Insurance and Health Care Reform Support Group
This community deals with health insurance issues and major health care policy creation or changes (for the most part, governmental policy). Communicate your ideas, problems, solutions, and experiences here.
The Health Care Racket_Paul Krugman
Friday, 16 February 2007
"its an arms race between insurers, who deploy software and manpower trying to find claims they can reject, and doctors and hospitals, who deploy their own forces in an effort to outsmart or challenge the insurers.
For those who want to understand why US taxpayers are being ripped off by paying the highest premium for a dysfunctional health care system New York Times columnist Paul Krugman lays out the simple facts.
"its an arms race between insurers, who deploy software and manpower trying to find claims they can reject, and doctors and hospitals, who deploy their own forces in an effort to outsmart or challenge the insurers. And the cost of this arms race ends up being borne by the public, in the form of higher health care prices and higher insurance premiums."
"Like denial management, however, marketing and underwriting cost a lot of money. McKinsey & Company, the consulting firm, recently released an important report dissecting the reasons America spends so much more on health care than other wealthy nations. One major factor is that we spend $98 billion a year in excess administrative costs, with more than half of the total accounted for by marketing and underwriting costs that dont exist in single-payer systems."
http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/491/29/
Friday, 16 February 2007
"its an arms race between insurers, who deploy software and manpower trying to find claims they can reject, and doctors and hospitals, who deploy their own forces in an effort to outsmart or challenge the insurers.
For those who want to understand why US taxpayers are being ripped off by paying the highest premium for a dysfunctional health care system New York Times columnist Paul Krugman lays out the simple facts.
"its an arms race between insurers, who deploy software and manpower trying to find claims they can reject, and doctors and hospitals, who deploy their own forces in an effort to outsmart or challenge the insurers. And the cost of this arms race ends up being borne by the public, in the form of higher health care prices and higher insurance premiums."
"Like denial management, however, marketing and underwriting cost a lot of money. McKinsey & Company, the consulting firm, recently released an important report dissecting the reasons America spends so much more on health care than other wealthy nations. One major factor is that we spend $98 billion a year in excess administrative costs, with more than half of the total accounted for by marketing and underwriting costs that dont exist in single-payer systems."
http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/491/29/
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
Research dollars and medical emphasis is ONLY on those things that can return the medical establishments the most money. For example, it is more profitable to treat cancer than to cure it, or develop a vaccine for it.
When health care is doled out on the basis of profit and loss, then everybody loses.
I don't know if there is an answer. I do know that if people had up to date Advance Directives, we would know exactly how far to go in a critical situation... and that would save a whole lot of money for everyone.