Question about American system

[Majurius]

Originally Posted by modhatter

Sorry texdav, I am afraid you are mistaken about MD Anderson. Yes, they are non profit, and like you, I am a contributor and was a patient for over a month in their hospital. They do require insurance, and do not accept all insurance.

Insurance Plans & Billing Information | MD Anderson Cancer Center

And though Saint Judes does accept children without insurance, they must meet certain criteria and parents must be willing to allow their children to participate in new clinical trials if they are open.
Seeking Treatment at St. Jude

As far as free charity clinics. Yes they do exist in most large cities, where a doctor will donate a certain amount of hours each week to the clinic. Unfortunately, these clinics are not very numerous and may not be accessible to everyone who needs one, especially those living in rural areas.

As for drug pricing here in the US, the pharmaceutical companies spend between 15-17% on R&D. But considering that their profits are the highest of all industries (18.5%) and the fact that their highest cost expenditure by far is advertising (35%), which is prohibited in most other countries, I think there can be made a good case for price negotiations. Also the % manufactured here is closer to 60% and Europe is constantly gaining ground. Your statement is the statement put out by the drug manufacturer's PR people to try and keep American's in line and accept being gouged for drugs.
Interviews - Marcia Angell | The Other Drug War | FRONTLINE | PBS

Concerning non profit insurance companies. They are equally as guilty of waste as for profit insurance companies, and their costs are only slightly less. This is really a topic by itself, which I have learned a great deal, but in hopes of keeping this response a reasonable length, I will forgo further comment.

More Proof That The American For-Profit Health Insurance Model Is Doomed - Forbes

Ah yes my Finnish-American doctor told me that this one drug I used costs about 100$ in his home country, here it was 12€.

[Ariadne22]

Originally Posted by Majurius

So it's not so harsh as many people here believe. Good to hear

You need to reread Modhatter's post and the links on types of insurance a prestigious place like MD Anderson will accept. taxdav paints a much rosier (r-wing fantasy) picture than actually exists for many, many poor. Indigents do not usually have access to the best care in many states - far from it.

[NSHL10]

Many of the Obamacare exchange plans have extremely narrow networks that pay significantly less to providers. Many better regarded institutions do not accept them.