How to Fix Health Care - Lasik surgery for the medical debate (private sector = reduced costs)

Reason.TV video 8 minutes 43 seconds ^ | December 2nd, 2009 | Produced by Paul Feine and Meredith Bragg. Hosted by Nick Gillespie

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

Can a market-based health care system work? We can begin to answer this question by looking at Lasik, a medical procedure that's not covered by health insurance. And has gotten better—and cheaper—over time.

"How to Fix Health Care" proposes three simple reforms that will put us on a path to a health-care system that's better, more affordable, and more accessible. And get this—these market-based reforms can be implemented without creating new government programs or raising taxes.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

Yet another great analogy emerges. The private sector works, even in health related sectors.

[screaminsunshine]

The only one who could fix this insane Heath Insurance Bill is Osama ...Not Obama.

[elpinta]

“...these market-based reforms can be implemented without creating new government programs or raising taxes.”

THAT is exactly the problem, it does not fit the agenda!

[Blood of Tyrants]

I have known about this argument for a few years. IF your insurance covered Lasik eye correction, it would easily cost 5 to 10 times as much.

[BitWielder1]

Right.
The true value of an item or service is defined by how much people are willing to pay for it using their own hard earned money.
It's called the free market.
Whenever the gov't or "someone else" is paying for it, that part of the equation gets skewed.
Private money fosters competition, innovation and ultimately better prices.
Gov't money does not, and it always comes with extra regulations that stifles it.

[GailA]

Using the proper drugs would also help. I cannot take the generic form of thyroid hormone replacement. It's not as well absorbed by the body according to my drugist. It also is not consistant in it's manufacturing from lab to lab. And does not come in as many needed strengths. The fillers are also different and cause bad reactions, ulcers in your mouth and severe hair loss. You also have to be tested extra times a year to make sure IF it is working.

The generic is not A rated (at least by Tricare for Life, the secondary health ins for our Retired Military (over 65). Where as the name brand Synthroid is A rated.

Yet they won't cover/approve the name brand, only the generic, because it costs less to produce. LOL with the need for extra testing that defeats the purpose of cost savings.

Endocrinologist will not prescribe the generic. They prescribe Synthroid the name brand. Works better and needs fewer tests per year.

[Notary Sojac]

Exactly. Now, the price of cardiac bypasses would drop if insurance no longer covered them, just like Lasik. Is that a good idea?

[Blood of Tyrants]

The price would drop radically if the government got completely out of the health care business. You can track the time when medical costs went up so much back to the implementation of Medicare and Medicaid.

[demsux]

How about a special surtax on lawyers fees earned from medical malpractice lawsuits???

[Paved Paradise]

I’m in the middle of a huge debate with two people and this has been enormously helpful. Love to be able to go on FR and go back into older posts for such useful reference material. Love ya!