Of course. I was simply stating that if there is no direct monetary impact on individuals for medical treatments, then use of the healthcare system will go way up. The only ways to control costs will be to remove profit (and high salaries) from both medical technology companies and individual doctors, and withholding care. The former will mean fewer new drugs and treatments with less competent doctors, and the latter will mean more patients will die awaiting treatment.
Of course. I was simply stating that if there is no direct monetary impact on individuals for medical treatments, then use of the healthcare system will go way up.
Soooooo true. My friends with insurance get a blood lab slip from their doctor. They take it to that blood lab down the hall. They sit there and get those tubes of blood drawn.
Contrast that with me, a self payer with a Health Share. I get the slip. I go home. I start calling labs, asking how much each of those tests the doc checked without thinking will cost. I price check different labs. I also CROSS OFF an expensive blood test that is clearly being run for the doctor’s CYA, as I don’t intend to sue him.
Let’s say the (inflated) street price for the above identical lab slips is $500. The first person isn’t paying it, maybe she is paying $25 co pay. She couldn’t care less, so she gets all the labs drawn for $500 and never uses one thread of her brain (but if her restaurant meal cost $300, she’d price check too).
I end up paying $200 or less. Because I shopped around and eliminated waste.
If you think that doesn’t happen DAILY, more like HOURLY, in the USA, you’re crazy.
I needed an IV treatment for someone yesterday. Mostly the places charges $500-300 to come give it. I kept shopping and found a small doctor clinic a mile away who did it for $150. You insured people don’t care; you’d just call the $500 guys because you’re not paying for it. It’s a disgrace.