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Current Events » in reply to re: Some notes on health care

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Eri — (archived)

I find it interesting that if a person with health insurance goes to the doctor, the doctor bills the insurance company for say $120 for the visit. The patient pays $20 (in my case) which leaves $100 for the insurance who pays the doctor $50. (estimate--I can look up the actual on my own insurance records if needed).

Now, let's say the patient has no health insurance. He/she is billed $120 and there is no discount. It's no wonder people with no health insurance end up in bankruptcy court if there is a major illness.

I've had a dream of a non-profit HMO where the doctors are paid a good wage, and prices are standardized. There is no insurance. Employers pay and employees pay shares, enough so that employees do not abuse the system and run to the doctor every time they skin their knee. And doctors don't request their patients come back every two months so that they look productive and can accrue enough patient hours to justify their salaries. The HMO has excellent doctors and all specialties are under the umbrella plus it's own hospital. The price doesn't go up if you have a major illness. The doctor is already paid for, the hospital paid for, the specialists paid for. The only motive is to give the best health care to all members so that they can live productive lives without the stress of worrying how they will pay for what insurance companies don't want to because they are profit based.

Doctors do not take outside patients for fee. However, individuals whose employers do not have health insurance could pay to belong. An annual amount but paid monthly. The government can pay for any citizens who are uninsured. Same cost, no discounts. Pharmaceutical companies will be paid a fair price for the drugs and no more.

Yes, there are areas you can poke holes in the above that it would not work, blah, blah, blah. I think it could with the right management and NON-PROFIT motives and no government interference. The government would be customers just like everyone else. If I had the millions to do so, I'd start one, start it fairly small and see if it flew.

Oh, and donations would be welcome and tax deductible. :-)

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