Do you think that doctors are overpaid?

Question

As we all know, American medical doctors are among the elites when it comes to moneymaking. Many doctors can expect to earn about $200,000 per year, and the best can make into the millions. Based on previously conducted surveys, the majority of Americans believe that doctors are overpaid, and I want to know why. After a high school diploma, a cardiovascular surgeon, for instance, must undergo 15 years of training: 4 years of a highly-ranked college to get into another 4 years of rigorous medical school training (which can cost up to $60,000 per year with no scholarships offered) to get into 4 years of surgical residency on minimal wage to get into another 3 years of cardiovascular training. Only then can the surgeon try to pay off his/her debt of possibly $250,000. Despite all of that, consider that his/her career is to save the lives of hundreds and thousands of people. Does this surgeon deserve to at least live as comfortably as he/she already is?

Answer 1

NO!  They save lives!  Especially emergency room doctors and surgeons.

Answer 2

well i dunno

how much do you think your life is worth?

Answer 3

In the US they are.  In every other country doctors are considered honerable members of society, but in the US, the medical field takes advantage of people who are ill by charging them unbelievably expensive rates for common practices such as a simple check up.  Thankfully I live in a country where we are provided universal health care, so if I ever got very sick, I will not have to worry about losing my house to pay for medical expenses.  The US is the only country in the world that does not offer its citizens universal health care.  Americans argue that people in other countries pay more taxes to have health care, but in reality Americans pay the most for health care, it costs on average $300 to have health insurance. Thats almost $4000 a year! Thats the most expensive tax I have ever heard of. The worst part is if you become ill, your insurance can cancel you because you will become a financial liability, then you are stuck on your own. Why? because doctors in the US want it to be this way, its only about how much money they can make from the sick.

Answer 4

No, I don't. People with no direct knowledge of a doctor's training, and no clue how much doctors are forced to pay for malpractice insurance don't get it. They certainly deserve to live comfortably with what they do for a living, but they are all not living as comfortably as it appears on the surface.

Malpractice insurance costs are really hurting many doctors, I know some working 2 and 3 jobs at more than 80 hours per week just to cover that cost and still be able to live comfortably. I also know a couple in private practice who have opted out of dealing with insurance at all, and work on a cash-only basis just seeing patients that only require an office visit.

The real problem is insurance companies - funny, they are the real problem in a lot of other ways too, aren't they!

Answer 5

no, not over paid

i don't mind paying outrageous amount of medical bills

i don't mind waiting, i don't mind paying parking

but it would be nice if the doctor spend more then 30 seconds with me, then leaves and let peons do his or her job

Answer 6

Doctor's are not overpaid.  Insurance companies are overpaid.  The CEOs of insurance companies are overpaid.  Doctors are worth the money.

Answer 7

I do think many are overpaid but you also need to consider how much our lives depend on them, how long they had to school to become professionals and malpractice insurance. What is most expensive is the medicine, medical technology and health insurance. Our entire system is bogus and those who are under insured are the first to suffer in this country. It's a shame and we need the same system as the rest of the World. Good health should never depend on your net worth.