Posted on 09/27/2006 1:55:15 PM PDT by shrinkermd
...The average cost of a family insurance plan that Americans get through their jobs has risen another 7.7 percent this year, to $11,500, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. In only seven years, the cost has doubled, while incomes and company revenue, which pay for health insurance, haven’t risen nearly as much.
...An industry that once defined the American economy, meanwhile, is sinking in large measure because of the cost of caring for its workers and retirees. For every vehicle that General Motors sells, fully $1,500 of the purchase price goes to pay for medical care. “We must all do more to cut costs,” G.M.’s chief executive, Rick Wagoner, said on Capitol Hill this summer while testifying about health care.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
In 1991 this was proposed by a man whose name I forgot. At the time 95% of all yearly medical bills were less than $2500.
Allow insurance companies to give patients "kick backs" for saving them money for medical cost from the previous year. That puts the customer back in the driver's seat and eliminates a lot of measures currently being taken to protect doctors from lawsuits (unnecessary test and suchlike).
If you want a longer life, stay out of the healthcare system if at all possible.
Apparently, if you're old enough and if you can convince your doctor that you can't cut your toenails yourself, Medicare will pick up the tab.
Both my Mother and her boy friend are fully capable of cutting their own toenails. But their attitude is why should they when the government will pay for it and when they can turn it into a date.
My Mother, her boy friend and the Podiatrist have some sweet deal going there.
Medicare is definitely out of control.
I just love the fact your mom has a boyfriend!!!!!!
The infection traveled *really* fast, Monday we looked at the foot and the area was a bit red, Thursday we looked and a bone was exposed!
The result was a hospitalization to adminsiter IV antibiotics (they managed to save her foot).
For elderly people with poor peripheral circulation this is a real problem, and advoiding one trip to the hospital for 10 days will pay for a LOT for podiatrist visits.
you will find your suggestion in the evil prescription drug program where medical savings accounts do what you suggest - that is to say it pays people to stay healthy and not use their money at the doctor.
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