How much longer will americans put up with health insurance companies?

Question

when will Americans demand an end to insurance companies involved with healthcare? how much longer will Americans put up with insurance companies having more control then doctors on medical choices?

Answer 1

Well..... Americans have a choice.

1. have health insurance and deal with health insurance companies

or

2. don't have health insurance and pay all your medical bills yourself out of pocket.

Last Sept I had out patient surgery on my sinus that cost over $16,000. Thanks to insurance, I paid about 2800.

I have a medication that I take each month that costs 125.00 for one month.  Because I can get it mail order through my health ins-- I can get a 3 month supply for 50.

Don't know about you.....but I like option 1 better.

And like the others have said...our sue happy money for nothing society is to blame for outrageously high malpractice insurance that medical providers have to pay.  Like any service, they are going to pass that cost onto their customers.

We really need tort reform.

But given that the legislature (at state and federal levels) is largely made up of attorneys.....we will never get the reform measures we need.

***edit *** so government health care is going to be less of an aggravation?  Gee, renewing my drivers license was pure-T-h**l.  I deal with Medicare and Medicaid from time to time -  in my job.  To quote a friend of mine --- I'd rather "run naked through a keg of nails chasing farts while gargling horse p**s" than to have to deal with Medicare on a regular basis.

I support Universal health care. There are too many uninsured Americans out there. But it's going to have to be a system that includes private insurers and the government sponsored plan.

I don't think that Universal Heath Care will be less aggravating than private health insurance. It will just be a different flavor of the same aggravation.

And now you're stuck with that whole keg of nails-horse p**s image in your head for the rest of the night!  :)

Answer 2

Lawsuits do raise the premiums.  The company has to pay thousands in legal fees to defend themselves and even if there isn't a judgement against them, they can't recoup the legal fees.  That money has to come from somewhere, there is not a legal fees magic wand that the companies can waive.  And if americans do boycot health insurance companies just where will they get the financial help they need to pay their medical bills?  We're a long way away from socialized medicine.

Answer 3

You're right, lawsuits aren't really raising prices - utilization is.

As far as how long Americans will put up with it, well, according to Consumer Reports, utilization equals out to over $7,000 per person, per year, for every man, woman, and child.  That works out to $583 per person, per month.  Most people have their health insurance through their employer, and the average cost to the average worker, is WELL under utilization rate - about $100 per month for a single, and about $400 per month for a family.  Of course, that's because the employer is picking up a chunk of the tab.   Medicare, well, our seniors pay well under $200 a month. Then we've got Medicaid, with the "freebies".

So, when they start having to pay in as much as they get out, they'll want to change the system.

Answer 4

Faulty premise, insurance companies don't have more control than doctors.

Insurance companies work to keep cost down, after all it's their money that pays the bills.

It's idiots filing lawsuits that is causing prices to go by raising the cost of malpractice insurance and it's the millions of illegal aliens that go to the emergency room and never pay a dime. You can look to all the hospitals that have had to close on the SW border

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/articl...

http://www.caph.org/publications/WhitePa...

A quick Google will inform you about malpractice insurance http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/ricpubs/RHNs...

Do you think $70,000 year for insurance does not mean higher prices?

What we need is Tort reform, Europe has it basically if you loose a frivolous lawsuit you have to pay.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort_reform

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/06/tort.re...

Universal health care for 300 million people sounds like a big challenge, The UK only has 60 million much easier job. Canada 33 million and their citizens come to the US for operations and pay out of pocket, why? It must be because Universal health care is so effective.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/2...

Everyone should watch Sick around the world

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/...