The problem with the price of health care in this country boils down to ONE THING: People generally spend other people’s money when they go to the doctor or hospital, whether it be the taxpayer’s, the insurance company’s, or something else. In other words, the people receiving the health care are not close enough to the decision to spend the money. And just like government, if you spend someone else’s money, you do not spend it as wisely or as frivolously.
For example, if you go tot he doctor complaining of chronic heartburn, the doctor might order an upper GI inspection (you know, where you swallow the bulb thingy and the look at your stomach) and then give you a prescription for Nexeum. You don’t really care since you co-pay $20 for the doctor’s visit, nothing for the upper GI, and another $20 for the prescription.
But let’s say that you have a $4000 deductible and you have to pay $200 for the doctor’s visit and $2000 for the upper GI and another $200 for the prescription. Suddenly you are beginning to wonder if it is all worth it. So, instead of just doing what the doctor said, you ask for a less expensive solution and the doctor tells you that you might start buying sweet acidopholus milk, lay off greasy foods, and take an over the counter acid reducer. You discover that this works as well as any other remedy and it doesn’t cost you $2400.
Good analysis. I’ll add that the best things people can do to maintain health are free or will actually cost you less money: Eat a balanced diet, keep weight down, exercise sensibly, avoid stress and get enough sleep. Many chronic health problems (I’m not saying all) are caused by neglecting those tenets.