Conservatives Still Think You're Over-Insured

[one...two...tree 2,762]

This comes up from time to time, but it's good to see former House Majority Leader ####### Armey (R-Texas), a new ringleader for right-wing activists, state it plainly.

"The largest empirical problem we have in health care today is too many people are too overinsured," he said.

There it is, the right's philosophy on American health care in 17 words. Most of us think the problem with the existing system is that we pay too much, get too little, and leave too many behind. ####### Armey sees the existing system and thinks we'd all be better off with less coverage. Lest anyone think this is unique to Armey, the opposite is true. A few years ago, during Bush's pitch in support of health saving accounts, the LA Times' Peter Gosselin explained, "Most conservatives -- including those in the [bush] administration -- believe that the root cause of most problems with the nation's healthcare system is that most Americans are over-insured."

Just two months ago, Reps. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) and Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) had an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal making the same case. "When was the last time you asked your doctor how much it would cost for a necessary test or procedure?" they asked, making the case that consumers need more "control ... over their care."

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[HannahP 119]

It's highly unlikely that your doctor knows how much a procedure costs.

[Dan J 277]

This comes up from time to time, but it's good to see former House Majority Leader ####### Armey (R-Texas), a new ringleader for right-wing activists, state it plainly.

"The largest empirical problem we have in health care today is too many people are too overinsured," he said.

There it is, the right's philosophy on American health care in 17 words. Most of us think the problem with the existing system is that we pay too much, get too little, and leave too many behind. ####### Armey sees the existing system and thinks we'd all be better off with less coverage. Lest anyone think this is unique to Armey, the opposite is true. A few years ago, during Bush's pitch in support of health saving accounts, the LA Times' Peter Gosselin explained, "Most conservatives -- including those in the [bush] administration -- believe that the root cause of most problems with the nation's healthcare system is that most Americans are over-insured."

Just two months ago, Reps. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) and Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) had an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal making the same case. "When was the last time you asked your doctor how much it would cost for a necessary test or procedure?" they asked, making the case that consumers need more "control ... over their care."

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

I have asked what it will cost to have something done, and the answer is always a non-answer no matter what hospital or clinic I have talked to. The only places that can give you up front costs are retail clinics like minute clinic, but they can only do so much.

If HSA are suppose to work, then it should be easy to get an up front fee schedule for service, but no one can ever provide them.

Edit: There is an exception to this, the University of Minnesota Dental Clinic will tell you up front how much it will all cost.

Edited November 5, 2009 by Dan + Gemvita

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Funny argument that the GOP wants to put forth here. In all other developed countries, patients never see a bill and will, at the most, fork over a symbolic co-pay of $10.00 - $20.00 when visiting a provider and yet, the cost of their health care systems is nowhere near as high as ours. If over-insurance and lack of concern of the cost of care on part of the patient were the driving factor for escalating health care costs, those countries would have to have higher costs than we do.

Edited November 5, 2009 by Mr. Big Dog