

Members of congress are probably bribed into voting against anything that might control health care costs. I just can't understand why bribes work so well if once a member of congress serves one term, they get paid for life. Why is getting re-elected so important if they're getting paid either way?


Because lobbyists only pay big money to sitting politicians.

_____________________________

Telling me to take Midol wont help your butthurt.
RIP, my demon-child 5-16-11
Duchess of Dissent 1
Dont judge me because I sin differently than you.
If you want it sugar coated, dont ask me what i think! It would violate TOS.

(in reply to defiantbadgirl)
Profile   Post #: 15
RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 8:44:34 PM   
tazzygirl


Posts: 37833
Joined: 10/12/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: JeffBC

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl
Its not done yet. There is more to come. And I cant wait to hear the squealing.

They will need to figure out how to let their corporate masters continue hiding the massive fraud, graft, corruption and greed. So I'm not all that sanguine about more coming and even if it did I'm not sure if that's really a good thing. It minimizes some suffering (as in your case) yet accelerates the trend to a completely enslaved civilization. When we are all paying 25% instead of 20% that's not really going to be a good thing even though it certainly might look good to a particular individual.


I envision something like Medicare being opened to everyone. We all pay in already. Up the percentage paid, open it to everyone,

So many middle men cut out that way... lawyers... workman's comp... insurance companies....

_____________________________

Telling me to take Midol wont help your butthurt.
RIP, my demon-child 5-16-11
Duchess of Dissent 1
Dont judge me because I sin differently than you.
If you want it sugar coated, dont ask me what i think! It would violate TOS.

(in reply to JeffBC)
Profile   Post #: 16
RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 8:47:38 PM   
defiantbadgirl


Posts: 2988
Joined: 11/14/2005
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl


quote:

ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

Members of congress are probably bribed into voting against anything that might control health care costs. I just can't understand why bribes work so well if once a member of congress serves one term, they get paid for life. Why is getting re-elected so important if they're getting paid either way?


Because lobbyists only pay big money to sitting politicians.


I thought money from bribes could only be used for campaigning, and couldn't be given directly to them.

< Message edited by defiantbadgirl -- 6/2/2013 8:51:41 PM >

_____________________________


Only in the United States is the health of the people secondary to making money. If this is what "capitalism" is about, I'll take socialism any day of the week.


Collared by MartinSpankalot May 13 2008

(in reply to tazzygirl)
Profile   Post #: 17
RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 8:59:45 PM   
JeffBC


Posts: 5799
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From: Canada
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl
I envision something like Medicare being opened to everyone. We all pay in already. Up the percentage paid, open it to everyone, So many middle men cut out that way... lawyers... workman's comp... insurance companies....

Sure, that'd be swell. But even cutting out the middle men is cutting out fat that the CEO's get rich off of. So which party is it again that you think is going to do this "pro-people, anti-wealthy" thing? I get why you want it. I'm just confused which current American party you think has the least bit of interest in doing it.


_____________________________

I'm a lover of "what is", not because I'm a spiritual person, but because it hurts when I argue with reality. -- Bryon Katie
"You're humbly arrogant" -- sunshinemiss
officially a member of the K Crowd

(in reply to tazzygirl)
Profile   Post #: 18
RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 9:32:46 PM   
tazzygirl


Posts: 37833
Joined: 10/12/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl


quote:

ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

Members of congress are probably bribed into voting against anything that might control health care costs. I just can't understand why bribes work so well if once a member of congress serves one term, they get paid for life. Why is getting re-elected so important if they're getting paid either way?


Because lobbyists only pay big money to sitting politicians.


I thought money from bribes could only be used for campaigning, and couldn't be given directly to them.


lol.. really?

Sorta like Kerry's 400 dollar hair cuts that were billed as consulting?

_____________________________

Telling me to take Midol wont help your butthurt.
RIP, my demon-child 5-16-11
Duchess of Dissent 1
Dont judge me because I sin differently than you.
If you want it sugar coated, dont ask me what i think! It would violate TOS.

(in reply to defiantbadgirl)
Profile   Post #: 19
RE: Health Care Costs -- US Most Expensive - 6/2/2013 9:35:20 PM   
tazzygirl


Posts: 37833
Joined: 10/12/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: JeffBC

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl
I envision something like Medicare being opened to everyone. We all pay in already. Up the percentage paid, open it to everyone, So many middle men cut out that way... lawyers... workman's comp... insurance companies....

Sure, that'd be swell. But even cutting out the middle men is cutting out fat that the CEO's get rich off of. So which party is it again that you think is going to do this "pro-people, anti-wealthy" thing? I get why you want it. I'm just confused which current American party you think has the least bit of interest in doing it.



Its going to become a necessity. Eventually, the small insurers wont be able to keep up. Stockholders will duck and run to the larger insurers. They will start losing money as well on the health care aspect. Leading them to concentrate on the more pricey packages the ACA doesnt address.

Eventually, we will have our national health care system... and politicians will simply say... "What choice did we have?"


_____________________________

Telling me to take Midol wont help your butthurt.
RIP, my demon-child 5-16-11
Duchess of Dissent 1
Dont judge me because I sin differently than you.
If you want it sugar coated, dont ask me what i think! It would violate TOS.

(in reply to JeffBC)
Profile   Post #: 20
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