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25 Responses to “John Stossel: Insurance Makes Healthcare Far More Expensive”
1. I’ve always been able to get prices if I self pay, most recently $75 for the swine flu.
2. With an HSA if you do pay for routine visits what you pay goes towards lowering your deductible, so it works for you, whereas a co pay goes nowhere, into a black hole.
3. People abusing the system is the problem, why go to the doctor for a cold, they can’t help you, tough it out.
4. 80 to 90% of illnesses are preventable, so take responsibility
Good to see an independent mind like John Stossel covering this story… Oh wait.. He just left ABC to work for FOX…Hmmmm Was this his video resume? I love those of you who take the side of the poor abused Insurance Industry!! Get your heads out of your collective @sses!!!
For those Canadians determined to preach about the greatness of their health care system…I don’t envy you and therefore have no desire to become like you politically, economically or socially, you dwell in the shadow of the United States and without capitalism there you will remain!
I totally agree with you, moddy82 … I think that for medications and the cost of non-formulary and non-generic forms, the cost that the pharmaceutical companies charge would go down if people chose to pay for all of it themselves. What do you think?
As a Canadian I find it attractive to invest some of my money in stocks of American health insurance companies.
I dont care if Americans suffer from dropped or denied insurance as long as I make positive return from my investment since I’m already covered by our govt funded health insurance in Canada.
Yes, dont let Obama and San Francisco liberal bigots to implement govt takeover of your health care and help me make some money.
A “national plan” would possibly be the worst thing for American health care system. Insurance of ANY type is for unexpected major events, this is true for homeowner, flood, car, rental…Health insurance should be treated no differently. Health care on the other hand is for anything else, routine or minor stuff, and you’d pay that out of pocket.
As far as the grocery analogy, how does it NOT apply? Don’t you have to eat food to stay alive?
That’s ok, many critics concede that everyday procedures are mostly not a problem, but they also show that special and complex procedures OFTEN result in longer waiting times and bad organisation with high costs.
Your story is fine for you, but it is not a statistic with a good sample rate…
Indeed, plus they have the option of taking Medicaid or Medicare.. There is no hospital in the civilized world that has the right to deny operation to anyone, even if they have no money (and no self-respecting doctor will question that!).
wow, nice, high level discussion… I’d say you are a moron American… Sadly, your fucked education system seems to spawn people like you all over…. Do you now understand the similarities between our posts? Both are general ad hominem attacks not suitable for any discussion…
The gist of this video seems to be: Health Insurance ok, if used in catastrophic cases (disability, expensive surgery etc.) and for everything else (pills, routine check-up etc.) pay for yourself… Seems ok for me and would surely lower prices by raising competition…
Insurance companies do not belong in health care…. and hospitals have no business charging what they do …. we need a national plan so we can clean up this mess…. we cant keep this greedy system going …. health care should NOT be about profit… it’s not a product to sell.. it’s human CARE…. you cannot compare CARE to groceries … lol that’s ridiculous….
Every medical system the world over has a queueing or “triage” system. In Canada it is need based and in the US money based.
In the US more resources are available but you may not get them. Your insurance company, not you, has the final say on what they will pay for. Their mandate is profit. They increase profit by denying claims or cutting care so do. That is their job.
My mom’s hip replacement is non urgent care; she will not die if she has it now or a year from now. Still only 6 weeks.
Profit drives efficiency and innovation. That doesn’t mean that corruption and gouging cannot still exist, but it doesn’t change the fact that profit (and the implied competition to make a profit) is what drives efficiency in systems.
i live in Toronto and I don’t think it’s misinformation.
what’s true is that our healthcare system uses a “triage” system, basically a fancy term for health care rationing. Basically, people who need urgent care (ie. your mom) would go first so it’s not a first come first serve type thing.
However, this reason alone is enough firepower for the anti-socialized medicine folks.
I hope this guy gets knocked the fuck out because he is an idiot. Most people are afraid of not keeping their same doctors. Well this guys is saying that exact thing that we should shop around if MY doctor isn’t the cheapest. Fuck that. Also the foreigner with all the kids too bad that you have to shop around maybe you should have stop putting your dick in a certain whole don’t cry about it now
What does it matter how much money a beggar has? The more money someone has the more contemptible they are for asking for a handout.
Most people who do not have insurance are still able to get care for free at most emergency rooms. I work in the largest medical center in the world. We care for somewhere in the neighborhood of 60,000 people per day. Very few uninsured people are turned away.
The health insurance companies shouldn’t really be phased out. They should be allowed to offer more types of policies so that people could customize there coverage to suit their needs and their budget. Poorer people could then afford to at least have catastrophic coverage. This will ultimately drive down prices because it will make people who want to save on coverage shop around more. Insurance companies should also be allowed to compete across state lines.
The existance of this song simply proves the universal experience of her generation needing but not having health insurance. Sit once in a “free clinic” and you will understand. The 60’s sang about Peace and Vietnam. What does that say?
I purchased extended warrantees on my car, my refriderator, my TV. If it wears out or I abuse it, I’m out. If it breaks due to a systematic malfunction, it is repaired for me for a modest co-pay. I just had my car’s transmission replaced ($1400) for $75 and my dishwasher’s motor for $60 ($350). Don’t tell me that “Nothing” is insured. I don’t abuse my warrentees (even thought they are “free”). When I break down (sick), I would like the same consideration as my TV, Car, or Fridge!
The only way we can even consider a universal health insurance plan (whether through a government or an insurance company–any third party payor system) would be to only endorse a catastrophic health care plan, to include all those born with health conditions. Otherwise, for the “small” stuff, if we all just would take care of our daily health, and learn more about alternative health care, everyone would be better off (and healthier!)
I do not like to say or think this, but I really believe that people who want universal health care, just don’t want to take responsibility for their own health. . . Lack of responsibility and greed are built-in factors with insurance company health plans and/or government health plans. The human factor, unfortunately, is the reason.
In the case of true medical emergencies, even big ticket items–accidents, cancer treatment, or surgeries can run in the low thousands (I’ve seen final bills for all of those incidents below $10K.) I don’t know how it’s treated if a gringo cannot pay, but I don’t think the government sends a citizen to the poorhouse one cannot.
1. I’ve always been able to get prices if I self pay, most recently $75 for the swine flu.
2. With an HSA if you do pay for routine visits what you pay goes towards lowering your deductible, so it works for you, whereas a co pay goes nowhere, into a black hole.
3. People abusing the system is the problem, why go to the doctor for a cold, they can’t help you, tough it out.
4. 80 to 90% of illnesses are preventable, so take responsibility
5:20
I’ve been saying that insurance should be completely taken off the table. Now my statement is confirmed.
Good to see an independent mind like John Stossel covering this story… Oh wait.. He just left ABC to work for FOX…Hmmmm Was this his video resume? I love those of you who take the side of the poor abused Insurance Industry!! Get your heads out of your collective @sses!!!
For those Canadians determined to preach about the greatness of their health care system…I don’t envy you and therefore have no desire to become like you politically, economically or socially, you dwell in the shadow of the United States and without capitalism there you will remain!
I totally agree with you, moddy82 … I think that for medications and the cost of non-formulary and non-generic forms, the cost that the pharmaceutical companies charge would go down if people chose to pay for all of it themselves. What do you think?
As a Canadian I find it attractive to invest some of my money in stocks of American health insurance companies.
I dont care if Americans suffer from dropped or denied insurance as long as I make positive return from my investment since I’m already covered by our govt funded health insurance in Canada.
Yes, dont let Obama and San Francisco liberal bigots to implement govt takeover of your health care and help me make some money.
A “national plan” would possibly be the worst thing for American health care system. Insurance of ANY type is for unexpected major events, this is true for homeowner, flood, car, rental…Health insurance should be treated no differently. Health care on the other hand is for anything else, routine or minor stuff, and you’d pay that out of pocket.
As far as the grocery analogy, how does it NOT apply? Don’t you have to eat food to stay alive?
That’s ok, many critics concede that everyday procedures are mostly not a problem, but they also show that special and complex procedures OFTEN result in longer waiting times and bad organisation with high costs.
Your story is fine for you, but it is not a statistic with a good sample rate…
Indeed, plus they have the option of taking Medicaid or Medicare.. There is no hospital in the civilized world that has the right to deny operation to anyone, even if they have no money (and no self-respecting doctor will question that!).
wow, nice, high level discussion… I’d say you are a moron American… Sadly, your fucked education system seems to spawn people like you all over…. Do you now understand the similarities between our posts? Both are general ad hominem attacks not suitable for any discussion…
The gist of this video seems to be: Health Insurance ok, if used in catastrophic cases (disability, expensive surgery etc.) and for everything else (pills, routine check-up etc.) pay for yourself… Seems ok for me and would surely lower prices by raising competition…
Insurance companies do not belong in health care…. and hospitals have no business charging what they do …. we need a national plan so we can clean up this mess…. we cant keep this greedy system going …. health care should NOT be about profit… it’s not a product to sell.. it’s human CARE…. you cannot compare CARE to groceries … lol that’s ridiculous….
Every medical system the world over has a queueing or “triage” system. In Canada it is need based and in the US money based.
In the US more resources are available but you may not get them. Your insurance company, not you, has the final say on what they will pay for. Their mandate is profit. They increase profit by denying claims or cutting care so do. That is their job.
My mom’s hip replacement is non urgent care; she will not die if she has it now or a year from now. Still only 6 weeks.
Profit drives efficiency and innovation. That doesn’t mean that corruption and gouging cannot still exist, but it doesn’t change the fact that profit (and the implied competition to make a profit) is what drives efficiency in systems.
i live in Toronto and I don’t think it’s misinformation.
what’s true is that our healthcare system uses a “triage” system, basically a fancy term for health care rationing. Basically, people who need urgent care (ie. your mom) would go first so it’s not a first come first serve type thing.
However, this reason alone is enough firepower for the anti-socialized medicine folks.
I hope this guy gets knocked the fuck out because he is an idiot. Most people are afraid of not keeping their same doctors. Well this guys is saying that exact thing that we should shop around if MY doctor isn’t the cheapest. Fuck that. Also the foreigner with all the kids too bad that you have to shop around maybe you should have stop putting your dick in a certain whole don’t cry about it now
What does it matter how much money a beggar has? The more money someone has the more contemptible they are for asking for a handout.
Most people who do not have insurance are still able to get care for free at most emergency rooms. I work in the largest medical center in the world. We care for somewhere in the neighborhood of 60,000 people per day. Very few uninsured people are turned away.
The health insurance companies shouldn’t really be phased out. They should be allowed to offer more types of policies so that people could customize there coverage to suit their needs and their budget. Poorer people could then afford to at least have catastrophic coverage. This will ultimately drive down prices because it will make people who want to save on coverage shop around more. Insurance companies should also be allowed to compete across state lines.
The existance of this song simply proves the universal experience of her generation needing but not having health insurance. Sit once in a “free clinic” and you will understand. The 60’s sang about Peace and Vietnam. What does that say?
I purchased extended warrantees on my car, my refriderator, my TV. If it wears out or I abuse it, I’m out. If it breaks due to a systematic malfunction, it is repaired for me for a modest co-pay. I just had my car’s transmission replaced ($1400) for $75 and my dishwasher’s motor for $60 ($350). Don’t tell me that “Nothing” is insured. I don’t abuse my warrentees (even thought they are “free”). When I break down (sick), I would like the same consideration as my TV, Car, or Fridge!
The only way we can even consider a universal health insurance plan (whether through a government or an insurance company–any third party payor system) would be to only endorse a catastrophic health care plan, to include all those born with health conditions. Otherwise, for the “small” stuff, if we all just would take care of our daily health, and learn more about alternative health care, everyone would be better off (and healthier!)
I do not like to say or think this, but I really believe that people who want universal health care, just don’t want to take responsibility for their own health. . . Lack of responsibility and greed are built-in factors with insurance company health plans and/or government health plans. The human factor, unfortunately, is the reason.
meant to write: to the poorhouse if one cannot pay.
In the case of true medical emergencies, even big ticket items–accidents, cancer treatment, or surgeries can run in the low thousands (I’ve seen final bills for all of those incidents below $10K.) I don’t know how it’s treated if a gringo cannot pay, but I don’t think the government sends a citizen to the poorhouse one cannot.