Expensive health care is the price we pay for refusing to be a communist nation.
Not quite true. Expensive healthcare is because we allow the government intrution into the system a little as we go, a little more control every so often as we head toward the Communist system.
50 years ago I broke my right humerus. Went to the emergency room, they confirmed, I had fucked up. Put my arm in a sling and sent me home. The bill was 80 bucks, I paid and later got the money back from my employer as part of my healthcare benefit. The Hospital did not know I had insurance, nor did they need to know, as I paid the bill just like most people did in that day.
The hospital had no deals to make with insurance companies, Medicare and a Medicaid did not exist, well Medicare had just started. So there was no cost shifting from those that can't pay to those that can because they have insurance. Costs were low and a person could afford to seek help and pay the bill even if you did not have insurance.
Three months ago, my wife broke her right humerus. I took her to the emergency room, they confirmed she had fucked up. Put her arm in a sling and sent her home. They didn't even give her a Tylenol
I had to stop at the pharmacy and get her some. Got the bill recently or saw it after the dickering was done between the Hospital and the Insurance company who is the agent for Medicare. The Bill was for $2775.00. But we really don't know what the insurance company paid the hospital. This bill from this hospital is on top of the $275 I pay them every year via property taxes to support the nonprofit Hospital in town.
I have talked with the business office about why there bills are so friggin high.
For every patient they take in that pays the full bill, they serve;
Two dead beats residents that do not pay and have nothing to lean.
Two non residents that do not pay and can not as they have nothing.
Two Medicaid patents that the government reimburses the Hospital at about 70% of cost.
Four Medicare patients that the government reimburses the Hospital at about 70% of cost.
When the guy with Insurance shows up it is get well time! Cash is like a gift from heaven.
Little by little our Government has caused that all to happen. Creating Medicare, Medicaid, and passing laws that force the hospitals to service the indigent.