The Health Insurance/Hospital 30 Year War

OETKB wrote:

“Ah the Free Market at work.

Let’s help people by limiting the services they need or want(sarcasm). Of course the plans are selling since they are bought by employers who cost shift the lesser care onto their employees i.e. there is zero savings and perhaps who knows, maybe even increased costs.

The MGH and others in the high cost category have deep pockets and will undercut their competition for a couple of years(a la Walmart) and then raise them again once they have garnered a loyal group of patients. So after a little dip the problem will be back with us full force.

Also deep in the previous day’s article in the Globe on this subject, there was a warning shot across the bow. The nurse’s association was critical of Tufts Medical Center’s, the cheaper alternative, staffing policy of nurses on their floors. Might we see a price war that includes decreasing the number of caretakers in hospitals? If someone thinks a machine replaces a trained professional in detecting subtle serious changes in the sick or can make someone more comfortable, there is a bridge in Brooklyn that you can buy with the same assurance.

Forever there has been this mantra that Government will bring rationing. What in the world do you call this when such uncalled for restrictions are applied? This is what so called market place solutions has brought. It is a continuation of the problem of not fixing the pricing of health care at its source.

In fact a Medicare or Medicaid patient will not be restricted from any hospital. At present folks with such insurance go where their doctor thinks is best.

People don’t want choice of what insurance to buy. They want coverage that will allow them to choose the doctor they want and the hospitals of their choice.

Sadly the private insurers have other plans. Not only will you get less, you are going to pay through the nose for it.”

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